Tribal Public Health Broadcast
August 9, 2018
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2018 National Tribal Health Conference


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Events

    News
ZikaNews
New Updates: Babies with Zika-Related Health Problems

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Vital Signs Report on August 7, 2018, with new information about babies with Zika-related health problems. According to this report, approximately "1 in 7 babies now 1 year or older who were born to women with Zika virus infection during pregnancy had one or more health problems possibly caused by exposure to the virus before birth. Some of these problems were not apparent at birth. The report shows that between 2016 and 2018, more than 4,800 pregnancies in the U.S. territories had a lab result showing confirmed or possible Zika virus infection. From these pregnancies, 1,450 babies were at least 1 year old and had some follow-up care reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy and Infant Registry. Many of these babies did not receive all the recommended screenings for health problems potentially related to Zika virus. Careful monitoring and evaluation of these children is essential to ensure early detection of possible disabilities and referral to early intervention services. 

"Along with this new report, CDC released updated guidance for couples planning to become pregnant after possible exposure to Zika virus. CDC now recommends that men with possible Zika virus exposure who are planning to conceive with their partner wait at least three months after symptoms or possible exposure (travel to or residence in an area with risk of Zika). This shortened timeframe also applies for men who are not planning to conceive with their partners but who want to prevent passing of Zika virus through sex." 

"The bottom line is Zika has not gone away, and we must remain cautious," CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said. [ SourceThis news means that it is still important to prevent Zika virus, and for providers to evaluate new babies! Here are some resources that can give you more information: 
  • Read the Vital Signs report for more information and to learn how healthcare providers and everyone can prevent Zika and protect the next generation! 
  • Click here to view recommendations based on where you live and whether you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or not interested in pregnancy at this time.
  • Click here to visit NIHB's Zika hub and check out our Tribally-specific Zika materials, such as posters and brochures that you can use in your community. 
  • Learn more about resources for healthcare and public health providers here
    Funding and Opportunities
consultation
Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Written Comments on Behavioral Health Initiative Funding - Deadline extended to August 17, 2018

On May 18, 2018, Rear Admiral (RADM) Michael Weahkee, the acting director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), released a Dear Tribal Leader and Urban Indian Organization Leader letter, followed by a Behavioral Health Initiative Funding brief on June 7, 2018. This letter was to initiate a Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer on the funding mechanism to distribute behavioral health initiatives that are currently being distributed through grants. 
 
Virtual Tribal consultation occurred on Thursday, June 7 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST and Wednesday, June 20 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST. Virtual Urban Confer took place Thursday, June 14 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET with an in-Person Confer session at the 2018 National Council for Urban Indian Health Annual Leadership Conference on Wednesday, June 27 from 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. EST.
 
Written comments will be accepted through the duration of the Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer period. The deadline to provide comments is extended to Friday, August 17, 2018.
 
Send comments by e-mail to: consultation@ihs.gov or urbanconfer@ihs.gov  
Subject Line: IHS Behavioral Health Funding
 
Send comments by mail to: RADM Michael D. Weahkee Acting Director Indian Health Service 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 08E86 Rockville, MD 20857 ATTN: IHS Behavioral Health Funding
 
Read Dear Tribal Leader and Urban Indian Organization Leader Letter here
 
For more information, please visit the IHS Division of Behavioral Health Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer site here
 
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Ms. Anna Johnson, Management Analyst, Division of Behavioral Health, IHS, by telephone at (301) 443-2038 or by email at anna.johnson2@ihs.gov.

Resources
 NIHBZika
NIHB Zika Resources are Available! 

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) published a final Zika newsletter on August 7, 2018, with a summary of some of the resources created throughout the NIHB Zika project. This project was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Throughout the project period, wrapping up at the end of June 2018, NIHB held webinars and in-person meetings, offered funding to support local work, distributed newsletters, and much more! NIHB would like to highlight some of the materials created as part of this project. 

This includes: 
Highlighted resource: Do you ever have trouble connecting scientific Zika information you read or watch to real-life for your Tribal community? If so, you may be interested in reading the (fictional but realistic example) Tribal case studies from the newest NIHB Zika resource: 101 Informational Guide for Tribes.

Note that this week, CDC just announced new guidelines for preventing sexual transmission among males and updated information about babies with Zika-related health problems. Click here to read more about these updates! 

