White House Expected to Sign Short Term Renewal by Sept. 30 with Funding for SDPI through November 21

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The Senate cleared the bill today and it now heads to the President for a signature.

  • Today, the Senate cleared the stopgap government funding bill and it now awaits the President’s signature. The bill is a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will keep the government open beyond September 30, when it is set to expire, through November 21. The CR that moved forward in the Senate today and the House version include funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) and other public health extenders through November 21, 2019.
  • The bill will keep the government operating at current levels giving Congress five legislative weeks to negotiate the Fiscal Year 2020 budget and departmental appropriations.
  • The President is expected to sign the bill before the funding expires on September 30 and will avert a government shutdown.

 Current Legislation

For questions, comments or concerns, feel free to contact NCUIH Director of Congressional Relations Carla Lott at cmlott@ncuih.org.

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House Subcommittee Reviews the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act

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A legislative hearing was held on H.R. 4153.

September 19, 2019 (Washington, DC) – On Thursday, September 19, 2019, the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States held a Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4153 (Rep. Ro Khanna), “Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act” in 1324 Longworth. Expert witness testimony was provided by Sonya Tetnowski (Makah), Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley in California, Vice President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), President of the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH).

“Serving our urban Native Veterans is not a partisan issue – it is an obligation of the United States government to our veterans and American Indians and Alaska Natives. We are glad to see Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle come together to take action to help Native veterans in urban areas receive greater access to health care. Thank you to Chairman Ruben Gallego and Ranking Member Paul Cook for conducting a hearing and bringing NCUIH as an expert witness. We look forward to seeing the full Committee take up this legislation soon,” said NCUIH Executive Director Francys Crevier.

Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Tom Udall, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act, a bill to improve health care access for Native American Veterans by providing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage for care that Native American Veterans receive at urban Indian health centers.  This legislation would include “urban Indian organizations” in the statute requiring the VA to reimburse Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal health facilities for services they provide to native veterans. According to the VA, 61% of Native American veterans do not reside in rural areas.

VA-IHS MOU Background

Bill Background

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PRESS ADVISORY: Events on September 23 and 24 on Improving Outcomes for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)

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A Moment of Silence will happen on September 24 at 8:45am on the Capitol Steps.

WHO:

  • The National Caucus of Native American State Legislators (NCNASL) in partnership with the Administration on Native Americans at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Council of Urban Indian Health, Members of Congress, and other key stakeholders.

WHAT:

  • The 2019 National Caucus of Native American State Legislators (NCNASL) annual meeting will convene in Washington D.C. on September 23 – 24, 2019. A focus for this year’s meeting is Improving Outcomes from Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).
  • The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) and the Administration for Native Americans, Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have partnered with NCNASL to host a series of roundtables to share efforts, identify gaps, and strategize collaborative opportunities to improve the collective impact on this concerning issue.
  • During this two day gathering these partners will all gather together for a moment of silence in honor of the Indigenous men and women who have gone missing or are murdered in our communities, families and across the nation.

WHEN:

Monday, September 23, 2019 – Media Availability

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM Media Availability:

  • NCNASL Members
  • Linda Son-Stone, NCUIH Board Secretary, CEO of First Nations Community Healthsource
  • Kerry Hawk-Lessard (Descendant of Absentee Shanwne), NCUIH Board Member, Executive Director of Native American Lifelines of Baltimore
  • Walter Murillo, NCUIH Board President-elect and CEO of NATIVE Health Center, Phoenix
 Media Availability for Interviews

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

8:45 AM Moment of Silence Open to Press

WHERE:

  • Monday, September 23, 2019, National Ballroom A, Westin Washington D.C. City Center
  • Tuesday, September 24, 2019 – Capitol Steps, Senate Side

RSVP

  • To RVSP for the Media Availability on Monday, September 23, 2019 or the Moment of Silence on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, please contact Meredith Raimondi, mraimondi@ncuih.org no later than Friday, September 20.
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PRESS RELEASE: House Subcommittee Passes the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meredith Raimondi, mraimondi@NCUIH.org

H.R. 4153 will move to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

September 19, 2019 (Washington, DC) – On Thursday, September 19, 2019, the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States held a Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4153 (Rep. Ro Khanna), “Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act” in 1324 Longworth. NCUIH Board Vice President Sonya Tetnowski (Makah) testified before the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee approved the bill by voice vote. It has now been referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

Expert witness testimony was provided by Sonya Tetnowski (Makah), Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley in California, Vice President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), President of the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH).

