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

June 25, 2020
News
National HIV Testing Day - Saturday, June 27, 2020

First observed on June 27, 1995, National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is a day to encourage people to know their status and get tested for HIV. The 2020 NHTD theme is “Knowing." Knowing your status, knowing your risk, knowing about prevention options, and knowing treatment options. The theme highlights the power of knowing. Read more here.
FDA Releases New Information for In-home HIV Test Kit

Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released information on the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test , which is the only FDA-approved in-home HIV test at the moment. The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test kit uses oral fluids to detect antibodies that have formed in response to both versions of HIV responsible for AIDS. Using a self-testing kit at home can be a faster and more private alternative to detecting HIV and can overall increase awareness of HIV infection for people who would not otherwise test for it. Read more here.
Changes to the CDC Diabetes Prevention Program: Comment Period Now Open

On June 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Dear Tribal Leader Letter announcing updates to the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Standards and Operating Procedures. The proposed updates can be viewed here.

Notably, the new guidelines offer alternatives to the previously required reporting of a 5% weight loss among DPP program participants. Tribes have consistently communicated that this 5% weight loss requirement was ineffective and culturally insensitive.

A comment period is open until August 14, 2020. Tribal leaders, Native organizations, SDPI programs, and others affected by these changes are encouraged to provide feedback here.

More information on the DPP in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities can be found here.
Reducing Smoking within the LGBTQ+ Community

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) article for Pride Month focuses on reducing smoking within the LGBTQ+ community. The article provides information on how everyone can help reduce smoking and commercial tobacco use among LGBTQ+ people. About 1 in every 5 lesbian/gay/bisexual adults smoke cigarettes, and that number may be as high as 1 in 3 for transgender adults. There are many reasons for this, including stress related to prejudice and stigma as well as aggressive target marketing by tobacco companies. Read more here.
Study Highlights Negative Psychological Impacts of Native Mascots

A study published in June in the Race, Ethnicity and Education journal examined the negative mental health impacts that racist depictions of Native mascots has on Tribal people. The study found that exposure to Native mascots led to low self-esteem and increased negative feelings of stress and depression, particularly among youth. Read more here.
New Report Shows American Indians & Alaska Natives Have Highest Rate of Heat Death in the US

A new report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report examined heat deaths in the United States between 2004-2018. The report found that the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population had the highest rate of heat death per capita, at 0.6 deaths per 100,000 people.

According to the report, “understanding patterns in heat-related mortality associated with comorbidity, age group, sex, race/ethnicity, and urbanization levels could assist CDC and its public health partners in developing more effective surveillance and intervention strategies that integrate environmental health and other public health domains.” Read more here.
Funding & Opportunities
Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
Applications due Wednesday, July 15, 2020

PRAMS provides jurisdiction-specific and population-based data on women who recently delivered a live birth or stillborn infant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is offering funding for implementing surveillance on the experiences of maternal and child health prior to, during and shortly after pregnancy. Component B is specifically for Tribal Surveillance.  Read more here.
Tribal Colleges and Universities Implementation Activities or Feasibility Study for Dental Therapy Training Programs 2020-2021
Applications Due: Monday, July 20, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET
Grant code: DHAT 1-TCU

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering a funding opportunity for Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) to implement projects to develop a stronger and more reliant workforce for oral health care in Indian Country. The NIHB will provide 2 subawards to two different TCUs of $15,000 each. Apply here.

Tribes and Tribal Organization Implementation of Dental Health Aide Therapy 2020-2021
Applications Due: Monday, July 20, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET
Grant code: DHAT 2-IMPL

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering a funding opportunity for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and Tribal organizations to support the implementation of state dental therapy laws in Tribal settings. The subawards will support projects to implement dental therapy in Tribal communities in states that have a legal mechanism for dental therapists to practice within the Indian health system. The NIHB will provide funds for up to 3 subawards of $25,000 each. Apply here.

