August 21st, 2023: IHS Updates for Tribes and Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations

This bi-weekly update provides up to date information on Indian Health Service and other federally-hosted meetings, conferences, deadlines and recognition from across the Indian health system. For more information or questions, email IHSPublicAffairsStaff@ihs.gov.

Alaska Area Visit and Mega Meeting

IHS Director Roselyn Tso had the opportunity to visit the Alaska Area recently to participate in the Alaska Native Health Board Mega Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. A range of topics were discussed that are of great importance to Alaska Native communities, including water and sanitation, budget updates, and more. The ANHB is a statewide organization that has advocated for the health needs and concerns of all Alaska Native people for over 40 years. Thank you to the board for inviting IHS to provide updates and to hear from members of the ANHB.

Along with HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Rachel Levine, the director also visited the Maniilaq Health Center in Kotzebue to tour the facility and meet with leadership and staff. Thank you to IHS Alaska Area Director Angel Dotomain and her team for their continued support.

Region X Tribal Consultation

While in the Alaska Area, Director Tso participated in a tribal consultation session for HHS Region X, along with tribal leaders in the Alaska and Portland Areas. These sessions are designed to provide tribal leaders with the opportunity to address HHS on how the department can improve tribal outreach and coordination, as well as programmatic and policy issues and concerns with tribes. The IHS truly values these opportunities to hear from our tribal leaders and to discuss the health and resource needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

18^th Annual OVW Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation

IHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loretta Christensen and a number of IHS Division of Nursing Services staff recently attended the 18^th Annual Office on Violence Against Women Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  virtually and in-person in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Attending the tribal consultation provided an opportunity to network and to actively listen and hear from tribal government leaders regarding the following topics:

• Administering tribal funds and programs;
• Enhancing the safety of Indian women from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, homicide, stalking, and sex trafficking;
• Strengthening the federal response to such crimes;
• Improving access to local, regional, state, and federal crime information databases and criminal justice information systems.

(Photo 2) Native Alliance Against Violence hosted the opening Shawl Ceremony – Purple (Domestic Violence); Teal (Sexual Assault); Orange (Children/Youth); Rainbow (2SLGBTQIA+); Red (MMIP)
(Photo 3) Rosie Hidalgo, OVW director, and Sherriann Moore, OVW deputy director, Tribal Affairs Division, provided opening remarks

Advance Appropriations Listening Sessions

Congress enacted the first ever advance appropriations for the IHS in fiscal year 2023, providing $5.1 billion in FY 2024 resources that will become available on Oct. 1, 2023. The advance appropriations provides the full-year FY 2023 funding level for nearly all IHS funding in the Services and Facilities accounts. Congress will determine a final appropriations level for the Agency in the FY 2024 appropriations process. The IHS hosted a listening session on Aug. 17, and will host an identical one on Sept. 6, to share additional information on implementation plans and strategies for advance appropriations and to seek input from tribal and urban Indian organization leaders. The information discussed in these sessions will be used to prepare public facing frequently asked questions and other helpful materials. Details are available in the Dear Tribal and Urban Indian Organization Leader Letter that was sent on Aug. 8.

DSFC Kicks off Portable Water Delivery Project on Navajo Nation

The IHS Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction recently kicked off the Potable Water Delivery project on the Navajo Nation. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act for $2.69 million, this project will establish a pilot program to deliver potable water to homes without running water on the Navajo Nation. The project will be rolled out in phases, which includes assessing public water system capacity, existing cistern systems, water loading stations, road conditions, and delivery routes. Capt. David Harvey and Cmdr. Ryan Clapp from DSFC, along with the Navajo Area DSFC staff, joined Weston Solutions who was identified by the Navajo Engineering Construction Authority as the principal contractor for this project, to discuss the pilot program. The meeting was held over two days and included representatives from the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development, NECA, Dig Deep, Dinetahdoo Cultural Resource Management, and Collective Medicine. The Navajo Nation utilized ARPA funds to purchase water delivery trucks that will be used by Chapter Houses to deliver the water. This is a historical step in bridging the water access gap for Navajo homes waiting for connections to public water systems.

Small Ambulatory Program Applications Now Available

The IHS Division of Facilities Planning and Construction is now accepting applications for the Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 Small Ambulatory Program. A total of $50 million is available for tribes and tribal organizations to support the construction, expansion, or modernization of small ambulatory health care facilities. Projects will be awarded up to $3.5 million and all 12 IHS Areas that submit an application will have an opportunity to receive an award. Applications are due by November 10, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Cmdr. Omobogie Amadasu, P.E., program manager, Division of Facilities Planning and Construction.

