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

October 31, 2019
News
University of New Mexico Research finds Uranium in Navajo Women & Babies

Federally funded research from the University of New Mexico recently found that more than 25% of adult female study participants, plus some infants, have radioactive uranium present in their bodies. For decades, uranium ore was harvested from Navajo lands, leading to even more decades of pain and illness. 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 Sara Zdunek at szdunek@nihb.org or 202-507-4077 .
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 . 
Collaborative Minority Health and Health Disparities Research with Tribal Epidemiology Centers
Applications Due: Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a funding opportunity to support collaborative research between extramural investigators on topics related to minority health and health disparities in American Indian/Alaska Native populations. Nonprofits, educational institutions, Tribal organizations, and governments are among those eligible to apply in partnership with a letter of support from a Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC). Read more here.
Resources
Resources Available from NIHB's Climate Ready Tribal Awardees

In the summer of 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 .
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.
Tribal Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance: Using Data to Drive Policies and Programs
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

In this webinar, representatives from the Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation, and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska will describe how they were able to successfully engage schools and communities to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a school-based survey targeting middle and high school students about health behaviors and experiences that contribute to mortality and morbidity, and then use those data for action. Panel speakers will provide examples of how YRBS data are shared within their communities, and how YRBS data are used to leverage support for school health resources, influence programmatic activities, and inform policies to promote healthy youth. 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
Environmental Education Grants Program
Applications Due: Monday, January 6, 2020

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced up to $3 million for locally-focused environmental education projects. The EPA will award three to four grants in each of the agency’s ten regions. Tribal education agencies, including schools and community colleges, and nonprofits are among those eligible. Read more here.  
6 th International Meeting on Indigenous Women’s Health
February 18-21, 2020 in Albuquerque, NM

The 6 th International Meeting on Indigenous Women’s Health will include topics such as traditional American Indian/Alaska Native medicine, substance use disorder, behavioral health, trauma informed care, and evidence-based women’s health care issues. Read more here.