Selection of Tribal case studies from Zika 101 Informational Guide for Tribes, NIHB 2018 .
CCandIP
Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples Lecture

NLL
National Indian Law Library Articles on Tribes and Climate/Climate Health

The National Indian Law Library (NILL) recently posted several articles related to Tribes and climate or climate health. These articles include: 

  • Beyond Dakota Access Pipeline: Energy Development and the Imperative for Meaningful Tribal Consultation - view here
  • Environmental Justice in the United States: The Human Right to Water - view here
  • Here Today, Gone Tomorrow--Is Global Climate Change Another White Man 's Trick to Get Indian Land? The Role of Treaties in Protecting Tribes as They Adapt to Climate Change - posted but not directly linked on NILL site - available for viewing here
Click here to view the NILL site with these and other articles.
ProsperSust
EPA-Tribal Environmental Plan Course Launched by Prosper Sustainably

In 2016, Prosper Sustainably launched an EPA [Environmental Protection Agency]-Tribal Environmental Plan (ETEP) online training course which includes over 20 hours of webinar recordings and training videos plus templates, examples, and other resources. Previously, course access was only available for a fee but is now available to all free of charge.  This ETEP Online Training Course shows how a Tribal environmental program can develop a living, adaptable, and highly customized strategic planning and management system through developing an ETEP.  

You can freely access all of the videos on Prosper Sustainably's new YouTube channel at:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnOxSrGpdw8vuIsVHm5gGQ

You can freely access all of the course resources at:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/io1gxh5kp3uqw7i/AABfW2tDu9wm7KzsHjwLVThja?dl=0
StrongHearts



Call 1-844-7NATIVE or visit the website  here
competency
Competencies for Performance Improvement Professionals in Public Health Now Available
 
A new competency set designed specifically for performance improvement professionals working in public health is now available from the Public Health Foundation. T hese competencies were developed to offer additional guidance in performance improvement for public health professionals with responsibilities related to quality improvement, performance management, workforce development, accreditation, or community health assessment and improvement. Learn more here .

Events
Monday-Thursday, September 17-20, 2018 in Oklahoma City, OK 
J oin NIHB for the 35th Annual National Tribal Health Conference.

The National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC) is the largest American Indian and Alaska Native specific gathering each year focused specifically on health. The conference focuses on exploring health policy and its impact on Tribes, advancing Tribal capacity to expand policy work, and policy and political work in the arenas of health care and public, behavioral, and environmental health.

Registration and Lodging

Registration for the 35th Annual National Tribal Health Conference is open now! Registration closes Wednesday, September 12 and will reopen onsite. Register now to take advantage of lower registration costs. You can register, and find information about lodging  here

Sponsors and Exhibitors

NIHB is honored to welcome your support. We invite you to become an official sponsor of this premier Tribal health care gathering. We offer a variety of sponsorship levels with many benefits included.  Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here

NIHB welcomes a variety of exhibitors and vendors to this premier Indian health conference. Click here to learn more about exhibiting. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis and the deadline to register as an exhibitor is Wednesday, September 12, 2018. 


ASTHO
ASTHOConnects (Virtual) -  Ask the Experts: Smoke-Free Housing Policies on Tribal Lands
Thursday, August 16, 2018
1:30- 2:30 p.m. EST
   
Join the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) for a virtual session that will bring together panelists from Tribes, states, national networks, and federal agencies to share successes and lessons learned in creating and sustaining smoke-free public housing policies in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
 
Indoor tobacco use is a public health and safety hazard. It exposes people to harmful chemicals through second and third hand smoke; and in homes, it increases the likelihood of fire and property damage. Multi-unit public housing is no exception. Smoke can travel through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical lines, and pluming and ventilation systems, affecting the whole community. For this reason, tribal advocacy groups, governments, and housing authorities are increasingly moving towards smoke-free housing, which is now a national standard following the Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD)'s Smoke-free Public Housing Rule that came into effect on July 31, 2018.
 
To build a moderated conversation, participants are asked to submit up to two questions when they register. This provides a platform for questions about existing initiatives and future partnership opportunities to promote and sustain transitions to smoke-free public housing policies on Tribal lands.
 
Experts
Moderator: Tom Hogan, Division Director of the Environmental Health Division at the Minnesota Department of Health
 
Panelists:
  • Lisa Myers, Health and Wellness Manager at the Sault Tribe Health Center.
  • Clinton Isham, Director of Programs at the Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Network
  • Suzanne Nash, First Medicines Program Manager, Indigenous Peoples Task Force
  • Steve Babb, Public Health Analyst, Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • TBD, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Register here