Tribal Public Health Broadcast
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Weekly News, Funding, Resources, and Upcoming Events in Indian Country
August 26, 2021
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Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Fully Approved by FDA for Ages 16 and Older
On Monday, August 23, 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, now known as Comirnaty, is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), replacing its emergency use authorization (EUA) for all Americans over the age of 16 years including American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine continues to be available under EUA for Native youth ages 12-15 years and certain immunocompromised persons who are receiving a third dose. Read more.
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HHS Announces COVID-19 Booster Shots for the American People
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Call for Information from Tribal Environmental Health Professionals
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National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is seeking information from Tribal environmental health professionals on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted environmental health work in Tribal communities, especially with regards to food safety.
If you are a Tribal environmental health or food safety professional, please fill out this short survey to help guide NIHB’s work in this area. Should you be interested, NIHB staff can arrange for a follow up conversation over the phone about best practices, policies, and procedures being implemented for your ongoing COVID-19 response implementation efforts and planning activities. Please email Audrianna Marzette at AMarzette@nihb.org or Brett Weber at bweber@nihb.org for more information.
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Perspectives from Native Women Who Have Quit Smoking
Are you a Native woman who has embarked on a journey to quit smoking in the past year? National Indian Health Board (NIHB) would like to hear from you! If you are interested in a brief (approx. 20 minute) phone call so we can hear about your journey to stop using commercial tobacco products during the COVID-19 pandemic and what advice you’d offer to other Native women experiencing tobacco addiction, please email Brett Weber at bweber@nihb.org.
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Researchers are Concerned About the Possibility That COVID-19 Might Lead to Dementia
With many people complaining about brain fog, attention problems and confusion after COVID-19, researchers are exploring whether infections could have long-term consequences for the brain. In trial results presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2021, scientists said they found changes in brain biology after hospitalization with COVID-19 and a link between smell loss and mental sharpness in older adults. Read the full article here.
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IA2 is now a National Dementia Friends Sub-licensee for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Communities
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Vaccine Allocation Transfer and Redistribution for IHS and Tribal Facilities
The vaccine transfer/redistribution processes outlined on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page are the legal methods to adjust to changes in vaccine supply and demand. The guidance outlines two methods to transfer vaccines to IHS-operated facilities and facilities operated by Tribal Health Program and Urban Indian Organization (I/T/U) participating in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program coordinated through IHS. The transfer of vaccines under these two methods eliminates the need for Tribal Health Programs and Urban Indian Organizations to sign separate CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Agreements through a state/local jurisdiction. Read more.
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Safe Healthcare Blog
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) introduces a new blog authored by Denise Cardo, MD, Director, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. The Safe Healthcare Blog addresses the need for more action to reduce infectious disease threats around the world so that there is a resilient system ready to address and stop the next threat when it arrives. This blog highlights lessons learned over the last decade and from the COVID-19 global response that inform ways to prevent healthcare-associated infections, including those caused by antibiotic resistant pathogens, and other infectious diseases.
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News Release: NIH scientists develop faster COVID-19 test
On August 26, 2021, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the development of a new sample preparation method to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The method simplifies sample purification and potentially reducing test time and cost. Read more.
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IHS National Tribal Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health (NTAC) Roster Vacancies
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Albuquerque: Primary and Alternate
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Nashville: Primary and Alternate
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Navajo: Primary and Alternate
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Tucson: Primary and Alternate
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Bemidji: Alternate
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Billings: Alternate
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National Environmental Health Association Offering Funding for Food Safety in Tribal Communities
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The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) will soon be offering a multi-year funding opportunity for retail food regulatory agencies in their efforts to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness and increase conformance with the Retail Program Standards. The Grant Program has three tracks depending on the level of capacity of the applicant. Read more.
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CDC/ATDSR Tribal Advisory Committee Accepting Member Nominations
Applications due Monday, August 30, 2021
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Bemidji, Billings, Nashville, and Portland Areas until August 30, 2021. Read more here.
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IHS Announces Technical Assistance Webinars for CHAP Expansion Funding Opportunities
Applications due Monday, September 6, 2021
The Indian Health Service (IHS) has announced two Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) funding opportunities.
