News Archives - Page 5 of 12

OPM Announces Nationwide Special Solicitation for Combined Federal Campaigns – Pledge to NCUIH by June 30

May 4, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by NCUIH

Make your pledge by June 30, 2020

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) will conduct a nationwide special solicitation to support charities serving and affected by COVID-19. This special solicitation will run through June 30.

Under this solicitation, the CFC giving platform will reopen for federal employees, military employees, and retirees who may want to make supplemental pledges to charities hard hit by the COVID-19 emergency, as well as to charities providing emergency services to Americans and global citizens affected by this pandemic. One hundred percent of the donations received will go directly to the over 6,000 local, national, and international health and human welfare charities who are struggling to keep up with the increased demand posed by COVID-19.

“By participating in this special solicitation, federal employees can contribute to charities that provide support to people impacted during this critical time. Americans are coming together to support one another, and the Combined Federal Campaign is a great opportunity for federal employees to continue in the long tradition we have of supporting our fellow Americans in need,” said Acting Director Michael Rigas.

All COVID-19 guidance issued by OPM is available at opm.gov/coronavirus

The CFC online giving portal can be accessed at opm.gov/ShowSomeLoveCFC

NCUIH Youth Council Highlight: YC Megan McDermott Launches Virtual Storefront

May 4, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by NCUIH

NCUIH congratulates member 2019-20 Megan McDermott (Descendant Piegan Blackfeet & Plains Cree) as she takes big steps in establishing an entrepreneurial presence as an Indigenous artist throughout Indian Country. YC Megan launched her own Indigenous virtual storefront that has many amazing Native art pieces, prints, handcrafted Native jewelry, greetings cards for purchase. YC Megan also provides a free coloring page for download.

As an Indigenous artist, YC Megan continues to leave a positive impact on AI/AN communities both locally and nationally. She has collaborated and led various native art therapy events and programs for AI/AN youth for the greater Seattle Washington area. She also completed a prestigious art residency program with the YÉ™haw’ show and the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture. YC Megan also participated in various art competitions in Washington State and throughout Indian Country- most notably the #HealthyNativeLoveis Photo Contest!, the ‘Art Battle Seattle ‘contest in May of 2019, NCUIH’s National Call for Artwork Contest.

YC Megan’s latest endeavor includes supplying the Chief Seattle Club with 7 coloring page files as part of their Native Care art packages for their members and working with other Native organizations in providing coloring pages to their AI/AN communities. Megan also did a weeklong Twitter takeover for IndigenousBeads with the intention to spread positivity during these challenging times.

YC Megan’s artwork has been sold in many state-wide art festivals and events, including- the 2019 Seattle Indigenous Peoples Festival and the 2019 Black Friday weekend Duwamish Longhouse Holiday Market. Megan appeared on King5 New Day Northwest TV station to talk about her artwork, beading, and briefly demonstrate how to bead.

To learn more about YC Megan McDermott and to support an inspiring Indigenous artist- please visit her virtual storefront at https://gobsofcolor.com/shop.

Free Coloring Page: Be Like The Butterfly

RADM Weahkee Confirmed by US Senate to be Director of the Indian Health Service

April 21, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by NCUIH

On April 21, 2020, a new Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) was confirmed by voice vote in the Senate. The vote confirmed Rear Admiral Michael D. Weahkee, Zuni of New Mexico, to be Director of IHS, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for a term of four years.

IHS has not had a Senate-confirmed Director since 2015. HHS Secretary Alex Azar first appointed RADM Weahkee in June 2017 as Acting IHS Director. President Trump nominated RADM Weahkee on October 22, 2019.

NCUIH sent a letter of support of the nomination of RADM Weahkee.

NCUIH Hosts First Virtual Site Visit Retreat for Supporting Urban Native Youth Project

April 21, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by NCUIH

(April 21, 2020) – NCUIH and two of its Title V Urban Indian Organization (UIO) members, Native American Lifelines (NAL) and Native American Rehabilitation Association, Inc (NARA), participated in their 1st virtual site visit retreat as part of the Native Connections’ Supporting Urban Native Youth (SUNY) project in light of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. SUNY focuses on building the capacity of each urban community to address suicide and substance misuse in youth up to age 24 years. The sites are located in Baltimore, Maryland, and Boston, Massachusetts, as well as Portland, Oregon, respectively.

The four-day-long virtual retreat was structured on the Gathering of Native Americans model (GONA). Each day represented a different GONA theme (Belonging, Mastery, Interdependence, and Generosity) and included team-building activities, ice breakers and self-care practices, which were captured and co-facilitated by the external evaluator, from One Fire Associates, LLC.

