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

November 5, 2020
News
CDC Releases New Technical Document: Wildfires and Indoor Air

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a technical guidance document titled, “Evidence on the Use of Indoor Air Filtration as an Intervention for Wildfire Smoke Pollutant Exposure.” This document summarizes the available peer-reviewed literature about the effectiveness of air filtration as an intervention to decrease exposure to wildfire smoke and protect health when sheltering indoors. It also describes the different types of air filtering technology, metrics for measuring air quality, and summarizes the literature on their effectiveness in protecting against the harmful air pollutants in wildfire smoke.
AI/AN Children Have Some of the Highest Rates of Obesity

One of Indian Country's top public health priorities is addressing the obesity epidemic. In their recent report, The State of Obesity 2020: Better Policies for a Healthier America, Trust for America's Health explores obesity rates among demographic groups including American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Below are findings included in the report:
  • AI/AN high schoolers had higher rates of obesity compared to white or Asian students.
  • AI/AN children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) had the highest rate of obesity compared to other racial/ethic groups.

The report also features an interview with Nicholas Barton (Cheyenne and Arapahoe), Executive Director of the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board Foundation, who states that food insecurity, physical inactivity, and general lack of nutritional knowledge are contributors to high obesity rates in AI/AN communities.
Funding & Opportunities
Computer Menu
Provider Relief Fund Phase 3
Applications due tomorrow, Friday, November 6, 2020 at 11:00 PM ET

The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) provides support to healthcare providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified providers of healthcare, services, and support may receive PRF funds for healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue due to COVID-19. In Phase 3, “eligible providers” have been expanded to include those who began practicing in 2020, and an expanded group of behavioral health providers. Read more here.
Call for Proposals: Indigenous Systems: Revitalizing Inherent Alignment
Deadline for Submission: Friday, November 13 by 5:00 PM PT

Seven Directions, a Center for Indigenous Public Health, in partnership with Red Star International, Inc., has released a Call for Proposals for the Indigenous Systems: Revitalizing Inherent Alignment Project. This project is a practice-based study of how health care delivery, public health, and social services systems work together to achieve mutually shared goals and desired impact.

As a partner and grantee, selected Tribes will:
1) Receive a $20,000 grant to implement a cross-sector alignment project
2) Receive capacity building assistance
3) Evaluate the Theory of Change framework and its relevance in the Tribal setting. 

Rural Health Network Development Planning Program
Applications due Monday, November 16, 2020

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (“Network Planning Grants”). The purpose of the Network Planning Grants Program is to promote the development of integrated health care networks in order to: (i) achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services; and (iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. Tribes and Tribal organizations are eligible to apply. Read more here.
Apply Your Doctoral Research to Build Healthier Communities with Health Policy Research Scholars
Applications open between Sunday, January 13, 2021 and Wednesday, March 17, 2021

This Robert Woods Johnson Foundation program is a leadership opportunity is for doctoral students from historically marginalized backgrounds across a wide range of disciplines—from economics to education—who want to apply their research to inform and influence policy in ways that advance health equity. Read more here.
Resources
New! COVID-19 Resources:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
NIHB COVID-19 Contact

The National Indian Health Board is committed to serving Tribal Nations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Visit our COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center for more information and resources.
Events
Join AICAF for National Lung Cancer Awareness Month

The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is hosting a variety of online events, and sharing resources toolkits in honor of National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Read more here.
IHS Behavioral Health Integration Webinar Series: Social Determinants of Health: Culturally Adapted for AI/AN Communities
Today! Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET

Join the Indian Health Service (IHS) Behavioral Health Integration Webinar Series for a webinar on the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): Culturally Adapted for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Communities. According to Healthy People 2020, SDOH refer to “the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect health risks and outcomes.” This presentation will provide attendees with information on how to include culture in addressing overall SDOH and to enhance protective factors for AI/AN communities. Register here.
Care Transitions to Home Health: Key COVID-19 Considerations
Friday, November 6, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET

Join the National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center (NETEC) for a webinar on care transitions to home health. In this webinar, they will discuss the importance of effective collaboration and communication during the intake/screening and referral processes concerning COVID-19 between home health clinicians, patients, and caregivers, articulate how to adapt to the CDC guidelines at home pertaining to challenges experienced when a mother of a newborn child tests positive for COVID-19 based on complex case studies, and summarize the various approaches necessary to effectively address encounters surrounding poor health literacy in minority populations affected by the pandemic as derived from clinical case scenarios. Register here.
Essential Workers
Supporting Providers Dealing with Loss
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET

Join the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tele-Behavioral Health Center of Excellence of their webinar titled Supporting Providers Dealing with Loss as part of the Grief and Loss Webinar Series. This webinar will review unique aspects of loss, grief, compassion fatigue, and burnout of behavioral health and health care providers prior to and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal and professional challenges of ambiguous loss and disenfranchised grief – including provider feelings of guilt, lack of reward, loss of control and uncertainty about the future - will be illustrated through case examples. Case examples will also be used to explain how to employ effective supportive interventions to providers and enhance self-care and resiliency. Read more here.
Engaging Children and Teens in Telebehavioral Health Sessions: The Basics
Thursday, November 12, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more healthcare providers providing behavioral health services by telehealth for the first time. This webinar, hosted by Indian Health Service (IHS), will provide strategies to engage American Indian/Alaska Native youth in telebehavioral health sessions. Read more here.
Supporting Safety for Families of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders during COVID-19
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 3:00 PM ET

This webinar, hosted by Indian Health Service (IHS), will focus on developing providers’ skills in supporting parents/families in ensuring the safety of their child with a neurodevelopmental disorder, including Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Providers will be able to teach families strategies for managing COVID-19 specific safety restrictions. Teaching tools will include resource page, quick facts for providers, and handouts for families. Read more here.
Addressing Mental Health During COVID-19 for K-12 Students
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET

Join the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II National Preparedness Division for a webinar on supporting the mental health of students in kindergarten through 12th grade during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karina Aguilar, Assistant Regional Administrator of the Region II Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will discuss the impact of COVID-19 and quarantine on children and teenage mental health. Learn about the symptoms and warning signs of depression and anxiety and how to help our families and communities better manage these challenging times. Register here.
Commercial Tobacco Product Use and COVID-19
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 3:00 PM ET

Commercial tobacco product use is the leading cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Declines in use have occurred over time, but prevalence remains particularly high among American Indians and Alaska Natives. The risks of tobacco product use have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, with emerging data showing that current and former cigarette smokers are at increased risk of more severe illness from COVID-19. In this webinar hosted by Indian Health Service (IHS), participants will gain an understanding of the state of the science with regard to COVID-19 outcomes and commercial tobacco product use, including cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use. The speaker will also provide participants with information about evidence-based strategies to prevent and reduce commercial tobacco product use, including resources for healthcare providers and the general public. Read more here.
Phone Convo
Introducing Telehealth to Rural and Indigenous Communities
Wednesday - Thursday , November 18-19, 2020

Hosted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Heartland, Southwest, and the Great Plains Telehealth Resource Centers, North Dakota Department of Health, and the Spirit Lake Tribe, this webinar will serve as an introduction to telehealth for Tribal communities. Participants will receive tools to advance telehealth knowledge and practices including topics on developing business plans, understanding guidelines and evaluations, and policy trends. Read more here.