- CHAP Tribal Assessment and Planning (TAP) Grant
- Deadline: Monday, September 6, 2021
- Designed to provide funding to Tribes and Tribal Organizations to identify barriers to care and assess whether the CHAP model can address barriers to care through focusing on key areas derived from Tribal consultation including clinical infrastructure, workforce barriers, provider certification, provider training, and cultural inclusion. The CHAP TAP grant program is a two year grant program of a total of $520,000 per awardee and the IHS intends to fund nine (9) awards. Tribes and Tribal Organizations within an IHS Area are strongly encouraged to partner. To assist applicants and answer questions regarding the content of the grant, a webinar was held on August 9. Read more here.
- CHAP Tribal Planning and Implementation Grant
- Deadline: Monday, September 6, 2021
- Designed to provide funding to Tribes and Tribal Organizations positioned to begin operating a CHAP or support an expanded CHAP by providing infrastructure support to address clinical supervision, scope of practice, training, technology, workforce integration, and social determinants of health. The CHAP TPI grant program is a two-year grant program of a total of $1,000,000 per awardee and the IHS intends to fund three (3) awards. Tribes and Tribal Organizations within an IHS Area are strongly encouraged to partner. To assist applicants and answer questions regarding the content of the grant, a webinar was held on August 10. Read more here.
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HRSA Funding Opportunities
Various deadlines
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- Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce (HRSA 22-110)
- Deadline: Monday, August 30, 2021
- Approximately ten awards will be made totaling approximately $29 million over three years to health care organizations to support members of their workforce. This includes establishing, enhancing, or expanding evidence-informed programs or protocols to adopt, promote and implement an organizational culture of wellness that includes resilience and mental health among their employees.
- NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
- Deadline: Wednesday, September 1, 2021
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The program established $1 billion in funds for Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grants to support access to and adoption of broadband service on Tribal lands. Funding can be used for broadband infrastructure deployment, affordable broadband programs, distance learning, telehealth, digital inclusion efforts, and broadband adoption activities. (Access the recorded webinar here and attached is the presentation.)
- Emergency Broadband Benefit Program | Enhanced Tribal Benefit
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The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households.
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NIH Maternal Health Funding for Prevention of Perinatal Depression: Improving Intervention Delivery for At-Risk Individuals
Due date: October 9, 2021
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced two funding opportunities for applications to refine and examine preliminary effectiveness of perinatal depression preventive interventions in settings where women receive perinatal care. Tribal entities are encouraged to apply. Read more on RFA-MH-21-240 or RFA-MH-21-241.
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The National Indian Health Board is Hiring!
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is seeking qualified candidates for the following open positions in the Public Health Policy and Programs Department based in Washington, DC.
- Deputy-Director of Public Health Programs Management
- Public Health Project Coordinator (Emergency Preparedness)
- Public Health Project Coordinator (Environmental Health)
- Public Health Project Associate (Infectious Disease)
- Public Health Project Associate (Maternal and Child Health)
- Public Health Project Associate (Maternal Mortality Review Committee)
- Public Health Communications Coordinator
- Public Health Social Media Communications Specialist
- Public Health Administrative Assistant
Job descriptions are available here.
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Request for Information on Infection Control and Disaster Plans
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One of the goals of The National Indian Health Board’s (NIHB) Project Firstline: Tribal Infection Prevention and Control Capacity Building Program is to “develop and/or adapt existing materials to inform Tribal health professionals about important components of infection prevention and control (IPC)”. To support this endeavor, NIHB is in the process of compiling current materials and plans which Tribal Health Organizations and Systems currently use or have used. NIHB is seeking assistance with gathering information about existing infection control learning materials and/or infection control response plans. Recognizing that many Tribes and Tribal organizations have set an example in their response through great planning, NIHB requests that anyone willing to share their materials to please contact Carmen Sanders at csanders@nihb.org.
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Request Technical Assistance on NIHB’s Brain Health Webpage
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Infectious Disease Response Template
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) created a response plan template as a resource for Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations to use in developing COVID-19 or other outbreak response plans or in cross-walking with existing plans. In recognition of Tribal sovereignty and self-governance, the response template acknowledges that Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations may differ in respect to their approaches to COVID-19-related mitigation and response. Therefore, this document serves as a starting or reference point for Tribal nations to review and determine what content may be relevant to their unique circumstances. Read more here.
