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

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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.

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)!

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)!

Hope for Life Day (September 9, 2019) Toolkit

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Background

On June 30, 2015, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), in partnership with the Action Alliance’s AI/AN Task Force, put forward a resolution at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Mid-Year Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. The resolution, “Creating an Annual National American Indian and Alaska Native Hope for Life Day (Suicide Prevention Awareness Day),” was the outcome of a one-year collaborative effort by task force members.

To help advance the Action Alliance’s priority to change the public conversation about suicide, the AI/AN Task Force developed National American Indian/Alaska Native Hope for Life Day, which coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. They also developed the National Hope for Life Day Toolkit to help community leaders, grassroots organizers, and health care professionals working in AI/AN communities implement a community-wide Hope for Life Day.

The purpose of the resolution was to request a U.S. presidential proclamation that a National AI/AN Hope for Life Day would be held each year on September 10, which is during Suicide Prevention Week. The resolution encourages collaboration with federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Bureau of Indian Education and Bureau of Indian Affairs within the Department of Interior, and Department of Education. It also encourages collaboration with national Indian and non-Indian organizations and other groups. NCAI’s Health Subcommittee and Human Resources Committee deliberated, amended, and passed the resolution.

Toolkit

Fact Sheets and Data

Tips and Ideas for Hope for Life Day Activities

Ready to Use Templates

Resources

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)

SPRC’s “American Indian/Alaska Native Settings” webpage provides access to a wide range of suicide prevention resources for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center offers training and technical assistance on mental and substance use disorders, suicide prevention, and mental health promotion for AI/AN communities. To Live to See the Great Day That Dawns is a guide to help AI/AN people develop effective and culturally appropriate suicide prevention programs. “American Indian and Alaska Native: Tribal Affairs” is a webpage with links to many national resources on behavioral health, including suicide, that are helpful for AI/AN people.

Indian Health Service

IHS’ “Suicide Prevention and Care Program” webpage provides information and links to resources on suicide prevention and care for Native people.

Native Connections

Native Connections is a five-year grant program that helps AI/AN communities identify and address the behavioral health needs of Native youth.

We R NativeWe R Native is a website for and by Native youth on many health and mental health issues, including suicide. It includes both information and personal stories from Native youth.

Tribal Health: Reaching out InVolves Everyone

Tribal Health: Reaching out InVolves Everyone (THRIVE) is a suicide prevention project of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board with a website that has resources for Native people throughout the U.S.

One Sky Center

One Sky Center is a national resource center with a focus on improving prevention and treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems and services among Native people.

What does it mean for be an Indigi-Wellness Champion? Peer-to-Peer Support

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My name is Shoshanna “Mah-Gah-Wah-See” Johnson and I’m a member of the Big Jim Band from the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Throughout my time on the Inaugural Youth Advisory Council, I’ve learned a lot about the importance of peer-to-peer support. Most of my friends and family members know that I work in suicide prevention so I’m very open to talking about mental health. It’s created a safe space for some of my friends to come to me for support whether it’s just being an open ear or helping them find resources specific to their needs. I’ve learned that it’s important for youth to know that being resilient does not mean that you still won’t face times in your life when you will have to deal with stress.

If someone you know is thinking about suicide, help them connect to resources. Help them build a support system so that they have others to reach out to for help, whether it’s 1-800-273- TALK (8255), family, friends, teachers, coaches or a counselor. Listen to their reasons for feeling hopeless and in pain. Listen without judgment and with compassion and empathy.

As Indigenous people, we owe it to our ancestors to come and work together because that intertribal connectedness is medicine in this day in age. That’s how our traditions will stay alive and how our people can stay resilient. This is what it means for me to be an Indigi-Wellness Warrior. 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. How do you get involved? It’s very easy.