NCUIH, NAL Boston, NAL Baltimore & NARA’s Portland staff and leadership were able to build a deeper sense of Belonging, Mastery, Interdependence and Generosity by:

Sharing their successes thus far in the five-year grant and hope for the future in the remaining two years.
Sharing challenges and best practices on creative ways to implement youth engagement activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Showing strong interest in providing suicide and substance abuse certification training to their youth populations, possibly through virtual QPR training by a former NCUIH Youth Council member.
Participating in breakout session activities that helped each site identify impactful partnerships, partnership challenges for areas of need for support, and partnerships they want to develop/ strengthen.
Each site presented their overall UIO youth programming and best practices in how they support their respective communities.
Developing strategies for sustainability based on identified priorities for each community, as well as strategic planning actions for the future.
NCUIH identified TA support, including connecting peer-to-peer support to each site on areas of developing successful partnerships with academic institutions and correctional facilities to better support each sites’ community.

JOB OPENING: Missoula Urban Indian Health Center – Wellness Care Coordinator (RN/CDE or RD)

April 7, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by NCUIH

Click to view Job Announcement

ABOUT MUIHC

MUIHC draws from a diverse skill set using an interdisciplinary team led approach to implement a comprehensive suite of healthcare services. We are working towards instituting trauma-informed practices and policies in order to achieve holistic wellness for the Missoula Native community.

MUIHC CLINIC LOCATION

830 West Central
Missoula, MT 59801

P: (406) 829-9515
F: (406) 829-9519

ADMINISTRATION LOCATION

2100 Stephens Avenue, Suite 105
Missoula, MT 59801

PRESS RELEASE: IHS Announces Determination of $30 Million for Urban Indian Health of the $1.032 Billion from CARES Act

April 3, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by Meredith Raimondi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meredith Raimondi, 202-417-7781, mraimondi@ncuih.org

NCUIH Advocated for $94 Million for Urban Indian Health

Washington, DC (April 3, 2020) – Today, the Indian Health Service (IHS) announced in a Dear Tribal and Urban Indian Organization Leader Letter (DTLL/DUIOLL) its decision on funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The letter provides that out of the $1.032 billion Indian Health Service (IHS) received from the CARES Act, it will include $30 million for urban Indian health. Throughout the legislative process, NCUIH, UIOs and other partners advocated for the federal government to uphold its trust responsibility to Indian Country by including $1.1 billion for IHS with $94 million for urban Indian health.

“Across the country, Indian Health Care Providers have been on the front lines responding to this pandemic without adequate funding or resources like testing supplies and PPE. Over 70% of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban areas, which have been ravaged by this pandemic. Our facilities are fighting to keep their doors open so they can continue to provide for the families who need them most. Unfortunately, we’ve been disappointed in the federal government’s slow response to ensuring Indian Country has the resources it needs. In the time it has taken for action from the federal government, two of our programs have shut down including one for lack of PPE. Although NCUIH is pleased that desperately needed funding will get to Urban Indian Organizations soon, it is considerably less than what was advocated for and much less than the level of need to address the pandemic in urban Indian communities. We are hopeful the next phase of legislation continues to prioritize Indian Country. We are especially grateful to our champions in Congress who ensured that tribal members residing in urban areas were not forgotten yet again,” said Francys Crevier, Executive Director.

On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was enacted as the third phase of legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill provided $1.032 billion to the Indian Health Service (IHS) in critically needed resources to support the tribal health system during the pandemic, including expanded support for medical services, equipment, supplies and public health education for IHS direct service, tribally operated and urban Indian health care facilities; expanded funding for purchased/referred care; and new investments for telehealth services, electronic health records improvement, and expanded disease surveillance by tribal epidemiology centers.

Earlier this month H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was enacted on March 18, and H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act was enacted on March 6.

Next Steps

Congressional leadership has indicated that the fourth phase of coronavirus response legislation is developing quickly. NCUIH will continue to advocate for a minimum of $94 million for UIOs.Additional Information

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The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is the national non-profit organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health and public health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in urban areas. NCUIH is the only national representative of the 41 Title V Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) under the Indian Health Service (IHS) in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). NCUIH strives to improve the health of the over 70% of the AI/AN population that lives in urban areas, supported by quality, accessible health care centers.

NCUIH on NPR: Coronavirus Exposes Public Health Inequities in Indigenous Communities (March 2, 2020)

April 2, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by Meredith Raimondi

Native American tribes across the U.S. for weeks have been shutting down casinos, hotels and tourist destinations, and shoring up services amid worries about the spread of the coronavirus.

