The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Grant 2017 AIAN Outreach & Enrollment Cooperative Agreement Awards to Three Urban Indian Health Programs

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) granted  on June 14, 2017, $3.7 million in awards for outreach and enrollment efforts to aid in enrolling American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These cooperative agreements will fund activities to reduce the number of AI/AN children eligible for, but not enrolled in, Medicaid and CHIP.

A total of eight cooperative agreements were awarded to Indian Health Service providers, Tribes and Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations in six states.Among the health programs awarded were 3 Urban Indian Health Programs: Native American Community Health Center, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ; Denver Indian Health and Family Services, Inc. in Denver, CO; and Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest in Portland, OR.

TheNational Council of Urban Indian Health congratulates these outstanding programs and their teams on this enormous success toin provideing outstanding outreach and enrollment services to their communities.

Read more on the CMS’ 2017 American Indian Alaska Native Cooperative Agreements >>>

South Dakota Urban Indian Health is seeking a full time Executive Director

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Title: Executive Director
Reports to: Board of Directors
STATUS: Full Time
Location: Sioux Falls, SD

South Dakota Urban Indian Health is seeking a full time Executive Director (ED). The (ED) serves as the chief executive officer for the multi-site healthcare organization in South Dakota and reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities:

The ED has primary responsibility for organizational design and management, strategic planning, project development and documented policies and procedures. Their responsibilities also include maintaining/increasing financial security and support. They will lead as advised by the Board of Directors and administer and enforce the agency’s mission.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of a Bachelors in public health, health administration, or related discipline with a minimum of 5 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Must have experience writing and managing grants, and securing funding resources
  • Must have management level experience in a non-profit and/or healthcare agency
  • Knowledgeable of current public health care issues
  • Experience with Urban Indian Programs preferred

Preference will be given to qualified Indian applicants, however all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Must be able to provide Indian Preference documentation if claimed. Competitive wage based on qualifications with broad benefit package available.

Contact: Barb Pearson
HR Manager
barb.pearson@sduih.org
(605)339-0420 ext 1219
Website: www.sduih.org

House Appropriators Express Support for NCUIH Agenda at Hearing

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On May 16, NCUIH President Ashley Tuomi testified before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which determines funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS).  A copy of her written statement is linked here.

In her oral statement, Ms. Tuomi thanked Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA), Ranking Member Betty McCollum (D-MN), and Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) for their efforts to increase funding for the agency overall and urban Indian health programs specifically.

Earlier in the hearing, Representative Cole, lamenting that appropriations would never be enough to fully fund IHS, invited representatives of the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people to submit ideas for converting Indian health programs from discretionary to mandatory, so that they would be more like Medicare and Medicaid which are automatically funded based on eligibility.  (the American Health Care Act, which passed the House earlier this month and is pending in the Senate, would undermine Medicaid’s status by imposing strict limits on future federal funding.)

Representative McCollum demonstrated support for Ms. Tuomi’s request that the Subcommittee direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to fully implement its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with IHS to promote better care for urban AI/AN veterans, working with their colleagues who are responsible for determining funding for DVA.  Currently, the MOU is only implemented for Tribal and IHS facilities.  Representative Cole and Chairman Calvert indicated strong support for Ms. Tuomi’s request that the Subcommittee encourage the relevant House of Representatives committee to include UIHPs in the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) so that they are not forced to divert precious appropriations to pay for expensive malpractice insurance.

In putting his weight behind NCUIH’s position on FTCA, Representative Cole praised the work performed by UIHPs and singled out for accolades the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic which he had recently visited.  (That’s an excellent reminder about the value of inviting your lawmakers to visit your UIHP—the more Representatives and Senators know about our work the more support they will give us.)

Finally, all three lawmakers strongly supported Ms. Tuomi’s recommendation to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Indians before it expires at the end of September.

Here is a link to the hearing: http://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx…

Ms. Tuomi’s testimony begins at 1:26:13.

NCUIH and AAIP Announce Strategic Partnership to Address the Health of American Indian/ Alaska Native Communities

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On Thursday, January 26, 2017, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) and the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) signed a memorandum of understanding, which begins a new strategic partnership to address the health needs of the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population, along with their educational opportunities and workforce development.

This new partnership is a natural progression, as both organizations are focused on the AI/AN issues at the national level. NCUIH is the only national nonprofit organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban settings. Similarly, AAIP is the only national nonprofit organization that pursues excellence in Native American health care by promoting education in the medical disciplines, honoring traditional healing principles and restoring the balance of mind, body, and spirit. This partnership will work collaboratively to provide AI/ANs in the health and medical fields with resources, knowledge tools, educational opportunities, expanded culturally-relevant medical pathways, and increase their voice and visibility as leaders.

