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

September 30, 2021
News
Register Now for NIHB's Virtual National Tribal Health Conference on October 4-8!

It's not too late to register for the National Indian Health Board's (NIHB) annual National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC)!
 
Join NIHB for 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!
Agenda Highlights:
Monday, October 4, 2021
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) Listening Session
  • Veterans Affairs (VA) Listening Session
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Listening Session
  • Using Tribal Data for Planning, Policy and Grant Writing Institute
  • Managing the Financials of Federal Grants for Tribes Institute
  • Virtual Engagement with Congress 101 Institute
  • Seizure First Aid Training Institute Presented by the Epilepsy Foundation
  • National Health Equity Listening Session
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
  • Opening Plenary Session: Achieving Health Equity through Partnership and Self Determination
  • Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, US Department of Health and Human Services (Invited)
  • Elizabeth Fowler, Acting Director, Indian Health Service
  • Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, White House Health Equity Task Force
  • Victor Joseph (Native Village of Tanana), White House Health Equity Task Force
  • 2 sets of Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Listening Session
  • Middle Plenary: Fulfilling the Trust Responsibility: A Discussion of the Federal Government's Role as a Funder of Indian Health Care
  • Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • Panel on Hot Topics in Medicare and Medicaid
  • Darci Graves, Co-Chair, Rural Health Council, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • Senator Lisa Murkowski
  • Senator Charles Schumer (Invited)
  • Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Invited)
  • 2 sets of concurrent breakout sessions
  • 2021 NIHB Outstanding Service Awards Presentation
Thursday, October 7, 2021
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Listening Session
  • 1 set of concurrent COVID-19 Roundtable Sessions
  • 1 set of concurrent breakout sessions
  • Closing Plenary: Healing our Trauma: A Discussion to Address the Legacy of Federal Indian Boarding Schools and Looking to the Future
  • Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of Interior (Invited)
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren (Invited)
  • Dr. Matthew Fletcher, University of Michigan
  • Christine McCleave, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
  • Dr. Evan Adams, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, Indigenous Services Canada
  • Geoff Roth, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
  • Chief Lynn Malerba, Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut
  • Chairman Harold Frazier, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (Invited)
  • Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Invited)
 

Friday, October 8, 2021
  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Tribal Consultation
  • Health Information Technology (IT) Summit
 

Check out our workshop tracks and view the agenda to see our confirmed sessions!
  • 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

Read More, View the Agenda, and Register here.
Nation-to-Nation Dialogue on the Ongoing COVID-19 Response

On September 24, 2021, Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) inviting Tribal leaders to participate in a special two-day virtual Nation-to-Nation dialogue on the COVID-19 response in Indian Country. As part of the role within the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA), HHS and other federal departments and agencies of the WHCNAA Health Committee including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Interior (DOI), and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will be in attendance. This conversation will inform the work of the WHCNAA Health Committee to quickly and efficiently develop an interagency plan to improve health systems and infrastructure to better address the ongoing COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and prepare for future Public Health Emergencies in Indian Country.
 
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 @ 2:00 - 4:00 PM EST
Telephone: 833 568 8864 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 161 505 3809
 
Thursday, October 28, 2021 @ 2:00 - 4:00 PM EST
Telephone: 833 568 8864 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 160 452 7474
 
Written comments and recommendations on the mandatory funding approaches, must be submitted by Friday, November 5, 2021. You can submit written comments via email at consultation@hhs.gov.
Tribal Consultation on Sustainable Public Health Supply Chain

Dawn O'Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), sent a Dear Tribal Leader letter announcing Tribal Consultation on recommendations to facilitate Tribal access to medical countermeasures and supplies that may be needed in public health emergencies. As part of this consultation, input is welcome on the following questions

  1. What gaps or issues did your facility (THP, UIO, or IHS) encounter when requesting federal assistance for medical supplies needed during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  2. What recommendations do you have to improve and address the gaps or issues?
  3. What recommendations do you have to improve the request process for federal assistance to access supplies held in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and other federal and military stockpiles?

