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

March 8, 2019
News
NIHB Elects New Executive Committee
On February 26, 2019, during the National Indian Health Board (NIHB)'s 2019 quarterly Board of Directors Meeting, members of the Board held elections for the positions of Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Member-at-Large, and Secretary. 

The new NIHB Executive Committee Members are: 
  • Chairperson (2019-2021): Victoria Kitcheyan, Great Plains Area, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
  • Vice-Chair (2019-2020): William Smith, Alaska Area, Valdez Native Tribe
  • Secretary (2019-2021): Lisa Elgin, California Area, Manchester-Pt. Arena Band of Pomo Indians
  • Member-at-Large (2019-2020): Andrew Joseph Jr., Portland Area, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
  • The position of Treasurer is continuing its current term and is held by Samuel Moose, Bemidji Area, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
New Paper Provides More Evidence for Traditional Native Diets

A recent study of patients with diabetes indicated that eating more nuts- particularly tree nuts- is positively correlated with lower risk of developing and dying of heart disease. Many indigenous diets traditionally incorporated various types of nuts, such as pine nuts in the Southwest, or acorns in California. Studies showing the health benefits of traditional Native American diets indicate that science is catching up to what indigenous people have always known about eating a healthy and balanced diet.
 
To view the study, click here.
For more information on various nuts that are indigenous to the Americas, and their use in traditional diets, click here.
Funding & Opportunities
NIHB Health Policy Fellowship for Native Youth Application
Applications due Saturday, March 30, 2019

NIHB is taking applications for its next class of the Health Policy Fellowship for Native Youth through March 30. The fellowship immerses participants in health-related discussions and policy solutions during its year-long progression. Fellows work with Tribal leaders, policy specialists and public health experts to become health policy advocates who identify and help solve problems related to Indian health through policy solutions.   Click here to meet some of the fellowship alumni. Learn more about the fellowship and apply here.
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Nutrition Education Grant
Application due Tuesday, April 30, 2019
 
The US Department of Agriculture(USDA) is offering grants from $2000 to $220,000 for projects to provide nutrition education to participants in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) program. A wide variety of public health approaches could be funded under this opportunity. Read more here .
Indian Highway Safety Occupant Protection Grant
Applications due Wednesday, May 1, 2019
 
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Justice Services (OJS), and Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP) are soliciting proposals for implementing traffic safety programs and projects designated to reduce the number of traffic crashes, deaths, injuries and property damage. Indian Highway Safety Grants are reimbursable grants available to federally recognized Tribes. Read more here.  
University of Colorado CAIANDTR Request for Applications
Letter of Intent due Friday, May 17, 2019
Application due Monday, June 3, 2019 by 5:00 PM MT

The Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translation Research (CAIANDTR) at the University of Colorado is pleased to announce availability of funding for pilot and feasibility projects to support translation of diabetes-related interventions and treatments of proven efficacy into American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. This opportunity provides funding to support secondary analyses investigating important questions related to diabetes translation research in AI/AN populations. Read more here.
NIHB Community Changemaker Grants for Native Youth-led Health Projects
Applications accepted until funding is gone! Apply ASAP.

American Indian and Alaska Native youth ages 14-24 years old are eligible to apply for NIHB's Community Changemaker Grants. These are small amounts of money ($250) that can help supercharge a YOUTH-led and YOUTH-planned health event. Read more here.
Resources
Environmental Justice in Indian Country Course
 
The Center for World Indigenous Studies (CWIS) is offering a course on Environmental Justice in Indian Country. It is designed not only for people who are serious students of Native American and Indigenous/Fourth World studies, but also for people who may be members of Tribal communities who could benefit from a broader understanding of what environmental justice is and how it affects their communities. Read more here.
“Realistic Ways You Can Combat Climate Change, Today” Resource Guide
 
