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

October 24, 2019
News
Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee Meets with IHS Leadership

On October 8-9th, 2019, representatives from the Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) met in Buellton, CA to discuss the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). TLDC members spent a portion of the meeting in conversation with RADM Michael Weahkee, the IHS Principal Deputy Director. They discussed various topics including the current Tribal Consultation/Urban Confer period for SDPI, and SDPI reauthorization status.  Read more here.
NPAIHB We R Native Text Messaging Study

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) We R Native Project is currently in the process of recruiting 1,500 American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) teens and young adults to participate in a study that will evaluate the impact of a text messaging service by November 9th. Youth who enroll will be randomized to receive messages designed to improve mental health, help-seeking skills, and promote cultural pride or to elevate and re-affirm Native voices in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine areas. Eligible youth must be: AI/AN, 15-24 years old, a US resident, and able to receive text messages. Youth will also be compensated for their time. Read more here.
Funding & Opportunities
Come Work for NIHB!

NIHB is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:
  • Behavioral Health Program Manager
  • Public Health Project Associate
  • Public Health Project Coordinator
  • Congressional Relations Associate
  • Director of Congressional Relations
These positions are based in Washington, DC. Those who are interested in making a positive difference in the health of America’s Native Peoples’ lives are encouraged to apply. Read more here.
NIHB is Seeking Indigenous Knowledge on Blood Lead Level Testing

NIHB is working in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase the capacity of rural and non-urban Tribal communities for identifying and addressing elevated blood lead levels in Tribal children. To accomplish this, NIHB seeks to engage Tribal representatives and health professionals in 60-minute key informant interviews. The interviews will ask Tribal Health Directors or programmatic staff to describe their programs or operational plans in place for blood lead level testing and their current knowledge of lead exposure risk factors. Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Karrie Joseph, Acting Director, Public Health Policy and Programs, at kjoseph@nihb.org or 202-507-4070 . Read more here.
NCAI Announces the Availability of Disaster Relief Microgrants
Deadline: Thursday, October 31, 2019

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is announcing a limited availability of NCAI Disaster Relief Microgrants to flexibly meet the needs of Tribal nations and/or Tribal citizens (who live near their nations) that have been impacted by recent natural disasters. Microgrant funds can be used to repair or recover property damaged during natural disasters that have occurred within the last 180 days. NCAI has a total of $70,000 available for grants. Individual grant awards will be capped at $10,000. The application for the NCAI Disaster Relief Microgrants can be downloaded here
NIHB Request for Applications Mini-Award for Climate and Health Communication
Applications due Friday, November 8, 2019 by 11:59 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is delighted to announce a call for applications for a Climate Ready Tribes Initiative Mini-Award for Climate and Health Communication. This opportunity is designed to fund up to three (3) Tribes to conduct low-cost, local work related to climate health. The application is simple and the awardees will participate in a structured cohort with help from NIHB. This opportunity is intended for Tribes who need assistance determining where to start climate and health work and/or who need assistance with the application process. This award is possible with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more here.
NIHB Request for Applications: Supporting Tribes to Increase Commercial Tobacco Cessation
Applications due Tuesday, November 12, 2019 by 11:59 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is pleased to announce  Supporting Tribes to Increase Commercial Tobacco Cessation,  made possible through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health cooperative agreement #OT-1803. This opportunity continues NIHB's commitment to strengthening Tribal public health capacity by offering support and technical assistance to Tribes for projects designed to implement proven strategies to increase quitting and quit attempts of commercial tobacco among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Read more here
New SAMHSA FOA Announcement: Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program (Native Connections)
Deadline: Tuesday, December 10, 2019

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a grant funding opportunity announcement (FOA) entitled, “Tribal Behavioral Health Grant”. The short title for this program is “Native Connections”. The purpose of the grant is to prevent suicide and substance misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth through the age of 24 years old. Read more here .
Resources
NEW - CDC Opioid Training for Nurses

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new module, A Nurse's Call to Action for Safer Opioid Prescribing Practices , in the interactive online training series Applying CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids . This module helps nurses learn how they can support the implementation of the CDC Guideline to address the opioid overdose epidemic. Participants will learn risk mitigation strategies, quality improvement practices, patient communication techniques, and care coordination approaches that support safer opioid prescribing. 
Resources Available from Last Year’s Climate Ready Tribal Awardees

This past summer (2019), four Tribal awardees - Kaw Nation, Lummi Nation, Pala Band of Mission Indians, and Sitka Tribe of Alaska - wrapped up projects funded through the NIHB Climate Ready Tribes Initiative. Some of the materials these Tribes created as part of their projects are publicly available here .
Best and Promising Practices for the Implementation of Zero Suicide in Indian Country

A toolkit is available on Best and Promising Practices for the Implementation of Zero Suicide in Indian Country . This guide is a companion toolkit to the original Zero Suicide Toolkit for general populations. Read more here.
Events
Preparing a Proposal and Presenting at the Tribal Public Health Summit: A Climate and Health Learning Community Webinar
Monday, November 4, 2019 at 2:00 pm ET

Are you interested in presenting at the 11 th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit? The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is hosting a Climate and Health Learning Community Webinar to help you prepare! The webinar will provide information about the Summit (and travel scholarships for Environmental Health & Climate Change track presenters), submitting a proposal, writing an abstract, TPHS presentation logistics, effective presentation methods, and creating effective learning objectives. Read more here.
2020 Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit
Tuesday-Thursday, March 17-19, 2019 in Omaha, NE
Save the date! Please join NIHB in Omaha, NE for the 11th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit. For the latest information on registration, location, lodging, exhibitors, and sponsorship, visit the  Summit website here.
Call for Proposals Now Open: Public health practitioners, researchers, and policy experts are invited to submit abstracts for workshops and roundtable sessions. NIHB encourages presentations highlighting evidenced based, best, wise, or promising practices developed in and for Tribal communities.

This year, the Summit will feature 5 tracks:
  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
  • Public Health Policy, Infrastructure, Workforce, and Systems
  • Substance Misuse and Behavioral Health
  • Environmental Health and Climate Change
  • NEW THIS YEAR! Traditional Public Health Practice