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

October 3, 2019

Oglala Sioux Tribal Council Bans E-Cigarettes

In a recent statement made by President Julian Bear Runner, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council has recently announced that they are taking action to regulate nicotine intake through electronic smoking devices on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In response to the recent deaths as a result of electronic smoking devices, this ban is the first of its kind in Indian Country. Read more here.

Recognizing Indigenous Pink with AICAF

The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is excited to acknowledge another Indigenous Pink event this October! Indigenous Pink is a national breast cancer awareness campaign for American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and aims to educate people about the importance of early detection and breast cancer screening in men and women. Help raise awareness with AICAF on breast health in AI/AN communities throughout the month and on Indigenous Pink Day on Thursday, October 17, 2019! Read more here.

Seven Communities Receive Grants for Projects that Address Health and Climate Change Solutions

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in partnership with the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, recently announced grants to seven communities across the United States to study health, health equity, and climate change solutions. The seven communities include several Tribal winners:

Swinomish worked on this framework as part of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Climate Ready Tribes project. Congratulations to Swinomish and all awardees! Read more here.

Seattle Times Series on Climate Change in the Northern Bering Sea

The Seattle Times is publishing a series on climate change in the northern Bering Sea. The series includes perspectives from Alaska Natives, including Yup’ik hunters and fishers who depend on the rapidly disappearing sea ice to hunt and fish for their traditional foods. Read more here.

The SMART Project

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board has partnered with the Sexual Minority Adolescent Risk Taking (SMART) Project – a real-world online program for two spirit, gay, bi, and queer teens to learn more about their sexual identities and health! Read more here and find more resources for two spirit and LGBT people here.

Food Sovereignty and Self Governance: Inuit Role in Managing Arctic Marine Resources

As part of the Inuit led Food Sovereignty and Self Governance project, Indigenous Knowledge holders came together to explore the co-management structures, policies and decision-making pathways surrounding the management of walrus (and other marine food sources), and ways of moving toward Inuit Food Sovereignty. The produced report includes key themes discussed and recommendations. Read more here.

October is Health Literacy Month

October is National Health Literacy Month. Health literacy focuses on ensuring that health information is easy to understand and making the health care system easier to navigate. Poor communication is one barrier to health literacy, and it can prevent people from accessing and understanding vital health information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has guidance and tools to help make health information accurate, accessible and actionable. View these resources here and also visit health.gov to learn more about the importance of health literacy and the many resources available for communities.

Counting a Diverse Nation: Disaggregating Data on Race and Ethnicity to Advance a Culture of Health

PolicyLink, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recently published a report that discusses current and recommended methods for collecting and analyzing data about race and ethnicity, particularly for under-reported groups such as Asians/Pacific Islanders and American Indians/Alaska Natives, as well as government policies that enable and enhance data disaggregation. Read the full report here.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: We Demand More

The Seattle Indian Health Board/Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) recently published a report.  MMIWG: We Demand More . This report is a direct response to a June 2019 report by the Washington State Patrol on the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) crisis in Washington State. UIHI conducted a research study using quantitative and qualitative analysis of information from the Washington State Patrol report and offered American Indian/Alaska Native community-driven recommendations on how to best address MMIWG. Read more here.

Come Work for NIHB!

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, at [email protected] or 202-507-4082 . Read more here.

Call for Local Native Artists

Due Friday, October 11, 2019 by 5:00 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board is seeking to work with a Native artist local to the Great Plains region for our 11th annual Tribal Public Health Summit taking place in Omaha, NE on March 17-19, 2020. Selected artwork will be featured throughout our conference books, banners, staging, and digital marketing, and the selected artist will receive a complimentary exhibit booth in our exhibit hall.

Please submit images of original artwork by Friday, October 11 ^th to Stephen Valliere, [email protected]

Public Health Institute/Center for Health Leadership & Practice Fellowship

Due October 11, 2019 by 8:00 PM ET

The Public Health Institute/Center for Health Leadership & Practice Fellowship, National Leadership Academy for the Public's Health , is currently accepting applications for their 2020 Cohort. This one-year program uses an experiential learning process that includes webinars, a multi-day retreat, coaching support, peer networking and an applied population health project. Read more here.

Primary Care Services Grant

Due Monday, October 21, 2019

A grant is available through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support public and private nonprofit community-based and patient-directed organizations that provide primary health care services to medically underserved populations. Tribes and Tribal organizations are eligible to apply. Read more here.

Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency Service Coordinator Funding Opportunity

Due Friday, November 15, 2019

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is offering grants to fund Service Coordinators to assist residents of public and Indian housing in making progress towards economic self-sufficiency, including the provision of health and other resources.  Read more here.

EPA Announces Competitive Grant to Support Tribal Pesticide Program Council

Due Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced that the agency is seeking applications to provide technical support for the Tribal Pesticide Program Council (TPPC) as it works to protect public health and strengthen Tribal pesticide programs. The TPPC informs Tribes of pesticide issues and promotes pesticide education and awareness. It also assists in the establishment, development, and implementation of comprehensive Tribal pesticide programs. Read more here.

Webinar: IHS 2019-2020 Influenza Season Kick-Off

*TODAY* Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 2:00 PM ET

Join the Indian Health Service(IHS) Immunization Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Influenza Division as they present data from the 2018-2019 influenza season, as well as important information and strategies to increase vaccine coverage for the 2019-2020 season. Read more here.

NCAI Policy Research Center Webinar Series: Introduction to an Interactive Overdose Mapping Tool

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 3:00 PM ET

Join NCAI Policy Research Center for its “Introduction to an Interactive Overdose Mapping Tool” webinar. In partnership with US Department of Agriculture, the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) developed the Opioid Misuse Community Assessment Tool, an interactive data tool that allows users to visualize county-level drug and opioid overdose mortality data. Additionally, the tool provides overlays of socio-economic and demographic factors including race and ethnicity. Read more here.

Obesity Prevention Webinar Series

Wednesday, October 9 and Wednesday, October 16 at 3:00 PM ET

The National Native Network and Indian Health Service are currently hosting a webinar series on obesity prevention. Two webinars are remaining:

Health educators and other relevant providers are invited to attend. Continuing education credits may be available.

Webinar: Facing Alzheimer's Through Community Strengths

Wednesday, October 16, 2019 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET

Please join NIHB and the Alzheimer's Association for our joint webinar, Facing Alzheimer's Through Community Strengths . The rise in Alzheimer’s and other dementias is a challenge for all communities, including those in Indian Country. The webinar will cover what is Alzheimer’s and other dementias, how dementia relates to diabetes and heart disease, and why dementia affects multiple generations. While responding to this growing health problem may seem daunting, there are ways to get started using a communities’ existing strengths and partners. Read more here and download the flyer here.

Tribal Climate and Health Adaptation Webinars

Dates vary, through December 2019

The Pala Environmental Department is hosting a series of webinars on Tribal climate and health adaptation. The series began in August and will be held through December 2019. The series will provide steps, tools, templates, case studies, and other resources that seek to streamline the adaptation planning process and make it easier for Tribal health and environmental professionals to understand and address human health exposures and impacts within Tribal communities. This training will summarize the latest data and literature on the exposures and impacts of climate change that may impact the health of Tribal community members. It will also describe how to identify and select appropriate strategies to address these exposures and impacts. Read more here.