Tribes and Tribal Organization Education and Outreach Programs for Dental Health Aide Therapy 2020-2021
Applications Due: Monday, July 20, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET
Grant code: DHAT 3- EDU_OUT

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering a funding opportunity for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and Tribal organizations to strengthen efforts and launch new targeted efforts to enhance federal, state, and Tribal policies supportive of dental therapy within the Indian health system. The NIHB will provide funds for up to 3 subawards of $25,000 each. Apply here.

Please send completed applications to BWeber@nihb.org with the grant code in the subject line.
Call for Tribal COVID-19 Resources

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is seeking to create a pool of resources which Tribes can access when planning or implementing their own COVID-19 response.  To this end, NIHB is asking Tribes to share with us any tools, operational plans, guides, policies, communication products, etc. that has helped your Tribe combat this pandemic.  The materials can be de-identified, if needed. These resources will be placed online within NIHB’s COVID-19 Tribal Response Center alongside other community health materials. We hope this aids Tribes to build on successes and support each other in the collective effort to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on Indian Country. 

To submit any materials or resources, please email Courtney Wheeler (cwheeler@nihb.org). If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Wheeler. 
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 20-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 szdunek@nihb.org or 202-507-4077.
Resources
NIHB COVID-19 Funding Table

The COVID-19 Funding Opportunities for Tribes is a quick reference of the current and previously available funding for Tribal governments, consortiums, or organizations to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Indian Country. Funding announcements, technical assistance, COVID-19 funding table , and other resources are available on the NIHB COVID-19 Resource Center. Read more here.
COVID-19 Resources

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.
Events
COVID-19 Event: COVID-19 Clinical Rounds Peer-to-Peer Virtual Communities of Practice

COVID-19 Clinical Rounds Peer-to-Peer Virtual Communities of Practice are a collaborative effort between the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center ( NETEC ), and Project ECHO . These interactive virtual learning sessions aim to create a peer-to-peer learning network where clinicians from the U.S. and abroad who have experience treating patients with COVID-19 share their challenges and successes; a generous amount of time for participant Q & A is also provided. Three webinar topics are covered every week:
  • EMS: Patient Care and Operations (Mondays, 12:00-1:00 PM ET)
  • Critical Care: Lifesaving Treatment and Clinical Operations (Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 PM ET)
  • Emergency Department: Patient Care and Clinical Operations (Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 PM ET)

COVID-19 Event: IHS COVID-19 Response Webinar Series: Reopening In-Person Behavioral Health Services: Identifying the New Normal
Today! Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is hosting a webinar on reopening behavioral health services as part of their COVID-19 Response Webinar series. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the tenets of Behavioral health care and how behavioral health clinics deliver care. Behavioral health administrators and providers will need to begin to look at how to re-open behavioral health clinics, return to operations, and how to adapt behavioral health services (individual sessions, group sessions, etc.) to meet the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines. This presentation will provide strategies and recommendations for behavioral health programs to consider. Read more here.
Webinar: Reducing Barriers to Care and Welcoming Transgender Clients
Today! Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM ET

This webinar, funded by the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, will provide an overview of best practices for creating a welcoming and safe environment for transgender clients, and help participants build their skills in identifying structural barriers, addressing those barriers in their day-to-day work, and discussing sexual health with transgender clients in an affirming and inclusive way. Read more here.
COVID-19 Event: Suicidality and COVID-19: How to Help
Today! Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET

The third National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Mental and Behavioral Health COVID-19 webinar will explore suicidality during the COVID-19 pandemic in American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) communities. The discussion will include general background on suicide in Indian Country; intervention, and prevention; what is unique about COVID-19 that may contribute to suicide risk; resources and suggestions that may help during these extraordinary and stressful times; as well as time for questions and answers with all attendees. This webinar is designed for community members, Tribal health and behavioral health professionals, Tribal leaders, and partners alike. Register here.
NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations Webinars
Friday, June 26, 2020 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET and Wednesday, July 1, 2020 from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be holding pre-application webinars covering four Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) funding opportunities. This initiative encourages research to test the implementation of COVID-19 diagnostic testing in underserved or vulnerable communities. Read more here and register for the webinars here.
What Will It Take to Create Health Equity for Sexual and Gender Minority Young People?
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET
 
