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

July 9, 2020

NIHB Offering Tribal Telehealth Capacity Mini-grants

Applications due Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET

With funding from the Johns Hopkins University Center for American Indian Health, as part of the national Nick Kristof’s C-19 Impact Initiative, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering 18 COVID-19 Tribal Telehealth Mini-grants to Tribes, Tribal organizations or inter-Tribal consortia in amounts up to $10,000 each to assist with building capacity and responding to telehealth services and needs. The project period will run from approximately August 1 through December 31, 2020. Read more here.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Tobacco Sales in the United States

The Network for Public Health Law provides insights on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on tobacco sales. “COVID-19 has unquestionably altered every facet of daily life, including where and how one purchases goods. For those who use tobacco products, including vape products, a patchwork of state laws continues to determine where these products may be sold because of orders classifying businesses as essential and non-essential.” Read more here.

Stay-at-home Order Re-issued for Navajo Nation

Cases are steadily increasing on the Navajo Nation. Although there have been steady numbers of recovery for individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, gracious efforts continue with stay-at-home orders and social distancing that was announced by the Navajo Department of Health on Sunday. Read more here.

The Navajo Nation Responds to COVID-19

The Network for Public Health Law provides some law and policy insights on the Navajo Nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “When COVID-19 arrived in the U.S., some called it 'the great equalizer,' suggesting that regardless of income, race, or any other factor, the susceptibility of contraction and risk of mortality would be the same.” There are a variety of social determinants of health that have impacted the situation in the Navajo Nation leading to a higher occurrence of COVID-19 cases and deaths.  Read more here.

COVID-19 Presents Significant Risks for American Indian and Alaska Native People

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released an article discussing the impact and risk of COVID-19 on American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). In the article they discuss how AI/ANs face disproportionate risks given significant health disparities and other social determinants of health. Read more here.

Serious Adverse Health Events Associated with Methanol-based Hand Sanitizers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the following Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory on July 5, 2020. On June 19, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by “Eskbiochem SA de CV” in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol , a “toxic alcohol”, as an active ingredient, which can cause blindness and/or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed. Since then, FDA has identified additional alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs that contain methanol and is working with manufacturers and distributors on a voluntary recall of these products. Read more here.

Infection Prevention & Control: Project Firstline Survey

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are collaborating on an infection prevention and control (IPC) training initiative for frontline Tribal healthcare facility personnel. In order for this initiative to be as responsive to the needs of Tribal healthcare workers and the Tribal health system as possible, we are asking you to complete this survey on infection prevention and control training interests, needs, and preferences. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Responses will be used to inform decisions on the development and delivery of training and capacity building efforts to ensure it best meets the needs of you and your colleagues. The survey link will be “live” until the survey receives 10,000 responses. Thank you for your time and all you do to keep your colleagues and patients safe. Read more here.

Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences: Data to Action Notice of Funding Opportunity

Applications due July 13, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET

This funding opportunity from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to fund four recipients to address state-specific needs related to the public health problem of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Examples of ACEs include experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect; witnessing violence; and having a family member attempt or die by suicide. Read more here.

Funding Opportunity: Supporting Tribes to Increase Commercial Tobacco Cessation

Applications due Friday, August 28, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is pleased to announce  Supporting Tribes to Increase Commercial Tobacco Cessation , a funding opportunity for Tribal governments, Tribal health departments, and Tribal health care facilities/health systems seeking to implement projects to increase commercial tobacco cessation, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) cessation and ‘quit smoking’ attempts by promoting evidence-based services and activities, and/or adapting evidence-based health systems changes.  Read more here.

Funding Opportunity: Building Tribal Provider and Patient Capacity for Addressing Opioid Misuse Prevention and Treatment

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until filled. Opportunity closes September 14, 2020.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is pleased to announce Building Tribal Provider and Patient Capacity for Addressing Opioid Misuse Prevention and Treatment, made possible through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The funding will provide an opportunity to increase the level of programming, research, policy development, coordination, and/or communication between Tribal programs, leadership, community, and key partners involved in addressing the health consequences of the opioid epidemic. Read more here.

Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Virtual Training

November 30 – December 8, 2020

The Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program is now making its program available as a virtual, web-based experience. Through a combination of interactive video classes and online self-paced training. The next training will be November 30 – December 8, 2020, with half-day sessions over two weeks. Registration opens on August 1, 2020. Read more here.

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 ([email protected]). If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Wheeler. 

Indian Health Service (IHS) Telehealth Services Listserv

Delivering care to Native Americans/Alaska Natives can be challenging during this pandemic. The Telehealth and mHealth listserv forum provide opportunities for staff across Indian health to communicate regarding telehealth and mHealth planning and implementation. 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 [email protected] or 202-507-4081.

COVID-19 Event: Vulnerable Populations and Palliative Care: Call for Social Justice

Today! Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST

The Network for Public Health Law is hosting a webinar to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on diverse, vulnerable populations. Presenters will address the central role of palliative care across all systems and provide a trauma-informed perspective on working with people affected by the pandemic, as well as the critical importance of workforce education and training. Register 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: Protecting Voter Health and Participation in the 2020 Elections

Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET

The Network for Public Health Law is hosting a webinar on what states should consider to ensure that everyone can safely and securely vote in the 2020 election cycle. They will discuss the challenges and solutions to the voting process in the midst of the pandemic, including legal barriers to turnout, election protection, and mitigating the public health risks. This webinar will also identify key policy interventions states are considering to protect the right to vote. Register here.

Project Firstline Infection Prevention & Control Listening Sessions

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are collaborating on an infection prevention and control (IPC) training initiative for frontline Tribal healthcare facility personnel. In order for this initiative to be as responsive to the needs of Tribal healthcare workers and the Tribal health system as possible, NIHB will be holding a series national listening sessions with front line Tribal healthcare workers.



The purpose of the listening sessions is gather feedback from frontline workers and relevant stakeholders, for frontline staff to share their experience and opinions on what types of IPC trainings would be valuable, how best to host those trainings, as well other types of training materials would be useful. Input from the listening sessions will be used to inform the content and delivery of core trainings, products, and outreach. The three listening sessions will be on:



Read more here.