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The Conversation/La Conversacion
Doctors, nurses, researchers and community health care workers provide facts and dispel misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines. The latest installment about the COVID vaccines and children is created in partnership between KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) the Black Coalition Against COVID, UnidosUS, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The new FAQ videos featuring pediatricians is hosted by comedian and TV host, W. Kamau Bell asking questions that many parents and caregivers have about the vaccine. The conversation features Drs. Shaquita Bell, Rhea Boyd and Yvonne Maldonado. Watch the recording and full series here.
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Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) TRACIE
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Pediatric Surge Resources for COVID-19. Read more.
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COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics Communications Toolkit. Read more.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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COVID-19 Data Tracker Weekly Review. Read more.
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Updated: Testing Strategies for SARS-CoV-2. Read more.
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Updated: How Much Do You Know about COVID-19 Vaccines? Test your Knowledge. Read more.
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US Department of Health and Human Services
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HHS Ask an Expert: FDA’s vaccine expert, Dr. Peter Marks. Watch here.
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Food and Drug Administration
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5 Things You Need to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents 12 through 17. Read more.
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New! COVID-19 Resources
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Update: COVID-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy. Read more here.
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COVID-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy Key Messages. Read more. Read more here.
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Updated: Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States. Read more here.
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Updated: COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People. Read more here.
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Talking with Patients Who Are Immunocompromised. Read more here.
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Updated: Testing Strategies for SARS-CoV-2. Read more here.
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CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Transfer and Redistribution Guidance for IHS and Tribal Facilities. Read more here.
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Updated: Guidance and Tips for Tribal Community Living During COVID-19. Read more here.
COVID-19 Contact
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 cwheeler@nihb.org or 202-507-4081.
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CDC’s Coronavirus Self Checker
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a great tool to help you make decisions on when to seek testing and medical care. Tribal members who are 13 and older, and parents and caregivers of children ages 2 to 12 can use the tool to help decide when to seek testing or medical care if they suspect they or someone they know has contracted COVID-19 or has come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Tribal members can use the on-line tool to find recommended actions and resources based on their response to questions in the Self-checker tool.
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NIHB Tribal COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Learning Event
Today! Thursday, August 26, 2021, at 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET
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de Beaumont Foundation Requesting Tribal Input in a Virtual Town Hall
Friday, August 27, 10-11am PT/1-2pm ET
The de Beaumont Foundation is inviting Tribal leaders and Tribal public health practitioners to join them for a virtual town hall to discuss Public Health Forward: Modernizing the U.S. Public Health System on Friday, August 27th from 10-11 am PT/1-2 pm ET to provide input on creating a transformative public health modernization effort and considerations for improving partners between Tribal, state, and local governments. The conversation will be led by Joe Finkbonner, former Executive Director of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and immediate past chair of the Public Health Accreditation Board. Participants’ thoughts will inform a final report. Register here by Thursday, August 26th.
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ACL/AoA Webinar on Supporting Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Dementia and a History of Trauma: Unique Challenges and Trauma-Informed Approaches
Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET
This webinar hosted by the Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging (ACL/AoA) will discuss the intersection between trauma and dementia, the unique burdens, and challenges of family caregivers of older adults with dementia and a history of trauma, and how person-centered, trauma-informed approaches can address these challenges and promote the health and well-being of this caregiving population. Learn more here.
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Public Heath Accreditation Board: Pathways Recognition Program Webinar
Tuesday August 31, 2021 at 3:00 PM ET
Participating in public health accreditation related activities has many benefits for Tribes including increased opportunities for the exercise of Tribal sovereignty, and improved health of the community. To continuously improve products and services available to meet the needs of both the public health system and health departments interested in accreditation, the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is in the process of developing and vetting a performance recognition program that supports performance improvement and builds accreditation readiness.
This webinar will provide Tribal health departments, leaders, and governing entities information about the foundational elements of the Pathways Recognition Program and allow attendees to ask and have their questions answered.
If you have questions or comments about the upcoming webinar, please visit PHAB’s website, www.phaboard.org/pathways or submit any questions to Jessica Dean at jdean@nihb.org. Register here.
