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

November 7, 2019

House OKs Permanent Ban on Mining 1 Million Acres Around Grand Canyon

Last Wednesday, the House voted to permanently ban uranium mining on just over 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon. Havasupai Tribe has long said a ban is needed to protect its water supply. Opposition was received from Republicans claiming the bill would gut over 4,000 jobs. Support came from Democrats stating the contamination threat from mining to the Canyon and residents of the area is greater than the loss of jobs. Read more here.

Congressman Pallone Urges President Trump to Issue E-cigarette Flavor Ban

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), who serves as the Energy and Commerce Chairman, sent a letter to President Trump on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, urging him to follow through on the promise he made in an Oval Office press conference to ban flavored e-cigarette products. Read more here.   

Recognize Lung Cancer Awareness Month with the American Indian Cancer Foundation

The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) joins the nation in recognizing Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November. As part of this campaign, AICAF is excited to host its first annual Sacred Breath Day TODAY, November 7, 2019. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. AICAF invites indigenous communities everywhere in raising awareness of lung health in Indian Country, and support the mission to keep traditional tobacco sacred. 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 Sara Zdunek at [email protected] or 202-507-4077 .

NIHB Request for Applications: Mini-Award for Climate and Health Communication

Applications due Friday, November 8, 2019 by 11:59 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is delighted to announce a call for applications for a Climate Ready Tribes Initiative Mini-Award for Climate and Health Communication. This opportunity is designed to fund up to three (3) Tribes to conduct low-cost, local work related to climate health. The application is simple and the awardees will participate in a structured cohort with help from NIHB. This opportunity is intended for Tribes who need assistance determining where to start climate and health work and/or who need assistance with the application process. This award is possible with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more here.

NIHB Request for Applications: Supporting Tribes to Increase Commercial Tobacco Cessation

Applications due Tuesday, November 12, 2019 by 11:59 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is pleased to announce  Supporting Tribes to Increase Commercial Tobacco Cessation,  made possible through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health cooperative agreement #OT-1803. This opportunity continues NIHB's commitment to strengthening Tribal public health capacity by offering support and technical assistance to Tribes for projects designed to implement proven strategies to increase quitting and quit attempts of commercial tobacco among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Read more here . 

NIHB Request for Applications: 2020 Cross-jurisdictional Systems Improvement Partnership Technical Assistance Opportunity

Applications due Friday, December 6, 2019

Public health and systems issues often span jurisdictional boundaries. To improve public health systems and infrastructure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO), and the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) to support a collaborative technical assistance opportunity, the Cross-jurisdictional Systems Improvement Partnership program. Participating health departments (Tribal, local, and state) will receive technical assistance in their effort to work together to improve public health across jurisdictions.

Read more here or apply for this opportunity



Additional information on NIHB's resources for performance improvement, systems improvement, and public health accreditation may be found by visiting www.nihb.org/tribalasi

Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program – Youth Mental Health

Applications due Tuesday, December 10, 2019

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is offering funding through the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program for projects that seek to prevent suicide and substance misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native youth through age 24. Read more here.  

New SAMHSA FOA Announcement: National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative – Category III

Applications due Monday, December 23, 2019

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a grant funding opportunity announcement (FOA) entitled, “National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative – Category III. The short title for this program is “NCTSI III”. The purpose of this program is to provide and increase access to effective trauma-focused treatment and services systems in communities for children and adolescents, and their families who experience traumatic events throughout the nation. Read more here . 

Share Your Films – Health for All

Entries due Thursday, January 30, 2020

The World Health Organization is accepting entries for the Health for All Film Festival. Read more here.  

NIHB Shares “Staff Picks” for Native American Heritage Month

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month this November, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is sharing “Staff Picks” each week in the Public Health Broadcast. The staff picks are resources chosen and recommended by NIHB staff that educate, honor and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Native America.

This week’s staff picks:

Spiritual Message from the Elders

More than 1,200 Elders from 105 Tribes across America attended National Indian Council on Aging Year 2000 Conference in Duluth, Minnesota and contributed to the words in this timeless message to America.   Read the message here.