“Serving our urban Native Veterans is not a partisan issue – it is an obligation of the United States government to our veterans and American Indians and Alaska Natives. We are glad to see Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle come together to take action to help Native veterans in urban areas receive greater access to health care. Thank you to Chairman Ruben Gallego and Ranking Member Paul Cook for holding a hearing and bringing NCUIH as an expert witness. We look forward to seeing the full Committee take up this legislation soon,” said NCUIH Executive Director Francys Crevier.

Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Tom Udall, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act, a bill to improve health care access for Native American Veterans by providing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage for care that Native American Veterans receive at urban Indian health centers.  This legislation would include “urban Indian organizations” in the statute requiring the VA to reimburse Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal health facilities for services they provide to native veterans. According to the VA, 61% of Native American veterans do not reside in rural areas.

VA-IHS MOU Background

Bill Background

###

About the National Council of Urban Indian Health

The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is the national organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in urban settings. NCUIH envisions a nation where comprehensive, culturally competent personal and public health services are availab

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9/24/19: A Moment of Silence for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

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September 24, 2019 at 8:45 AM
Capitol Steps

If you can’t join on at the US Capitol, please join us wherever you are able by wearing red in solidarity and observing a moment at 8:45 AM.

Featuring Lance Fisher

Please join the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators (NCNASL) in partnership with the Administration for Native Americans at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Council of Urban Indian Health, Members of Congress for a Moment of Silence for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

This event is being held in conjunction with the 2019 NCNASL Annual Meeting (September 23 – 24, 2019) with the theme of Improving Outcomes for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), which is focused on allowing attendees to identify gaps and opportunities for collaborative strategies to address and prevent this epidemic.

 

Contact: events@NCUIH.org

Media Contact: mraimondi@NCUIH.org

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PRESS RELEASE: House Subcommittee Announces Hearing this Thursday on the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act

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Just over one month after introduction, the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples scheduled a hearing on H.R. 4153

September 16, 2019 (Washington, DC) – On Thursday, September 19, 2019, the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States will host a Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4153 (Rep. Ro Khanna), “Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act” in 1324 Longworth. NCUIH Board Vice President and CEO of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley Sonya Tetnowski (Makah) will be testifying before the Subcommittee.

“We owe all veterans a debt for their service to our country, and this legislation will ensure more Native veterans have equal access to timely, culturally-competent care regardless of where they choose to live after leaving their military service,” said Senator Tom Udall, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “I am glad to see the House take action on this bill, which continues my work toward equitable and effective health care for all Native communities, and look forward to the Senate soon following suit.”

“This bill is about fixing a disparity in our health care system that should have never existed in the first place. Native Veterans should be able to access the same level of culturally competent care whether they live in an urban or rural area. These are our nation’s heroes: they deserve the best our government has to offer,” said Representative Ro Khanna.

“I have long supported giving veterans a choice in how they access their health care. Alaska Native veterans and veterans from Native communities across our country deserve to seek care at facilities that are close to their homes and from doctors who they feel most comfortable with. This legislation is simple: if a Native veteran accesses care from an Urban Indian Organization clinic, then that clinic should be reimbursed by the VA for services provided. Our veterans risked everything to keep our country safe, and this legislation is an important part of ensuring that our heroes receive the care they have earned. I am grateful to Representatives Khanna, Moore, and Gosar for their leadership on this issue and look forward to working with them to get it past the finish line,” said Representative Don Young.