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO) is hosting a scientific webinar on “Creating Health Equity for Young SGM People.” The webinar will be presented by Brian Mustanski, Ph.D., director of the Northwestern Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing. Dr. Mustanski is also a member of the NIH Sexual & Gender Minority Research Working Group and a board member of the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD). Read more here.
COVID-19 Event: Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse During a Pandemic: What's Happening?
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET

The fourth National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Mental and Behavioral Health webinar will explore intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse (CA) during the COVID-19 pandemic in American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) communities. The discussion will include general background on IPV and CA in Indian Country; what is unique about COVID-19 that may contribute to IPV and CA risk; resources and suggestions that may help during these extraordinary and stressful times; as well as time for questions and answers with all attendees. This webinar is designed for community members, Tribal health and behavioral health professionals, Tribal leaders, and partners alike.   Register here.
American Heart Association Hands-Only CPR Webinar
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM PT

The American Heart Association is conducting a Healthy Living and Safety During COVID-19 and Beyond Webinar on CPR training and demonstration. CPR can be a life saving skill and only takes a few minutes to learn. Read more here.
COVID-19 Event: IHS COVID-19 Response Webinar Series: Supporting Parents and Caregivers of Children and Adolescents
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET

As part of their COVID-19 Response Webinar series, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is hosting a webinar on supporting parents and caregivers. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted children and adolescents in many ways, including school closures, disruptions to daily schedules and extracurricular activities, and socialization with peers and friends. This presentation will equip healthcare providers with strategies to support parents, families, and caregivers in maintaining and restoring a sense of safety, calm, and hope for children and adolescents. Read more here.
COVID-19 Event: IHS COVID-19 Response Webinar Series: Social Determinants of Health and COVID-19
Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET

As part of their COVID-19 Response Webinar series, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is hosting a webinar on social determinants of health (SDOH) and COVID-19. 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.” The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for many relating to housing, food, employment, etc. This presentation will discuss the importance of assessing for SDOH, keeping an up-to-date list of available local referral resources to help address SDOH, and the importance of community resources for high-risk vulnerable populations (e.g., elders, individuals experiencing homelessness, and individuals with serious mental illness). Read more here.
COVID-19 Event: COVID-19 Contact Tracing in Indian Country
Friday, July 10, 2020 at 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is hosting a webinar on contact tracing in Indian Country. Case investigation and contact tracing are core methods used by Tribal, local, and state health departments for disease control and is a key strategy in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Contact tracing is used to identify and alert people of potential contact with a person infected with the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. This webinar will explore how contact tracing is being carried out in Indian Country. Register here.
COVID-19 Event: IHS COVID-19 Response Webinar Series: Treating Substance Use Disorders & Supporting Recovery During a Pandemic
Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET

The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for us all. For individuals who have a Substance Use Disorder or who are in recovery, the pandemic poses additional risks (lack of treatment, lack of access to peer support groups, isolation, psychological stress, etc.). There is also concern that individuals who did not have a substance use issue before the pandemic may develop a problem during or after the pandemic. This presentation will discuss ways healthcare providers can help prevent and support patients dealing with substance use issues. Read more here.
COVID-19 Event: IHS COVID-19 Response Webinar Series: The Necessity of Behavioral Health Integration During and Following a Pandemic
Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET

The stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to an increase in Primary Care Clinic patients reporting behavioral health problems (depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, etc.). It is critical that behavioral health providers and primary care providers work together to develop Primary Care Clinic protocols to manage patient concerns. This presentation will provide behavioral health integration strategies to address these issues. Read more here.