As COVID-19 travel restrictions begin to lift, some U.S. states are maintaining their precautionary travel requirements. The state of Hawai'i has released a notice that the states will only accept Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment lab test results from trusted testing and travel partners prior to any airline departures into the state. Of note, Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribally operated, or urban Indian health facilities (ITUs) have no formal relationship with the state of Hawai’i for COVID-19 NAAT/PCR testing. IHS patients wishing to travel to Hawai’i should ask their healthcare provider to refer them to a testing site that is affiliated any of the entities listed here.

In response to the economic impact of COVID-19, the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides $350 billion to eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has recently released an FAQ document related to the use of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Question 49 clarifies that funds may be used as vaccination incentives so long as they are proportional to the expected health benefit.

Applications due Wednesday, June 9, 2021

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is currently seeking applicants to establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. This includes mobilizing community outreach workers, which includes community health workers, patient navigators, and social support specialists, to educate and assist individuals in accessing and receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Tribes and Tribal organizations are eligible to apply. Read more here.

Rolling acceptances

Without accessible transportation, individuals may be unable to obtain necessary health services. Administered by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), the Rural and Tribal Passenger Transportation Technical Assistance program is seeking applications from Tribes and rural communities of less than 50,000 people to provide technical assistance to plan system start-up, transit service improvements, facility development, marketing, transportation coordination, and staff training. Read more here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has a scholarship opportunity available for Tribal infection control officers and health officials to complete online infection control training courses. Scholarship funds can also be used to complete the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiologists (CBIC) certification exam. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. For additional information, contact Carmen Sanders at [email protected]. For the application, read more here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support emergency-based infrastructure for Indian Country. American Indians and Alaska Natives have increased vulnerability to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases due to a lack of resources, public health emergency planning and response infrastructure intended to control outbreaks, and the complexity around jurisdictions, as well as lack of understanding among partners working with Tribes. Through this initiative, NIHB will assist Tribes with public health capacity building and training activities that engage public health and healthcare professionals and vulnerable populations to increase their ability to prevent and control outbreaks. A vital activity to aid in building capacity is creating peer learning community networks. Read more here.

For interest in joining creating a peer learning community contact Courtney Wheeler, [email protected].

Job descriptions are available at www.nihb.org.

Informational webinar: Monday, June 14, 2021 at 3:00 PM ET

The Status of Tribal Air Report (STAR) provides national leadership with recommendations on how to improve air quality in and around Tribal communities while detailing the successes and challenges of Tribal Air Quality Programs and the connections between air pollution, public health, and Tribes.

To help readers navigate the 130-page report, the National Tribal Air Association will be hosting a national webinar on June 14. The webinar will provide an overview of the STAR, share stories within the STAR, and provide specific air quality improvement recommendations for national leadership. All members of the public are welcome to join the webinar.

The National Indian Health Board is committed to serving Tribal Nations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. We welcome your requests and feedback. Contact Courtney Wheeler at [email protected] or 202-507-4081.

Researchers from the Center for American Indian Health at Johns Hopkins University work alongside Indigenous communities to improve resilience, optimal health, and well-being. In this webinar, learn from Dr. Melissa Walls on how the Healing Pathways Project, a community-based participatory research study in the Great Lakes region, is identifying and promoting traditions of strength and healing with 735 American Indian and First Nations youth and their families living in the northern Midwestern United States and Ontario, Canada. Dr. Victoria O’Keefe will discuss the Elders Resilience Curriculum developed with the White Mountain Apache, which is an innovative curriculum that connects youth through Elders to their heritage, traditions, and culture, which has been proven to be a protective factor for Native Americans. Read more here.

During this Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call, clinicians will learn about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new interim guidance which provides a framework for healthcare providers in their initial assessment, evaluation, management, and follow-up of persons with possible post-COVID conditions. Read more here.

Friday, June 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM ET

In this National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) webinar, speakers will highlight state policy options to increase access to rural behavioral health services including opportunities to improve crisis hotlines, increase access to opioid use disorder treatment and overdose prevention, leverage emerging health professionals to address workforce gaps, and consider the scope of practice and licensing policies for behavioral health professionals. Read more here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB), in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will be hosting a Community Based Organization (CBO) Vaccine Toolkit Discussion Group on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. This discussion group will feature an overview of the CBO Vaccine Toolkit, which was designed to help CBOs educate communities and promote vaccines as a prevention tool by sharing clear and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines. There will also be an overview of new communication tools for adolescent vaccination. Following the overview, there will be an opportunity for discussion and community feedback. Register here.