The National Indian Health Board's (NIHB) web page on brain health brings together resources, tools, and success stories to empower Tribes in their journeys as brain health champions! Whether you are just starting to learn about brain health or have years of experience, we invite you to read through and learn more here.

A Dear Tribal Leader Letter was issued on August 7, 2020 announcing vacancies for the Centers Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) for the following seats: Bemidji area, California area, Great Plains area, Phoenix area, Tucson area, and Tribes At-Large. The Tribal leaders, serving two-year terms on the TAC provide input and guidance about CDC policies, guidelines, and programmatic issues affecting the health of Indian Tribes. The current roster, TAC charter, eligibility and nomination guidance can be found on the CDC TAC website. Read more here.

On August 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publicly posted the July through December COVID-19 Testing Plans from all states, territories, and localities on HHS.gov. The State Testing Plans serve as a roadmap developed in partnership with the Federal government for each jurisdiction's monthly 2020 testing strategy for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read more here.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined the CDC Foundation and many other public health partners in highlighting the importance of wearing masks in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wearing a mask is one of the best tools we have, especially when paired with social distancing and hand washing. COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. Masks can help prevent people who have COVID19 from spreading the virus to others. Masks, when worn over the nose and mouth, can help reduce the spray of respiratory droplets when the person wearing them coughs, sneezes, talks, or shouts. Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when masks are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

A new study released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) had a cumulative COVID-19 incidence that was 3.5 times that of the white, non-Hispanic population between January and July 2020. The data represent 340,059 voluntarily-reported laboratory-confirmed cases from 23 states. The median age of AI/AN who tested positive was younger than that of the white patients (40 years vs. 51 years). A higher percentage of AI/AN who test positive tended to be under 18 years (12.9%) compared to their white counterparts (4.3%).

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.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity titled Tribal School Readiness. With funding from the Indian Health Service, NIHB is offering a funding opportunity for Tribes and Tribal Organizations seeking to strengthen school preparation and readiness for safe operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is intended to fulfill immediate Tribal school readiness needs related to COVID-19. Read more here.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a greater need for high-speed internet connections as communities turn to telemedicine. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Window is unique opportunity for Tribes in rural areas to directly access unassigned spectrum over their Tribal lands, subject to buildout requirements. Read more here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are pleased to announce the third cycle of funding for Strong Systems, Stronger Communities (SSSC) for Tribes. This opportunity continues NIHB’s commitment to the strengthening of Tribal public health systems by offering support and technical assistance directly to Tribes for projects designed to build their public health capacity. Read more here.

For questions about this Request for Applications, contact Sarah Price ([email protected]).

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.

The Maternal Health Learning & Innovation Center is offering a new funding opportunity called Supporting Providers and Families to Access Telehealth and Distant Care Services for Maternal Health Services. The goal is to ensure women at higher risk receive quality maternal care services before, during, or after pregnancy via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apply here.

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. 

The Center for Indigenous Cancer Research (CICR) launched at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in January 2020 aims to reduce the impact of cancer on Indigenous communities regionally, nationally, and internationally. The team honors the values of Indigenous Knowledge, sovereignty, and respect for the environment through community-driven partnerships, collaborative research, and education. The CICR offers free virtual workshops to educate communities about colorectal cancer screening and clinical trials, and the CICR Director Rodney Haring was recently named to the COVID-19 Prevention Network Native Experts Panel formed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Read more here.

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.

2020-2021 Influenza Vaccination Recommendations and Clinical Guidance during the COVID-19 Pandemic

During this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call, presenters will discuss updates to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the 2020-2021 influenza vaccination season. Topics will include the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice, flu vaccination planning, general vaccination guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and guidance for large vaccination clinics held in satellite, temporary, or off-site locations. Read more here.

The National Academy of Medicine is hosting a webinar titled Nursing’s Role in Health Equity, Public Health Emergencies, and COVID-19 – Critical Issues for The Future of Nursing 2020-2030. During the webinar, representatives from the NAM study on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 will share updates on the study’s status and seek public input on nurses’ roles in responding to COVID-19. A panel of experts will also discuss how nursing can advance health equity, the role of nurses in public health emergencies, and nurses’ experiences on the frontlines of COVID-19. Register here.

Today! Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM ET

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is hosting a call intended to update Tribes on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tribal Leaders will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions to federal officials. IHS has also scheduled a COVID-19 call for the following week at the same time. The call information is the same for both calls. Read more here.

The Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (CoE-PHI) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) is hosting a two part virtual training series which will include an overview of federal privacy laws (including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2) as they relate to the provision of Substance Use Disorder treatment at organizations that serve Tribal and Urban Indian communities, with time built in for Q & A. In addition, participants will be introduced to the tip sheets and technical assistance services provided by the CoE-PHI. Register for both sessions here.

Registration Deadline: September 4th, 2020 

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is offering a more advanced, web-based Climate Change 201 course. This course is free and will support individual Tribe’s hazard mitigation planning through peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchanges in a facilitated cohort focused on the process of developing or updating a Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan. These plans look “at natural hazards that may affect Tribal governments and suggests actions to reduce losses from those hazards” (FEMA Tribal Mitigation Planning Resources). The course will be based around the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) hazard mitigation plan requirements and will connect participants to resources, tools, information, and additional specialized expertise on a variety of topics. Register here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is hosting a webinar on eldercare during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the risk for severe illness from coronavirus infection increase with age. This webinar will present ways we can help to prevent illness, and care for our elders during these unprecedented times. Join us to hear presenters discuss topics ranging from caring for elders during the pandemic, preventing infection among this vulnerable population and tips for caregivers. Learn more about helping and protecting elders in your community. Read more here.

Wednesday-Thursday, September 16-17, 2020

Please join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a two-day, action-oriented public health institute on brain health on September 16 & 17, 2020. This is rescheduled from our original March 2020 date.

This institute, facilitated by NIHB, will support Tribes and Tribal organizations in using the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map for Indian Country to start conversations, as well as develop and plan strategies for improving brain health in their own communities. The Road Map for Indian Country is the first-ever public health guide focused on dementia in AI/AN communities.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are delivering this action institute virtually via Zoom. Participation is free and open to all who are ready to learn and champion brain health!

Please RSVP at the link below to secure your spot. Space is limited and will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reserve your spot today here!