Tribal consultation dates, times, and virtual platforms are listed below. You may also send your written comments and recommendations on the ASPR tribal consultation process, by October 22, 2021 By e-mail to: Consultation@hhs.gov- Subject: Access to Federal Medical Supplies.
 
  • DATE: October 18, 2021 @ 2:00-4:00pm ET
 
  • DATE: October 20, 2021 @ 2:00-4:00pm ET
CIIHE Listening Session
 
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) sent a Dear Tribal Leader Letter inviting participation in a Listening Session to receive updates and share your input regarding the establishment of the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity (CIIHE). 

The purpose of this Listening Session is to: 
  • Announce the CIIHE awardees
  • Summarize CIIHE-related feedback from the 2021 HHS Regional Tribal Consultation listening sessions and other correspondence
  • Provide an update on CIIHE Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) development 

The Listening Session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 27, 2021, from 1:00pm. – 2:00pm ET. Click here to register.
HAN: COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends urgent action to increase COVID-19 vaccination among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future. The CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh any known or potential risks. Pregnant and recently pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe illness, death, and pregnancy complications when compared with non-pregnant people. Data from a CDC study suggested that approximately 97% of pregnant people hospitalized (for severe illness or for labor and delivery) with a confirmed case of COVID-19 were unvaccinated.

Healthcare providers, including Tribal healthcare providers, should strongly recommend that people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future receive one of the authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. Efforts should specifically address populations with lower vaccination coverage and use approaches to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.

Read more here.
NIHB is taking a break from sending out the Tribal Public Health Broadcast for a couple weeks. To allow staff to take some time after the National Tribal Health Conference, the Broadcast will return on October 21, 2021.
Funding & Opportunities
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Food Service Facility Input Requested by October 27

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) invites hospital food services, restaurant facilities, daycares, and school cafeteria staff to participate in a brief survey. The purpose of this survey is to connect with Tribal environmental health departments and foodservice facility operators to identify current strategies, policies, and procedures being implemented by Tribal health departments to ensure safe reopening and continued operations for Tribal food facilities. The survey will take you less than 10 minutes to complete.

To access the survey, click here.

All personal information that you provide will be kept secure and not shared. NIHB will only report results in the aggregate with no identifying information attached. Please complete the survey by October 27, 2021. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Audrianna Marzette by email at amarzette@nihb.org.
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The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board ECHO Project Influenza Survey

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) ECHO is working with PRIME Education to develop a webinar series on Influenza. To best understand the information NPAIHB should share; NPAIHB is conducting a small research study: Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment: Tailored Provider Education to Address the Needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. The survey will take approximately 5 – 10 minutes to complete. The survey is intended to obtain your viewpoint about the healthcare experiences of your patients with influenza. Physicians, nurses, NPs, PAs, PharmDs, patient navigators as well as community health aids are welcomed to complete the survey. At the end of the survey, you will be able to claim an Amazon e-gift card by entering your email address. To participate, please click here.
Tribes Eligible to Apply for 2022 AmeriCorps State and National Public Health Funding
Applications due November 8, 2021 at 5:00pm EST

The American Rescue Plan Act invested $400 million to recruit, train, and support the next generation of public health leaders. Federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations [see Section C of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)] are eligible to apply. These funds are meant to provide additional capacity and support to advance equitable health outcomes, and provide workforce development and training. Tribes can propose programming focused on both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 efforts.

To assist applicants, AmeriCorps is offering several technical assistance webinars, including:
  • AmeriCorps 101 and Introduction to Public Health AmeriCorps (multiple dates)
  • FY 2022 Public Health AmeriCorps-NOFO 101 (October 6, 2021)
  • FY 2022 Public Health AmeriCorps - Performance Measures Best Practices (October 12, 2021)
  • FY 2022 Public Health AmeriCorps - Best Practices in Budget Development (October 14, 2021)

You can read more, including the NOFO and registering for technical assistance webinars, here.
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.