The online Master of Public Health Program at George Washington University recently published a resource guide titled “Realistic Ways You Can Combat Climate Change, Today.” The guide provides some effective ways that an individual can help the planet day-to-day, and includes low-cost, low-time, low-burden options. This resource is not specific to Tribal communities and some information may be more or less relevant. View the guide here.
Events
Webinar: Looking at Sexually Transmitted Infections in Indian Country
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET

NIHB is hosting a webinar on the state of sexually transmitted infections in Indian Country. The webinar will walk through the latest report from the Indian Health Service (IHS) detailing the Sexually Transmitted Infection(STI) surveillance data from all 12 IHS Service Areas. Join us, Tuesday, March 12, 2019 as we host three guest speakers to share the results as well as real world screening and prevention practices from the field. Register here.
IHS HIV Program NNHAD Webinar Series: HIV Prevention Practices
Dates Vary

In honor of National Native HIV Awareness Day (NNHAD) on March 20, the National IHS HIV Program is happy to announce a series of HIV Prevention Webinars focused on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV Treatment. Read more here.
Webinar: Capability Update Initiative Briefing:
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities: National Standards for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Public Health
Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 2:00 -3:00 PM ET
 
NIHB is hosting a webinar on Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities. The purpose of this webinar session is to provide initial working knowledge of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) capability update initiative for emergency preparedness and response and how it applies in practice. The capabilities provide a planning framework, help define roles, offer tools for stakeholder collaboration, suggest consistent terminology, and consider evaluation planning. Read more here .
Listening Session: Alzheimer's Association Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map for Indian Country
Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 4:00 - 5:30 PM ET

On March 21 from 4-5:30 pm ET, NIHB invites you to join us and the Alzheimer’s Association for a listening session on the forthcoming Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map for Indian Country. The Alzheimer’s Association and CDC are finalizing this first-ever tool on public health strategies for Alzheimer’s, an important and growing issue. The Road Map will be a tool to learn about dementia, make plans, and get started building a better future for younger generations and better care for older community members. Join the meeting here.
2019 National Tribal Public Health Summit
Monday-Wednesday, May 13-15, 2019 in Albuquerque, NM
Save the date! Please join NIHB in Albuquerque, NM for the 2019 National Tribal Public Health Summit. For the latest information on registration, location, lodging, exhibitors, and sponsorships, visit the summit website here.

Register to attend here.

Climate and Health Learning Community Event at Tribal Public Health Summit
 
NIHB is pleased to announce that a Climate and Health Learning Community In-Person Networking Event will be held at the Tribal Public Health Summit in Albuquerque, NM this May for the Climate and Health Learning Community! The purpose of this session is to bring together current and interested learning community members for an in-person meeting. This event will focus on speed networking, with a goal of fostering peer learning, sharing information, and building relationships. All are welcome. Anyone can join the learning community! Registration for the event will open soon here . S ign up for the Climate Ready Learning Community email list here .
2019 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) National Behavioral Health Conference
Wednesday-Friday, May 15-17, 2019 in Albuquerque, NM
Save the date! Please join NIHB in Albuquerque, NM for the 2019 National American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) National Behavioral Health Conference. For the latest information on registration, location, lodging, exhibitors, and sponsorships, visit the summit website here.

Register to attend here.

Pre Conference Sessions
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Registration Required for all pre-conference sessions. Space is limited.

START UP! : Art Therapy Trauma Treatment for Native American Youth
 
This workshop will introduce health-care professionals to the START UP! Program: Art Therapy Trauma Treatment for Native American Youth. START UP! is aimed at healing historical and inter-generational trauma by bringing mental health to the Tribal classroom as prevention and early intervention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide in children and adolescents. Participants will be guided through Art Therapy experientials using various art media. Register and read more here .

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Training
 
This workshop introduces health-care professionals to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and helps with decisions about whether DBT is the right fit. This workshop is appropriate for mental health providers who are exploring whether learning DBT to a standard of clinical proficiency would benefit their own clinical skills and their clients suffering from complex disorders. It can also be useful for health care providers, outside of mental health, who are interested in determining whether DBT is appropriate for their patients. Register and read more here .