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Strong Systems, Stronger Communities (SSSC) Pre-Application Webinar
Tuesday, September 1, 2021 at 1:00 PM ET
Performance improvement and progress toward national public health standards have helped Tribal health organizations improve their ability to exercise Tribal sovereignty and improve capacity to support community health. Join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) for a webinar reviewing the Strong Systems, Stronger Communities (SSSC): Strengthening Tribal Public Health Systems funding opportunity. This opportunity builds on NIHB’s commitment to strengthening Tribal public health systems by offering support and technical assistance directly to Tribes on projects designed to build their public health capacity. NIHB staff will be available to answer questions about the funding opportunity and application process. Official Tribal entities of federally recognized Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, or inter-Tribal consortiums are encouraged to attend.
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Indian Country Dementia ECHO for Health Care Workers and Caregivers
Date: 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month at 12-1:00pm MT
The Dementia ECHO Program: For Health Care Workers and Caregivers begins on September 9th (clinical program) and September 23rd (caregiver support program). The program is designed to support I/T/U clinicians and caregivers to strengthen the knowledge and care around dementia for Tribal patients. Learn more.
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National Indian Health Board Hosts IPV Webinar
Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 3:00PM ET
The National Indian Health Board is hosting the final webinar in a 3-part series on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). This webinar will be focused on Safety Planning/Immediate Intervention after Abuse Occurs. Guest speaker, Lisa Morad-McCoy, Senior Program Therapist, will provide information on the benefits of providing skilled clinical care and addressing emotional and/or physical safety of clients who disclose abuse. The webinar is recommended for Tribal behavioral health professionals, public health professionals, education staff and anyone who works with AI/AN communities around IPV. Register here. For more information, contact Chyna Locklear at clocklear@nihb.org.
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9th International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health (IMICH)
September 10-11, 2021 (virtual)
Discounted Registration ends August 27, 2021
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The 9th International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health (IMICH) – the only conference dedicated to the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, American Indian, Alaska Native and other Indigenous children and youth in North America and around the world - is taking place on September 10 and 11, 2021. The National Indian Health Board is pleased to serve on the planning committee for the IMICH as the work of the IMICH aligns with several NIHB public health and youth-focused strategic priorities. Those interested may register here.
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Symposium: Missing or Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives
September 14-16, at 1:30pm-5:15pm ET
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In an effort to find lasting solutions to the public safety challenges Tribal communities encounter and to protect them from violence, abuse, and exploitation, a national symposium on missing or murdered indigenous persons (MMIP) related issues for federal, state, Tribal and local stakeholders is being held September 14-16, 2021. This MMIP training is via webinar and will address important topics like data collection, victim advocacy, creating a community strategy for addressing missing persons, and working collaboratively across jurisdictions. The webinar is free. Learn more here.
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HRSA 2021 American Indian/Alaska Native Health Summit—Virtual
September 21–23, 2021
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Join the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Office of Regional Operations (ORO) in Seattle in collaboration with Health and Human Services (HHS) operating divisions and Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations in Region 10 for the 2021 American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) multidisciplinary health summit. The summit will focus on promising practices and innovative approaches to improve AI/AN health and address disparities in the midst of COVID-19. Read more.
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Save the Date! NIHB's National Tribal Health Conference
October 4-8, 2021
The Early Bird Registration Rate for the NTHC ends September 3rd! Starting September 4th, registration rates for attendees will increase by $70 to $420. Youth rates will remain the same price of $125.
Join NIHB for 5-days of action-packed plenary sessions, informative workshops from experts across Indian Country, and consultation and listening sessions with federal agencies. Make sure to stick around for the last day of the conference for sessions dedicated to technology in American Indian and Alaska Native health systems!
2021 NTHC Daily Topics:
· Health Equity and the Trust Responsibility: Be Heard, Make Change
· Disruption, Governance, Politics in the Tribal Health Space
· Transformational Approaches to Financing our Health Systems
· Resilience During Periods of Sustained Crisis
· The Rise of Technology to Revolutionize AI/AN Health
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This publication is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $9,600,000, and by the Indian Health Service (IHS) of HHS as part of a financial assistance award totaling $266,000, with up to 75 percent funded by CDC, up to 15 percent funded by IHS, and up to 10 percent funded by other governmental and non-governmental source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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