  • Communications Director
  • Director of Congressional Relations
  • Congressional Relations Associate
  • Policy Analyst
  • Policy Research Analyst
  • Policy Center Communications Coordinator
  • 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 Social Media Communications Specialist
  • Public Health Administrative Assistant

Job descriptions are available here.
Request for Information on Infection Control and Disaster Plans
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.
Resources
Request Technical Assistance on Injury Surveillance and Prevention Data Policies and Key Issues

National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering technical assistance to support Tribal injury surveillance and prevention efforts. Topics include but are not limited to analyzing state policies that may impact data sharing or establishing data sharing partnership agreements.

For questions and more information, contact Nina Martin (nmartin@nihb.org, 202-548-7299).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

  • Updated: SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors all variants circulating in the United States. The variants designated as Variants Being Monitored (VBM) include variants for which there are data indicating a potential or clear impact on approved or authorized medical countermeasures or that has been associated with more severe disease or increased transmission but are no longer detected or are circulating at very low levels in the United States, and as such, do not pose a significant and imminent risk to public health in the United States. Read more.
  • Updated: Laboratory Advisory: The CDC updated SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications. Read more.
  • Updated: Interim guidance for Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19. Read more.
  • Updated: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. Read more.
  • Updated: COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination. Read more.
  • Updated: Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination on the CDC website. Read more.
  • Updated: Case Investigator's Interview Tool: Talking with People about COVID-19. Read more.
  • Updated: Customizable Contact Tracing Notification Letters. Read more.
  • Updated: Contact Tracing Resources for Health Departments. Read more.
  • Updated: Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases. Read more.
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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.
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. 
Events
CDC - COVID-19 Leadership: Best Practices for Team Leads
Multiple dates and times available.
 
This training is not recorded. It is a live, instructor-led training. Full attendance and active participation for all two days are required to obtain a certificate. Our trainings are offered by demand, so register only if you will attend. This virtual skills-based course is designed for public health leaders who manage case investigators and contact tracers supporting COVID-19 programs. Read more.
COVID-19 Community Corps Call on Vaccine Boosters
Today! Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 5:00pm ET

Join the Surgeon General for a COVID-19 Response Update and Q&A on COVID-19 booster shots. If you would like to submit a question, please email covidcommunitycorps@hhs.gov, and then RSVP below for the virtual event. To RSVP for the event click here
COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce Public Meeting
Today! Thursday, September 30, 2021, from 2:00-6:00pm ET

Join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today for the seventh COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce meeting. The taskforce members will vote on advancing interim recommendations to final recommendations for mitigating inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and for preventing such inequities in the future. If you or your organization would like to provide public comments during the meeting, please email your name and affiliation to: COVID19HETF@hhs.gov. To watch the live stream of the Taskforce meeting, click here.
CDC COCA Call - Evaluating and Supporting Patients Presenting with Fatigue Following COVID-19  
Today! Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hosting a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call to discuss Post-COVID conditions (PCC), an umbrella term for the wide range of health consequences present four or more weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2, which includes Long-COVID. It can be difficult to distinguish symptoms of fatigue and post-exertional malaise caused by PCC from symptoms that occur for other reasons. The burden of PCC is expected to reflect the disproportionate burden of infection by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and to highlight ongoing inequities in healthcare. Read more.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Listening Session
Monday, October 4, 2021, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EST
 
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) will be hosting the annual National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC) on October 4-8, 2021. As part of the conference NIHB in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will be convening a Listening Session on the Delta variant, full Food and Drug Administration approval of the Pfizer (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine, youth vaccinations, and boosters. This listening session will identify and discuss the impact of our nation’s response to address systemic disparities in health outcomes and the spread of COVID-19 in American Indian/Alaska Native populations. Guest speakers include Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, Dr. Jose Montero, Director of the Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support (CSTLTS), Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases, and Capt. Kari Hearod, Director of the Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliance (OTASA). This listening session is free and open to the public, but it does require registration. Register here
AAIP Webinar: Managing Influenza in American Indian Populations: Timely Diagnosis & Community Engagement Webinar
Monday, October 4, 2021, at 3:00 PM ET