“We look forward to this partnership to work on initiatives that support and improve the urban Indian educational pathway, in order to meet the health needs of our communities”, said Alejandro Bermudez-del-Villar, NCUIH Interim Executive Director

AAIP Executive Director Polly Olsen adds, “We are excited to strengthen our relationship between NCUIH and AAIP. We are committed to support efforts to increasing workforce development and advocacy for Native American communities.”

Read NCUIH Press Release>>>

Tribal Member Carmelita Wamego Skeeter Honored for Service to Tulsa Indian Community

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For four decades, the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa has provided quality, comprehensive health care to the city’s Native American people in a culturally sensitive manner. Born out of a need to serve an urban Indian population underserved by the city’s existing healthcare facilities, the IHCRC has worked to eliminate health disparities and strengthen the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness of those it serves. With the organization since its inception has been Carmelita Wamego Skeeter, who currently serves as chief executive officer and is a Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member. Skeeter was recently honored by the IHCRC for her four decades of service in building the organization into what is today.

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SAMHSA Announces a $6.4 million Native Connections Grant for Tribes and Urban Indian Organizations

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) are accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2017 Cooperative Agreements for Tribal Behavioral Health (Short Title: Native Connections). The purpose of this program is to prevent and reduce suicidal behavior and substance use, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) young people up to and including age 24.

The goals of this program fall within two of SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiatives: Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness, and Trauma and Justice. This program will help grantees reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders and will foster culturally responsive models to reduce and respond to the impact of trauma on AI/AN communities through a public health approach. In addition, this grant will allow AI/AN communities to support youth and young adults as they transition into adulthood by facilitating collaboration among agencies.

Native Connections grants are authorized under 520A and 516 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD and/or Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.

Read full grant information>>> 

NCUIH and NCAID Announce Strategic Partnership to Address Unmet Needs of Indian Country Disability Population

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Aleksandra Modrow
Policy, Communication and Outreach
National Council of Urban Indian Health
202-544-0344
amodrow@ncuih.org

 

On Friday, November  18, 2016, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) and the National Center for American Indians with Disabilities (NCAID) signed a memorandum of understanding, which begins a new strategic partnership to address the unmet needs of the American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population living with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.

This new partnership is a natural progression, as both organizations are focused on the AI/AN issues at the national level. NCUIH is the only national nonprofit organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban settings. Similarly, NCAID is the only national nonprofit organization that advocates and draws resources for all life-span issues faced by AI/ANs with disabilities. This partnership will work collaboratively toprovide AI/ANs living with disabilities resourcesand/oreducation, expand culturally-relevant services, and increase their voice and visibility.

“We should do all we can to help the AI/AN people with disabilities to live independently regardless of their location”, said Alejandro Bermudez-del-Villar, NCUIH Interim Executive Director

NCAID Executive Director Cinda Hughes adds, “We look forward to this partnership increasing the access of AI/ANs living with disabilities to services, programs, and initiatives that foster self-sufficiency and independence”.

The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is a National 501(c) (3) organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban settings. For more information about the Urban Indian population and the Urban Indian Health Organizations (UIHO) that serve them, please visit www.ncuih.org.

Sacramento Urban Health Center Achieves Accreditation

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Congratulations to Ms. Britta Guerrero, CEO Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC) for achieving accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care  (AAAHC), in addition to certification as a Patient Centered Health Home.  Achieving accreditation demonstrates SNAHC’s capacity to provide the highest quality of health care services to the urban American Indians and Alaska Natives that they serve.

Please read IHS’ Sacramento Urban Health Center Achieves Accreditation blog here.

The OUIHP enteres into a contractual arrangement with KAT Communications

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The OUIHP has entered into a contractual arrangement with KAT Communications to provide with meaningful health information that is culturally reflective and community connected through the GoodHealth TV health and wellness education network created specifically to address health issues that appeal to Native Americans audiences.  This arrangement includes the necessary equipment, a 30-second health program production service, and a 2-year subscription to GoodHealth TV.  KAT Communications will provide an overview during our November 2nd CEO/ED webinar.

For questions, please be free to also contact Kateri, Kateri.Gachupin@ihs.gov, (301) 443-4680.

SAMHSA awards NCUIH funding to assist Urban Indian Organizations with implementing the National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA)

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On Friday, September 30, 2016, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the approval of a one year funding contract to the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) for outreach to Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) to address and implement the priorities of the National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA). The overall goal of this project is to develop input on strategies to address behavioral health systems and supports, support healing from trauma, and other priorities in the TBHA to improve the health and wellbeing of our urban communities. The TBHA offers the opportunity to find common ground for developing interrelated and integrated actions for addressing the behavioral health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those residing in urban areas.

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