“Just over one month after its introduction, it is promising to see the Subcommittee has taken up Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act for a hearing. We are encouraged to see continued movement on this important legislation ensuring that our veterans in urban areas are no longer left behind. If it passes into law, the Department of Veterans Affairs will have the explicit authority to reimburse the 41 Title V Urban Indian Organizations who are already providing critical resources for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans who have served the United States,” said NCUIH Executive Director Francys Crevier.

“I am honored to testify on behalf of both veterans and American Indians and Alaska Natives for the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act. The National Council of Urban Indian Health has made it a priority to ensure that Urban Indian Organizations are included in the IHS-VA MOU to help provide health care to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. As a Native veteran myself, I understand the importance of coming home and knowing I have a safe space to receive care. Thank you to my own Representative Ro Khanna, and we are grateful for the leadership of the 116th Congress for continuing to move forward on passing this landmark legislation,” said NCUIH Vice President and CEO of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley Sonya Tetnowski.

Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Tom Udall, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act, a bill to improve health care access for Native American Veterans by providing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage for care that Native American Veterans receive at urban Indian health centers.  This legislation would include “urban Indian organizations” in the statute requiring the VA to reimburse Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal health facilities for services they provide to native veterans. According to the VA, 61% of Native American veterans do not reside in rural areas.

VA-IHS MOU Background

Bill Background

###

About the National Council of Urban Indian Health

The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is the national organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in urban settings. NCUIH envisions a nation where comprehensive, culturally competent personal and public health services are available and accessible to AI/ANs living in urban communities throughout the United States.  NCUIH is the organization that represents all 41 Title V Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) federally funded by the Indian Health Service.

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MEET TAYLOR FRANCISCO: 2019 YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBER

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Yá’át’ééh, Shi ei Taylor Francisco yinishe. Hello, my name is Taylor Francisco and I am Navajo and originally from New Mexico. I am currently a Neuroscience and Behavior Major at Columbia University in New York City. I am also a member of the 2019 Youth Council for the National Council of Urban Indian Health. Our council aims to promote healthy coping skills and wellness for urban indigenous youth through our Indigenous Wellness Champion initiative. For me, what it means to be an Indigenous Wellness Champion is to share your knowledge of wellness and resiliency with your community. Wellness Champions also are always learning about new ways to improve their wellness in a holistic and culturally infused way.

If you are looking to be a part of this national network and learning how to become an Indigi-Wellness Champion National Social Contest and Campaign, do so in the following four simple steps:

  1. Create Social Media post showing you using your culture/hobbies or pics of Friends and Family that promotes wellness and resiliency
    a. Link to simple steps to use the Youth Council two-braid image on social media post located here
    Indigi-Wellness Social Media Tool Kit
  2. Answer 2 questions in your post: “What does it mean to be an Indigi-Wellness Champion?” and “How do you stay resilient in your community”?
  1. Ask other Native youth to join the movement in your post and ask them “What does it mean for you to be an Indigi-Wellness Champion?” and “How do you stay resilient in your community”?
  1. Share on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. Make sure that your social media post settings are public for NCUIH’s office to view your submission. Include the Youth Council Campaign Logo & hashtags #ThisIsNative #CultureIsPrevention #NCUIH #NCUIHYC18. Create your post by using the YC’s two braided image representing both campaigns provided here: #ThisIsNative and #CultureIsPrevention.
  1. Submit your post at https://www.jotform.com/NCUIH/indigi-wellness-champion-campaign before 11:59 PM September 20, 2019

How will Social Media Campaign winners be selected?

  • A panel of indigenous judges will select the 1st, 2nd 3rd place winners.
  • The judges come from a variety of Native youth with different tribes and ethnicities that have a passion for promoting mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness for Native Youth.
  • Judges will not be given names or tribes of participants. Judging will be done blindly.