Join the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) and Jorge R. Mera (Director of Infectious Diseases at Cherokee Nation Health Services) on September 24 or October 4 for a very important webinar. Read the description below:

Timely recognition is important to mitigate complications from influenza, but disparities in community awareness and diagnostic testing create a unique burden for Indian Health systems establishing best practices for clinical and laboratory diagnosis. In this first of a 2-part virtual meeting series, real-world survey data will be shared to highlight different approaches and opportunities across tribal health settings. You won't want to miss:
  • Local survey results surrounding community engagement and healthcare access for timely influenza diagnosis
  • The latest evidence, guidelines and best practices for clinical and laboratory diagnosis of influenza
  • Interactive discussion with faculty and colleagues on strategies to overcoming barriers and improve patient care

Register for the webinar here.
CDC Project Firstline Virtual Event
Wednesday, October 6, 2021, from 3:15 to 4:00 PM ET
 
SAVE THE DATE! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Project Firstline (PFL) Team will be hosting a virtual event to discuss what SARS-CoV-2 variants mean for infection control recommendations in healthcare and answer healthcare workers’ questions about CDC’s current infection prevention and control guidance, including some of the outstanding questions received during the Town Hall held on September 17, 2021. 
 
Tribal healthcare workers and Tribal healthcare organization leaders interested can tune in via Zoom or the Project Firstline Facebook page, where the event will be broadcasting live. Register here.
COVID-19 and Influenza Webinar
Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET

As the United States prepares for the 2021-22 influenza season that begins in October, questions abound regarding how to deal with both COVID-19 and flu at the same time. This webinar will provide information on what to expect this season to minimize flu and pneumonia infections during the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss the potential risk to those with underlying medical conditions during the current flu season. For more information, contact Courtney Wheeler or Audrianna Marzette. Register here.
Webinar: Indigenous Knowledge and Health During COVID-19
Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 7:00pm ET

Join the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) for a webinar on Indigenous Knowledge and Health during COVID-19. AAIP will bring together a diverse range of Indigenous knowledge holders to explore health, healing, and empowerment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This event is free and open to the public. To register, click here.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Updates Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101
Webinar 5- Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 2:00–3:00pm ET

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated the “Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans.”

To assist with the rollout, FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinar sessions to discuss the update and key changes to CPG 101 with whole community partners. This webinar will highlight the changes in the document and help planners at all levels utilize the principles, concepts, tools, and process from the CPG 101.

Advance registration is required and on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here.

To download the document and learn more about and register for the webinar sessions, visit FEMA.gov.
New Infectious Disease ECHO
Thursday October 21,2021 at 2:00 PM ET
 
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s Indian Country ECHO is a free service for clinicians and health programs serving American Indian and Alaska Native people. Indian Country ECHO is launching a new Infectious Disease ECHO which will be held on the third Thursday of the month from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm MT beginning October 21, 2021. The ECHO virtual clinics will provide an opportunity to be updated on the latest emerging infectious disease topics, engage in challenging case discussions, participate in a didactic session, and join a learning community to effectively screen, treat, and manage patients with infectious diseases. CE will be provided. Learn more here.
Webinar: The Role of Research and Data in Advancing American Indian and Alaska Native Health Policy
Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at 12:00pm ET

Harvard’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, and the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP), are hosting a colloquium featuring Yvette Roubideaux who will be speaking about the role of research and data in the advancement of American Indian and Alaska Native health policy. This colloquium is being held via Zoom on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at 12:00pm ET. To join the colloquium, click here.

Save the date for their next virtual colloquium with Dr. Melissa Walls, who will be speaking about Indigenous Health and Well-being, on December 1, 2021.
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.