Pow Wow Sweat

Prepare to sweat along with the Coeur D’Alene Tribe in these short pow wow dance-along videos. Access the You Tube videos here.

Native Now Campaign Dos and Don’ts

This one page resource is a great guide to talking in a respectful way about and with Native peoples. Although designed for the classroom, it can be adapted for any social or work situation.

Read more here. 

Reviewing the Essential Public Health Services

Virtual Townhall Meeting November 13, 2019 from 2:30-3:30 pm ET

The Public Health National Center for Innovations (PHNCI) and the de Beaumont Foundation are partnering to review and possibly revise the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

The Futures Initiative: Revisiting the 10 Essential Public Health Services , is aimed at bringing the Essential Services national framework in line with current and future public health practice. Anyone wishing to listen and provide feedback on revising the 10 Essential Public Health Services are invited to complete an online questionnaire and attend a virtual townhall series on November 13.

Feedback will be used to develop a draft, revised framework in early 2020. The draft framework will be available for vetting in Spring 2020, and a final framework will be shared in June 2020.

Webinar: Rights of Nature – Resilience in the Face of Climate Change

Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 3:00 pm ET

This summer, the Yurok Tribe declared rights of personhood for the Klamath River. With this declaration, the Yurok Tribe joins other Indigenous communities in a growing Rights of Nature movement aimed at protecting the environment. In 2018, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe adopted the Rights of Manoomin to protect wild rice and in 2017, the New Zealand government adopted the Rights of the Whanganui River . Learn more or register here.

National Institute on Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD) Celebrates Native American Heritage Month with a special Director’s Seminar

Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 3:00-4:30pm ET 

Join the National Institute on Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD) as they celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a special seminar featuring Denise A. Dillard, Ph.D., as the NIMHD Director's Seminar Series speaker. The objectives of this webinar will be to discuss genetic research, including findings from recent and ongoing genetic research by Southcentral Foundation, a Tribal health organization in Anchorage, Alaska. Read more here.

Webinar: National Indian Health Board Tribal Public Health Summit: Abstract Submission Information

Webinar: Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Abstract proposals are due by Sunday, December 15, 2019.

NIHB is currently accepting proposals for workshops and roundtables at the 11th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit (TPHS) on March 17-19, 2020 in Omaha, Nebraska. Join us for an informational webinar to learn more about writing a high quality conference abstract. During this webinar, NIHB staff will discuss how to create learning objectives, develop an engaging session, and write a strong abstract. NIHB staff will also share information on the different conference tracks and presentation types at this year’s TPHS.

Register for the Webinar here

Submit your abstract proposal here . 

Working with the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program (PHEP) and the Emergency Management Program

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 12:15-1:00pm ET

The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement is a critical source of funding for state, local, and territorial public health departments. Since 2002, the PHEP cooperative agreement has provided assistance to public health departments across the nation. This helps health departments build and strengthen their abilities to effectively respond to a range of public health threats. Join Skype here or (855) 348-8390 Conference ID: 4990161#

Webinar: Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) National Evaluation Results: ‘MAPPing’ a Path Forward

Thursday, November 21, 2019 from 1:00-2:30pm ET

Developed in 2001, MAPP is one of the most widely used community improvement planning frameworks in local public health. The first formal, national evaluation of the MAPP framework concluded in Fall 2019. This webinar will highlight key findings from the study, answer questions around how MAPP is being conducted, common facilitators and barriers to using it, community and partner engagement, and key outcomes, as well as discuss implications and next steps to evolving the framework.  Read more here .

2020 Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit

Tuesday-Thursday, March 17-19, 2019 in Omaha, NE

Save the date! Please join NIHB in Omaha, NE for the 11th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit. For the latest information on registration, location, lodging, exhibitors, and sponsorship, visit the  Summit website here.

Call for Proposals Now Open! Public health practitioners, researchers, and policy experts are invited to submit abstracts for workshops and roundtable sessions. NIHB encourages presentations highlighting evidenced based, best, wise, or promising practices developed in and for Tribal communities.

This year, the Summit will feature 5 tracks:

Read more and submit your proposal here.