Judging will be based on:

  • Participants including Youth Council Campaign Logo & hashtags #ThisIsNative #CultureIsPrevention #NCUIH #NCUIHYC18.
  • Participants answering the 2 questions in the post: “What does it mean to be an Indigi-Wellness Champion?” and “How do you stay resilient in your community”?
  • Participants asking other Native youth to join the movement in your post and ask them “What does it mean for you to be an Indigi-Wellness Champion?” and “How do you stay resilient in your community”?
  • Participants including the YC’s braided images representing both campaigns provided here: #ThisIsNative and #CultureIsPrevention. Located on pg. 6-8 on Indigi-Wellness Social Media Toolkit.
  • Participants including language that: Inspire Native Youth to choose healthy solutions, investing in positive change for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health; and promoting resilience and wellness to empower future generations.

We hope to see you on September 10th for our Campaign Launch!

Ahéhee’ (Thank you)!

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NCUIH Submits Comments to IHS on a Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Opioids Grant Program

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On Tuesday, September 3, NCUIH submitted comments to the Indian Health Service (IHS) on its Urban Confer regarding FY 2019 opioid funding for a Special Behavioral Health Pilot Program (SBHPP).  In the comments, NCUIH provided the following recommendations:

In the comments, NCUIH provided the following recommendations:

  • The SBHPP objectives should be clearly stated and well-designed to address the opioid epidemic, and include sufficient flexibility
  • The SBHPP must be flexible and allow creativity in program design in order to be most effective
  • Adequate funding for UIOs to combat the opioid epidemic is key to advancing the goal of quality data collection and evaluation
  • It is important that any effectiveness measures are not prescriptive and allow for flexibility because using a sole metric may work well in some areas but for a variety of reasons not be an adequate representation of success in others
  • Sufficient data and appropriate evaluation metrics are important for the longevity of the program

The comments reiterated support for a SBHPP and the importance that UIOs be included in any such program design.

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NCUIH Youth Council Member Faith Bowman – Reminder of the Indigi-Wellness Champion Campaign

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Koolamaski/ Hello my name is Faith Bowman. I am from the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Nation in Wisconsin and I am a member of the Inaugural Youth Council for the National Council of Urban Indian Health.

I just want to thank all who participated in the first NCUIH Youth Convening! We really appreciate your support and willingness to learn about the NCUIH Youth Council and our Indigi-Wellness Champion Campaign.

Speaking of the Indigi-Wellness Champion Campaign, we want to remind you save the date for our campaign launch on September 10th.

The Indigi-Wellness Champion Campaign is aimed at promoting overall health of Native Youth across Indian country by challenging YOU to challenge yourself and peers to embody an Indigi-Wellness Champion.

If this is you or someone you know, get involved by posting on social media showing how you stay resilient in your community and how you embody an Indigenous Wellness Champion. Be sure to Include the following hashtags (#ThisIsNative #CultureIsPrevention #NCUIH #NCUIHYC18) and our two-braid logos and you are one step closer to winning some awesome prizes and bundles.

How do you get involved? It’s very easy.

  • Create a Social Media post showing you using your culture/hobbies or pics of Friends and Family that promotes wellness and resiliency. Putting your settings as Public will allow NCUIH to view your submission.
  • Answer (2) simple questions:
    • “What does it mean to be an Indigi-Wellness Champion?”
    • “How do you stay resilient in your community?”
  • Challenge other Native Youth to join in the movement and share what makes them resilient.
  • Use the YC two-braid image on social media posts
  • Submit you your Social Media Post link here https://www.ncuih.org/indigiwellness at NCUIH’s National Headquarters on or before 11:59 PM September 20, 2019 and submit.

So I ask you how do you stay resilient in your community?

If you are looking be a part of this national network and learn how to become an Indigi-Wellness Champion National Social Contest and Campaign that launches on September 10th. To learn more about how you can build a support system or how to be more supportive, follow our campaign from September 10-20, 2019 and press on the link below https://www.ncuih.org/indigiwellness

We hope to see you on September 10th for our Campaign Launch!

Anushiik (Thank you)!

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