The coronavirus has been exposing and deepening systems of inequality all across the country. Low-wage workers without sick leave have limited options for making ends meet, students without internet access are struggling as schools move online, and those without health care may be unable to seek care if they get sick. Adding on to that, nearly 10 million people in the U.S. have filed for unemployment in the past two weeks.

In American Indian communities, the coronavirus outbreak has exposed a number of longstanding public health inequities.

Some tribal leaders, like Rodney Bordeaux, the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, have issued a state of emergency due to concerns over how the pandemic will affect their communities.

“I am troubled that our people do not currently have access to the CDC approved test kits either from the CDC or the Indian Health Service. I am also concerned that the state has not made these kits available to our people, especially our elders and other vulnerable populations.”

Urban Indian Health programs, which were given some money in the two recent stimulus packages, have been dramatically underfunded for decades despite the fact that roughly 70 percent of American Indians live in urban and suburban areas.”

We spoke with Francys Cevier of the National Council for Urban Indian Health about what the coronavirus pandemic has meant for Urban Indian communities. We also talked to Julian Bear Runner, president of Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, about how it’s impacting rural tribal populations.

Check out our ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic here.

Click on the ‘Listen’ button above to hear this segment. Don’t have time to listen right now? Subscribe for free to our podcast via iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts to take this segment with you on the go.

Want to comment on this story? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page or Twitter.

NPR – Coronavirus Exposes Public Health Inequities in Indigenous Communities (April 2, 2020)

PRESS RELEASE: Phase 3 of Coronavirus Pandemic Package Signed into Law

March 27, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by Meredith Raimondi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meredith Raimondi, 202-417-7781, mraimondi@ncuih.org

The bill provides $1.032 to the Indian Health Service for COVID-19 response efforts.

Washington, DC (March 27, 2020) – Today, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is the third phase of legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act passed the House of Representatives today and cleared the Senate earlier this week. The bill provides $1.032 billion to the Indian Health Service (IHS) in critically needed resources to support the Indian Health System during the pandemic, including expanded support for medical services, equipment, supplies and public health education for IHS direct service, tribally operated and Urban Indian Organizations; expanded funding for purchased/referred care; and new investments for telehealth services, electronic health records improvement, and expanded disease surveillance by tribal epidemiology centers.

Earlier this month H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was enacted on March 18, and H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act was enacted on March 6.

NCUIH has been laser focused on ensuring Tribes and urban Indian organizations are included in the response efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic. NCUIH has created a COVID-19 Resource Center and a COVID-19 legislative tracker where you can find a summary of actions to date, which includes coalition letters, legislative actions, recent news, and other developments. NCUIH is honored to partner with NCAI and NIHB and other organizations throughout this process to fight for Indian Country in the Congressional and Federal COVID-19 response.

“As Indian Country is always the first to get cut and last to get funding, we are encouraged by the leadership of Congress in working to include Indian Country in its priorities throughout the response to the coronavirus pandemic. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Indian Country, Tribes and urban Indians have been on the front lines of this public health crisis yet they have been operating with woefully inadequate funding and resources. Our top priority is to get this money to Tribes and our Native communities who need it most to mitigate this pandemic. We will continue to work with our national partners including NIHB and NCAI to push for parity for Tribes, tribal organizations and urban Indian organizations in future legislation,” said Francys Crevier, Executive Director.

Funding

Indian Health Service (IHS)

The bill provides $1.032 billion to the Indian Health Service (IHS) in critically needed resources to support the Indian Health System during the pandemic, including expanded support for medical services, equipment, supplies and public health education for IHS direct service, tribally operated and Urban Indian Organizations; expanded funding for purchased/referred care; and new investments for telehealth services, electronic health records improvement, and expanded disease surveillance by tribal epidemiology centers.
Not less than $450 million shall be distributed through Tribal shares and Urban Indian Organizations.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Provides for a total of $4.3 billion for program wide activities and support with no less than $1.5 billion to be made available to States, localities, territories, tribes, tribal organizations, UIOs, or health service providers to tribes. Activities include:
Surveillance, Epidemiology, Laboratory Capacity, Infection Control, Mitigation, Communications, Other Preparedness and Response Activities
Of this, at least $125 million is to be made available to tribes, tribal organizations, UIOs or health service providers to tribes.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

A total of $435 million is allocated for Health Surveillance and Program Support for SAMHSA. This includes prevention, preparation, and response to COVID-19.
No less than $15 million is to be allocated for tribes, tribal organizations, UIOs or health/ behavioral health service providers to tribes.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

HRSA Rural Health is appropriated $180 million of which no less than $15 million is to be allocated for tribes, tribal organizations, UIOs, or health service providers to tribes to carry out telehealth and rural health activities.

