Tribal Public Health Broadcast
Weekly News, Funding, Resources, and Upcoming Events in Indian Country

June 20, 2019
News
IHS Principal Deputy Director, RADM Michael Weahkee, met with the National Indian Health Board of Directors on June 13 in Washington, DC.
NIHB’s Public Health in Indian Country Capacity Scan (PHICCS)—Still Time to Participate!
Deadline July 31st, 2019 11:59 PM ET
 
There is still time to support the National Indian Health Board’s (NIHB) efforts in creating a national-level, comprehensive profile of public health in Indian Country! NIHB, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is currently gathering information from Tribal health directors across Indian Country as part of the Public Health in Indian Country Capacity Scan (PHICCS) . The information from this scan will be used to create and disseminate a national-level, comprehensive profile of the public health system and infrastructure in Indian Country. This profile will be vital to increasing the knowledge of Tribal and federal health leaders and advocates. The deadline for participation is July 31, 2019, so please help to ensure this scan has comprehensive participation from across Indian Country. Read more here.
Veteran Affairs and Indian Health Service Report: Actions Needed to Strengthen Oversight and Coordination of Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

This report discusses the relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) with regard to providing care to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. This comprehensive report details the cooperative agreement between the two entities and the ways their efforts could be improved. Read more here.
Culturally Adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD Substance Misuse and HIV Sexual Risk Behavior for Native American Women

This randomized control study explores the use of culturally adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to improve PTSD and substance abuse outcomes and lower the risk of contracting HIV in Native American women. The study details data by age, education, and employment status, among other measures, and was published in AIDS and Behavior . Read more here.
Updates to Recommendations on Weight Loss to Prevent Obesity-Related Mortality in Adults

Nearly 40% of US adults are obese, increasing their risk for developing a plethora of other diseases. To combat and prevent obesity-related morbidity and mortality in adults, the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recently released a summary of its updated clinical preventative service recommendation. The USPSTF recommends that clinicians offer or refer adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) to intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions. Read more here.
IHS Announces Requirements to Increase Access to Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

To ensure increased access to medication assisted treatment, the Indian Health Service (IHS) released a Special General Memorandum 2019-01. All IHS federal facilities will identify opioid use disorder treatment resources in their local areas and create an action plan, no later than December 11, 2019, to provide or coordinate patient access to medication assisted treatment, increasing access to culturally appropriate prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. Read more here.
Funding & Opportunities
Nomination Submissions for NIHB's 2019 Outstanding Service Awards
Nominations Due Friday, June 21, 2019 11:59 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is now seeking nominations for the 2019 Outstanding Service Awards to honor individuals, organizations, and programs that have benefitted American Indian and Alaska Native health, health systems, or policy. Awardees will be announced at the NIHB Annual Heroes in Native Health Gala on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 in conjunction with the NIHB National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC) September 16-20, 2019 at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA. You can submit your nominations here . For questions, contact Jennifer Vigario and the NIHB Awards Committee at NTHC@nihb.org or (202) 507-4070.
IHS Small Ambulatory Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Applications Due Friday, June 28, 2019 5:00 PM ET
 
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2019 Small Ambulatory Program. A total of $15 million in funding is available for the program. American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes or Tribal organizations operating an Indian health care facility may receive up to $2 million dollars for the construction, expansion or modernization of small ambulatory health care facilities. Read more here.
Open Comments on IHS Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Toolkit
Responses Due Sunday, June 30, 2019
 
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is currently requesting Tribal public health professional feedback via a survey on a provider toolkit in development for chlamydia and gonorrhea education and screening. The purpose of this survey is to further understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices around chlamydia and gonorrhea prevention, diagnosis and treatment and to identify chlamydia and gonorrhea toolkit resource needs. All responses will remain confidential. Read more and access the survey here.
Proposals for Public Transport on Indian Reservations Program
Applications Due Tuesday, July 9, 2019 11:59 PM ET
 
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of funding provided by the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program. The FTA will be accepting applications which support planning, capital, and, in limited circumstances, operating assistance for Tribal public transit services. Read more here.
36 th Annual National Tribal Health Conference Registration and Call for Proposals
Proposals Due Friday, July 12, 2019 11:59 PM ET
Early Bird Registration Due Wednesday, July 31, 2019
 
Registration is now open for the National Indian Health Board’s (NIHB) 36 th Annual National Tribal Health, taking place September 16-20, 2019 in Temecula, California . The conference aims to feature novel approaches in improving the quality of health systems, strengthening the business of medicine, pathways for successful advocacy efforts, enhancing government to government relationships, and evidenced based, wise, best or promising practices developed in and for Tribal communities. Early bird registration and more information can be found here.

Additionally, NIHB encourages Tribal leaders, health directors, policy specialists, advocates, and allies to submit proposals for 3-hour seminars and 90-minute workshops for the conference. Proposals can be submitted here.
Events
NIHB Webinar: Conducting a Public Health Accreditation Self-Assessment: Who, What, Why and How?
Tuesday, July 9, 2019 2:00-3:00 PM ET
 
Prior to committing to public health accreditation or for those who are simply interested in exploring what public health accreditation entails, Tribal public health entities may consider conducting a Self-Assessment. A public health accreditation self-assessment can be a powerful tool for highlighting strengths in the public health system, as well as identifying gaps and areas for improvement. Many Tribes have found this process extremely valuable and have used it to guide efforts toward improving their public health systems, regardless of whether or not their goal is public health accreditation. Join National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and three Tribal public health officials who conducted a self-assessment of their public health system and hear:
  • Why they chose to conduct a self-assessment
  • What they learned about their organization from the process
  • Who was involved, and
  • How they are using the results
National Conference on American Indian/Alaska Native Injury and Violence Prevention
July 23-25, 2019 in Denver, CO
 
The conference will bring together Tribal, federal, and state injury prevention practitioners in Indian Country, injury researchers, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders with a goal of Bridging Science, Practice, and Culture to reduce the disparity of injuries among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Registration is open until July 15, 2019. Read more here.
Tribal Public Health Emergency Preparedness Summit: Creating Coordinated Solutions to Plan, Respond, and Recover from Emergencies  
Thursday, July 25, 2019 at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ

This one-day summit is designed to bring together Tribal, state and local emergency preparedness departments, Tribal Leaders, Tribal Administrators, Area Indian Health Boards, National and Regional Tribal Organizations and other key stakeholders to enhance Tribal public health emergency preparedness capacity.
  • Attendees will increase knowledge and awareness of available emergency preparedness resources
  • Attendees will identify best practices through shared information, tools and resources
  • Attendees will identify opportunities for partnerships between stakeholders to improve capacity of Tribal governments to prepare, respond, and recover from public health emergencies.
2019 National Clinical & Community-Based Services Conference
August 24-30, 2019 in Tigard, OR
 
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is hosting the Clinical and Community-Based Services Conference to convene and hear from nationally recognized speakers, health care providers, Tribal leaders, and health care officials committed to addressing emergent clinical and community health topics in Indian Country. The focus topics include, but are not limited to: opioid prevention, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C prevention, STD prevention, tobacco prevention, cancer prevention, and Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training. Registration is free. Read more here.
Native Children’s Research Exchange
September 12-13, 2019 in Denver, CO
 
This year’s Native Children's Research Exchange conference theme is “Child Development in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: Vital Aspects of Culture and Family.” Submissions are invited on research and evaluation efforts related to American Indian and Alaska Native children’s development prenatally through young adulthood. Read more here.