IHS and Federal Partners Come Together With Tribal Leaders to Address Opioid Crisis

Last week the Gathering of Native Americans Conference was held in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. The IHS, along with the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, responded to t>he Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's request for help to address their declaration of a state of emergency due to the opioid crisis on their reservation. Federal partners and tribal leaders came together to provide resources to the community at the GONA Conference

Division of Nursing Services’ Nurse of the Month for August

Natasha Flurry, MBA, RN, CPPS, chief nurse executive from the Clinton Indian Health Center in the Oklahoma City Area, was selected as the IHS Division of Nursing Services’ Nurse of the Month for August. As chief nurse executive, she has been instrumental in building leaders and has a keen eye for identifying talent, implementing comprehensive training and development programs to foster the growth of the nursing staff. Her leadership has created an environment that supports personal and professional development, leading to positive impacts on patient outcomes. You can read more about Flurry’s work and previous Nurse of the Month recipients on the DNS webpage.

August National Pharmacy Council 2023 Monthly Spotlight

The IHS National Pharmacy Council is pleased to share the August Pharmacy Spotlight. This month, the K’ima:w Medical Center Pharmacy in the California Area was selected for its pharmacy-led approach to the safe use of prescription narcotics. KMC, a 638 tribal health program, is located in Hoopa, California, a frontier tribal community in Humboldt County that serves the Hoopa Tribe. Access to pain clinics in Humboldt County and neighboring counties is limited, highlighting the importance of the medication for opioid use disorder services that KMC Pharmacy provides. Their efforts have led to improved measures for narcotic control, while providing continued pain clinic services. The MOUD services established in 2018 continue to assist individuals with opioid use disorder and their patient-centered approaches to pain medication management balance the pain relief needs of patients while maintaining opioid stewardship. Thank you to the pharmacy team at KMC for your continued efforts to provide much-needed opioid stewardship and health services to the Hoopa Tribe and surrounding communities. K’ima:w Medical Center Pharmacy Staff

Navajo Code Talkers Recognized

August 14 is recognized as Navajo Code Talkers Day. On this day, we honor the sacrifices, bravery and heroism of the Navajo men who served as code talkers across the Pacific during World War II, using the impenetrable code based on the Navajo language that is widely acknowledged as a deciding factor in the war effort. Hon. Peter MacDonald, 94-year-old Navajo code talker and former chairman of the Navajo Nation, is one of the three living code talkers that were recognized during the ceremony in Window Rock, Arizona.

Resource Document Helps Connect Communities and First Responders to Substance Use Services

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has issued a new practical guide on Connecting Communities to Substance Use Services: Practical Approaches for First Responders Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov . When first responders (law enforcement, fire, and EMS) encounter people who use drugs (PWUD), they have an opportunity to connect individuals to a variety of different substance use services depending on their needs. This resource document provides practical, evidence-based information for first responder agencies and their partners on implementing programs that can facilitate access to harm reduction, treatment, and ancillary supports and services. It presents relevant strategies and public health approaches, resources and program models, and potential challenges and other important factors to consider when implementing approaches to support PWUD. In addition to first responder agencies and communities, organizations that may benefit from this resource include those seeking to collaborate with first responders, such as substance use treatment providers, local health departments, hospitals, peer and recovery support organizations, harm reduction coalitions, and other community partners.

FREE 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Print Materials Available for Indian Country

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board has FREE 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline print materials available for Indian Country! Staff will mail each requester, only one per tribe or organization, a box of 988 magnets, laptop camera covers, lip balm, pop socket, pens, stickers, postcards, and business cards. Northwest tribes will automatically receive a box of these materials so no request is needed. We encourage you to request 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline materials Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  in advance of Suicide Prevention Week in September.

Scholarships Available for Fitness Instructor Certification Courses

The Native American Fitness Council is offering scholarships for Native fitness trainers to attend NAFC instructor certification courses this fall. Scholarship recipients will receive complimentary enrollment to one certification. All travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient. To be eligible, applicants must be 18+ years of age. Click here Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  for more information and scholarship application.

 IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Advancements in Diabetes Webinar

The IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention: Advancements in Diabetes Webinar Series is hosting the following webinar for healthcare providers:

• An Overview of “On the TRAIL to Diabetes Prevention” on August 23, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET ? Click here Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  to attend.

Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Webinar Series

The Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Tele-Education Program is hosting the following trainings for health care providers over the next two weeks:  

• “Behavioral Health Integration Webinar Series: Cultivating the New Generation of Integrated Care Champions” on August 24, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET ? Register here. Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• “IHS/IHSIG Webinars: Motivational Interviewing & Pediatric Obesity: Empowering Your Patients and Families to Make Healthy Changes” on August 28, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET ? Register here. Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Save the Date

• August 24: CHAP Tribal Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting
• September 6-7: IHS ISAC Fall 2023 Semi-Annual Meeting
• September 12-13: Direct Service Tribes (DST) Advisory Committee (DSTAC) Quarter Meeting
• September 19-20: Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Meeting

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