Legislative Authorizations

Special Diabetes Fund for Indians (SDPI)

Reauthorizes SDPI at current funding levels through November 30, 2020. Allocates $25,068,493 for the period from October 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020.

Next Steps

Congressional leadership has indicated that there will be a fourth phase of coronavirus response legislation. The Congressional Progressive Caucus has outlined priorities, which includes ensuring, “Parity for Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations”. Similarly, Senator Tom Udall, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs said the fourth package must include a, “Tribal-specific title, and for pushing Congress and the Trump administration to make sure Indian Country has equal access to federal coronavirus resources.”

Additional Information

TOPIC	FUNDING/ SECTON	LANGUAGE
TOPIC	FUNDING/ SECTON	LANGUAGE
Indian Health Service	$1,032,000,000	For an additional amount for ‘‘Indian Health Services’’, $1,032,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, including for public health support, electronic health record modernization, telehealth and other information technology upgrades, Purchased/Referred Care, Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund, Urban Indian Organizations, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, Community Health Representatives, and other activities to protect the safety of patients and staff
	$65,000,000	up to $65,000,000 is for electronic health record stabilization and support, including for planning and tribal consultation
	$450,000,000	That of amounts provided under this heading in this Act, not less than $450,000,000 shall be distributed through IHS directly operated programs and to tribes and tribal organizations under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and through contracts or grants with urban Indian organizations under title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	$4,300,000,000	For an additional amount for ‘‘CDC-Wide Activities and Program Support’’, $4,300,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally
	$1,500,000,000	That not less than $1,500,000,000 of the amount provided under this heading in this Act shall be for grants to or cooperative agreements with States, localities, territories, tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes, including to carry out surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control, mitigation, communications, and other preparedness and response activities
	$125,000,000	That of the amount in the first proviso, not less than $125,000,000 shall be allocated to tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes
SAMHSA	$425,000,000	For an additional amount for ‘‘Heath Surveillance and Program Support’’, $425,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2021, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally
SAMHSA	$15,000,000	That of the funding made available under this heading in this Act, not less than $15,000,000 shall be allocated to tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health or behavioral health service providers to tribes
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND	$27,014,500,000	For an additional amount for ‘‘Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund’’, $27,014,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, including the development of necessary countermeasures and vaccines, prioritizing platform-based technologies with U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities, the purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, necessary medical supplies, as well as medical surge capacity, addressing blood supply chain, workforce modernization, telehealth access and infrastructure, initial advanced manufacturing, novel dispensing, enhancements to the U.S. Commissioned Corps, and other preparedness and response activities
HRSA	$180,000,000	That $180,000,000 of the funds appropriated under this paragraph shall be transferred to ‘‘Health Resources and Services Administration—Rural Health’’ to remain available until September 30, 2022, to carry out telehealth and rural health activities under sections 330A and 330I of the PHS Act and sections 711 and 1820 of the Social Security Act to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally
HRSA	$15,000,000	That of the funding in the previous proviso, no less than $15,000,000 shall be allocated to tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes
SDPI	SEC. 3832.	INDIANS.—Section 330C(c)(2)(D) of the Public
SDPI	SEC. 3832.	Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c–3(c)(2)(D)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 2019, and $96,575,342 for the period beginning on October 1, 2019, and ending on May 22, 2020’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2020, and $25,068,493 for the period beginning on October 1, 2020, and ending on November 30, 2020’

Toolkit: Urban Indian Health Appropriations Letter

March 11, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by Meredith Raimondi

Dear Urban Indian Health Advocates,

We need your help contacting Congress to support Urban Indian Organizations!

Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) are leading a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

The letter calls for an increase in funding of a minimum of $106 million for the Indian Health Services (IHS) urban Indian healthcare line item. In FY 2020, UIOs received a $6 million increase, and to build on this progress, we are requesting a line item appropriation of $106 million in FY 2021, which reflects the recommendation made by the Tribal Budget Formulation Working Group (TBFWG). To ensure that the urban Indian health line item receives as much support as possible, we encourage you to contact your Member of Congress and request that they sign on to the Gallego-Grijalva Urban Indian Health letter by the deadline of March 16.

Please use the following text below as a template to call or email to your Member of Congress. If you can please, call and email your representative. You can find your representative here.

Thank you for your leadership. Your outreach on this is invaluable to providing greater access to health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives in urban areas.

