Weekly News, Funding, Resources, and Upcoming Events in Indian Country

September 12, 2019

FDA Takes Action Against JUUL in Response to Illegal Marketing to Youth and Tribes

On Monday, September 9th, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to JUUL Labs Inc. for marketing e-cigarette products as a safer alternative to cigarettes without authorization. These problematic marketing tactics, which include a "Switching Program" presentation to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, came to light during a July 27th hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives. The FDA is requesting a response from JUUL within 30 days of the date of the warning. Read more here.

SAMHSA 2019 National Recovery Month

September 2019

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. This year's theme is "Join Voices for Recovery: Together we are Stronger".  Read more here .

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Developing Infrastructure to Chill Melting Permafrost

A team of engineers with the Alaska Native Health Consortium (ANTHC) are working with Tribal community members throughout Alaska to develop and install infrastructure to freeze thawed out permafrost. To learn more about this technological innovation and how it may impact climate change and improve public health in Alaska, Read more here.

Come Work for NIHB!

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:

These positions are based in Washington, DC. Those who are interested in making a positive difference in the health of America’s Native Peoples’ lives are encouraged to apply. Read more here.

NIHB is Seeking Indigenous Knowledge on Blood Lead Level Testing

NIHB is working in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase the capacity of rural and non-urban Tribal communities for identifying and addressing elevated blood lead levels in Tribal children. To accomplish this, NIHB seeks to engage Tribal representatives and health professionals in 60-minute key informant interviews. The interviews will ask Tribal Health Directors or programmatic staff to describe their programs or operational plans in place for blood lead level testing and their current knowledge of lead exposure risk factors. Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Stephen Valliere, Public Health Project Coordinator( [email protected] or 202-507-4082 ). Read more here.

Funding Opportunity: Strong Systems, Stronger Communities: Strengthening Tribal Public Health Systems (Webinar Recordings Now Available)

Applications Due: Friday, September 20, 2019 by 11:59 PM ET

NIHB and the CDC are pleased to announce the second cycle of funding for Strong Systems, Stronger Communities (SSSC) for Tribes. This opportunity continues NIHB’s commitment to the strengthening of Tribal public health systems by offering support and technical assistance directly to Tribes for projects designed to build their public health capacity.  Read more here.

For additional questions about this Request for Applications, contact Sarah Price, Public Health Project Coordinator ( [email protected] ).

2018-2019 SSSC Cohort at the in-person training in Washington, D.C.

Lifesavers Conference Traffic Safety Scholar Program Application

Application Due: Monday, November 11, 2019

Conference Dates: Sunday to Tuesday, March 15 to 17, 2020 in Tampa, FL

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities Traffic Safety Scholars Program (TSS). The TSS Program provides awards of up to $1,000 to help full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of fields defray the cost of attending the nation's largest gathering of traffic safety professionals, which will be held March 15-17 in Tampa, Florida. Read more and apply here.

NPAIHB New Informational Materials for Two Spirit and LGBTQ People

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board(NPAIHB) has recently released new materials designed to improve clinic experiences for people who are Two Spirit or LGBTQ. These materials include posters, rack cards, and pamphlets for healthcare providers working with Two Spirit and LGBTQ patients, allies seeking to support their LGBTQ and Two Spirit community members, and Two Spirit and LGBTQ community members navigating healthcare. Access the materials here or contact Morgan Thomas ( [email protected] ).

Lane, a trans Cherokee woman, shares her story in NPAIHB's Two-Spirit and LGBTQ Materials

CDC MMWR Report: Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Pregnancy

AI/AN Women experiences more pregnancy-related death than most women from other racial/ethnic groups

An analysis of 2007-2016 data published in last week's CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) found American Indian/Alaska Native women have significantly more pregnancy-related deaths than other racial/ethnic groups, second only to black women.  View the full report here.

IHS National Suicide Prevention Week Events and Activities

Sunday to Saturday, September 8-14, 2019

In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week (NSPW), the Indian Health Service (IHS) is spotlighting activities and events being held in Tribal communities by Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative(MSPI)/Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Program(SASPP) projects. See the full list of events here.

Host an Indigenous Pink Event for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Indigenous Pink Day: Thursday, October 19, 2019

Contact Deadline: Monday, September 16, 2019

 

The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is excited to launch another Indigenous Pink event this October. Indigenous Pink is a national breast cancer awareness campaign for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. AICAF invites clinic partners serving AI/AN communities to join in on the fun by hosting a breast health awareness event at their clinic and will provide Indigenous Pink promotional packages to the first 15 clinics that sign up to host an event by Monday, September 16 ^th ! Sign up here.

Webinar: Public Health Foundation Academic Health Department Series: Innovating a Teaching Health Department

Monday, September 16, 2019 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

Join the Public Health Foundation (PHF) and Boone (IN) County Health Department (BCHD) as they share perspectives, lessons learned, and best practices to meet the all-too-familiar goals of expanding capacity despite limited funding and meeting growing needs. Read more and register here.

Webinar: Strengthening Tribal Public Health Partnerships

Monday, September 23, 2019 from 3:00-4:00 PM ET

 

In this webinar, Tamara Fulwyler (Chickasaw), the Tribal Relations Director with the Washington State Department of Health, will review how non-Tribal public health agencies can better collaborate with Tribal entities to support community health. The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice will host this webinar as part of the Hot Topics series.  Read more and register here.

Webinar: FEMA Region II Youth Can Help with Preparedness

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 12:00-1:00 PM ET

 

Join the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) Region II for this webinar to act on the National Preparedness Month’s week three theme of “Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters”. Listen to youth preparedness experts from the Individual and Community Preparedness Division at FEMA and members from the Youth Preparedness Council share their experience and highlight youth-centered programs and tools. Register here .

36 ^th Annual National Tribal Health Conference Begins Next Week!

September 16-19, 2019 in Temecula, CA

 

NIHB's 36 ^th Annual National Tribal Health Conference is taking place next week, September 16-19, 2019 in Temecula, CA . The conference will 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. Registration will be available on-site. More information can be found here.