Nominations for the National Indian Health Board 2020 Outstanding Service Awards: Recognizing Resiliency in Indian Country are now open! Nominate a hero in Indian Health between now and September 8, 2020 to recognize their work at the Local, Regional, and National Levels! Read more here.

On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a national nursing home training program “designed to equip both frontline caregivers and their management with the knowledge they need to stop the spread of COVID-19 in their nursing homes.” The scenario-based training on topics critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19 is available to staff of Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes. The instructions on how to access Targeted COVID-19 Training for Nursing Homes can be found here. Some training topics include infection control and prevention, appropriate screening of visitors, and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Read more here.

In recognition of National Recovery Month, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, honors the millions of Americans who have achieved recovery from mental and substance use disorders. Watch her video message celebrating the work done by the recovery community here.

A study conducted at Duke University used a simple visual measurement method to evaluate the efficacy of face masks (face coverings) used to reduce the transmission of respiratory droplets during regular speech. Researchers compared a variety of commonly available mask types and observed that some mask types approach the performance of standard surgical masks, while some mask alternatives, such as neck fleece or bandanas, offer very little protection. Read more here.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking additional nominations of qualified Tribal officials as candidates for consideration for appointment as voluntary delegate members of the HRSA Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), which is being established. Specifically, HRSA requests submissions of nominations of qualified Tribal officials from the Indian Health Service (IHS) geographic areas of: Alaska; Albuquerque; Billings; Navajo; Phoenix; and Tucson. Nominations for membership must be received on or before September 30, 2020. Read more here.

The University of Minnesota, School of Public Health has recently announced a new scholarship as part of its Public Health Administration American Indian Scholarship program. The University of Minnesota is built on native land and paid for by land grants. In recognition of these twinned needs and wrongs, effective in Fall Semester 2020, the Public Health Administration and Policy (PHAP) MPH program at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health will provide a full tuition scholarship (up to 44 credits) for American Indians who meet the program’s regular requirements for admission and the established University of Minnesota-Morris’s definition of American Indian. Read more here.

Applications due tomorrow! Friday, September 4, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET

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

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

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is inviting all state, local, Tribal, and territorial retail food regulatory programs to submit applications to participate in a mentorship program with their peers to learn, share experiences, and acquire tools and resources related to the FDA’s Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards). This program matches practitioners experienced in applying the Retail Program Standards with those enrolled and looking for assistance. Read more 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 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.

The National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC) is the largest American Indian and Alaska Native specific gathering each year focused solely on health. The conference explores health policy and its impact on Tribes, advances Tribal capacity to expand policy work, and serves as a forum to discuss policy and political work in the arenas of Tribal health care, public, behavioral, and environmental health. Read more and 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 increases 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.

Join the Indian Health Service (IHS) for a webinar where they will discuss the need to capture information on the amount and type of telehealth services being provided across the IHS. The discussion will also include the importance of this data and provide recommendations for documenting telehealth visits. This will ensure that critical information is available for planning and improvement across the system. Time will be allotted for questions and answers. No credit offered for this webinar. Join the webinar 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!