Sincerely,

NCUIH

Background

In testimony before Congress, NCUIH advocated for an increase in funding to $106 million for the Indian Health Services (IHS) urban Indian healthcare line item. $106 million, is what the IHS Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup requested minimum is for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The House included $81 million in FY 2020 for urban Indian health and the final bill included $57 million, a $6 million increase.

Steps to Contact Congress

Step 1: Copy the email below.
Step 2: Find your representative here.
Step 3: Paste the email into the form and send. Please contact Carla Lott (cmlott@NCUIH.org) with questions.

Email to Your Member of Congress

As an urban Indian health advocate, I respectfully request you on sign on to the Gallego-Grijalva letter to the House Committee on Appropriations in support of increasing the urban Indian health line item.

As an integral part of the AI/AN health care delivery system, UIOs depend on funding from IHS to provide care to urban AI/AN people. UIOs depend on scarce federal resources to provide services to our AI/AN patients. UIOs primarily receive funding from the urban Indian health line item. The letter requests increasing the urban Indian health to at least $106 million, which reflects the recommendation made by the Tribal Budget Formulation Working Group (TBFWG) for FY 2021. With increased funding many UIOs would be able to expand existing services, offer new services, hire additional staff, and procure updated equipment.

For the sake of the U.S. trust responsibility, the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives we request you support increasing the urban Indian health line item.

To sign on please complete this form or contact Ms. Mariel Jorgensen (Mariel.Jorgensen@mail.house.gov) from Gallego’s office by March 16.

Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to upholding the United States trust responsibility.

Social Media

Facebook

Post your support on your Facebook.

Example post:
Call your Member of Congress to sign on the Gallego Grijalva Urban Indian Health Funding letter by March 16. Learn More: https://www.ncuih.org/policy_blog?article_id=363

Twitter

From your Twitter account, tweet to your Member of Congress.

Find your Member of Congress here.
Example tweet:
Dear [@ Member’s handle], please sign on to Gallego Grijalva letter for $106 million for #urbanIndianhealth in FY21 cc:@ncuih_official.

NCUIH in the News: Salt Lake Tribune – ‘We are not ready for this’: Native American tribes struggle to deal with coronavirus

March 9, 2020/0 Comments/in News/by Meredith Raimondi

By Jourdan Bennett-Begaye | Indian Country Today

Published: 5 days ago
Updated: 4 days ago

Washington • Dean Seneca didn’t mince words after the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s recent “damaging news” about the spread of the novel coronavirus that has killed more than 3,000 people worldwide, including nine in Washington state.

“I want to make sure that I stated that tribes are not prepared for the coronavirus,” he texted Indian Country Today a day after an interview in which he was more cautious.

“I don’t think that we are as prepared as we should be,” Seneca – who has worked more than 18 years in the Centers for Disease Control’s Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support – had said in the interview.

What changed overnight? Two things: The infection rate and the length of time an infected person shows no sign of the disease.

The first example was the Diamond Princess cruise ship incident in which one passenger on board, as well as one who had left the ship earlier, tested positive for COVID-19. A two-week quarantine resulted in 45 passengers becoming infected.

Seneca said health officials now know “that people will have this virus, not show symptoms and still be able to transmit the virus. That is scary.”

Viruses usually are contagious at the peak, he said. For example, in the first two days you’re slowing getting sick and on the third day, you’re at a height of an infection. People you come into contact with can get sick. It’s for sure.

‘We really are not ready for it now’

Nez wants to bring in community health representatives to educate tribal elders.

Nez and Dr. Jill Jim, executive director of the Navajo Department of Health, recently gave updates and prevention tips during an appearance on KTNN radio in Window Rock, the nation’s capital.

“There are no cases of the coronavirus on the Navajo Nation,” Nez said, “but this is a very serious health concern and it’s vital that we continue to provide information with everyone, including students, elderly and community members.”

The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and the California Tribal Epidemiology Centers have been disseminating information to tribes within their states. California also is contingency planning and developing scenario-based exercises for their tribal health clinics. The Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center sends out COVID-19 documents from the CDC and “daily key points” to the tribal health directors.

Seneca said tribes need the resources to tackle the threat head-on.

“The other is that our health care systems are really not in place, nor do we have experts, as physicians and nurses that know or are familiar with this kind of foreign virus,” he said.

“I just wanted to make it clear that we are not ready for this. We really are not ready for it now.”

The National Council of Urban Indian Health sent a letter to Congress on Feb. 28, urging lawmakers to honor the trust responsibility to urban Indians. The council asked Congress to include “urban Indian organizations” when approving emergency funding to prevent and treat COVID-19. It also requested “at the very least $94 million for emergency funding and health education/promotion” for urban Indian organizations.