      1. Create a post and share photos of life, family, friends, hobbies as examples of ways you keep your Indigenous identity strong and what have you been doing to promote health and wellness in your community over the past 4 years.
      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”?
      3. 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”?
      4. 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.
        • *Always get parental permission before posting any content online (if under 18 years old)
        • 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 to be provided soon.
      5. Submit your post at https://www.ncuih.org/indigiwellness before 11:59 PM September 20, 2019.

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

Ne ah way!

Statement from National Council of Urban Indian Health Executive Director Francys Crevier

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Washington, DC (August 16, 2019) – Today, the National Council of Urban Indian Health Executive Director Francys Crevier released the following statement:

“The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) has long encouraged Members of Congress and the Administration to honor the United States trust obligations to Indian Country including American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) on and off reservations. For over 20 years, we have advocated for proper funding of IHS, which includes Urban Indian health care, the overall betterment of Indian Country and the rights of Sovereign nations.  NCUIH agrees with the Broken Promises report that emphasizes the critical role of the 41 Title V Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) funded by Indian Health Service that provide “the only affordable, culturally competent health care services available in urban areas. “ The report accurately states that 70% of AI/ANs live in urban areas and ‘many of the recurring health problems faced by Native Americans in general are more acute for those living in urban areas.’ We look forward to working with the 116th Congress on incorporating suggestions on how best to provide full, guaranteed funding to IHS for Tribes and UIOs including outlining steps to ensure UIOs are able to do their critical work.”

More Information

NCUIH Youth Council: Meet Czarina Campos

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Halito!

My name is Czarina Campos, and I am a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I graduated from Arizona State University, and now work with the Indian Health Service. I have been an Urban American Indian my whole life, and super excited to be a part of the National Council of Urban Indian Health’s Youth Council for 2019-2020. I am looking forward to collaborating with the inaugural youth council on their campaign, as well as working with this year’s council members to continue helping other AI/AN youth.

I hope that by being on this council, I can show others how important it is to create and maintain a native network with friends, mentors and role-models, and staying connecting. It was hard for me to fully appreciate my culture being an urban Native American, and always being far away from my extended family back in Oklahoma, but then I see what my fellow native peers are accomplishing and their achievements inspire me to continue to give back and help future generations, and to become a role model for AI/AN communities.

With that being said, I want to encourage all AI/AN youth to attend the Inaugural Youth Council’s first event – a Native Youth Convening. This convening will introduce campaigns that were designed by native youth, and most importantly teach native youth on how to become an Indigi-Wellness Champion. Please sign-up at https://www.ncuih.org/youth-convening and join us on Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 from 3:00 PM- 5:00PM EST.

Yakoke!

NCUIH Youth Council: Meet Adon Vazquez

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I am an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from North Carolina. I am a sophomore at Wayne State University and I have strong commitment when comes to supporting native youth. I am a peer mentor at American Indian Health and Family Services of Southeastern Michigan (AIHFS). I’m very grateful to be a part of the inaugural youth council for the National Council of Urban Indian Health.

What is the NCUIH Youth Council? We are a council dedicated to reducing substance abuse and suicidal burden among Native youth by building a global network in which American Indian and Alaska Native youth can share and exchange ideas, knowledge, resources, and support services. Basically, we want to help Urban and Tribal Native youth in their cultural, spiritual, and physical health journeys by providing resources and helping to develop resiliency tactics.

Our first major event as a council is our Youth Convening. Here, we will introduce you our 2 hashtag campaigns we have coming up. These campaigns are designed BY Native youth FOR Native youth. They are aimed to help build a national network of support while simultaneously showing Native youth that you are not alone, our culture is the armor that protects us, and to embrace your indigeneity.

If you are looking be a part of this national network and learn how to be become an Indigi-Wellness Champion – Join us this Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 from 3:00 PM- 5:00PM EST for our Virtual Native Youth Convening.

Register here → https://www.ncuih.org/Youth-Convening

So I ask…. How do you stay resilient?

NCUIH Youth Council: Meet Benjamin Sandecki

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Osiyo, my name is Benjamin Sandecki and I am a tribal member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. It is an honor thus far to serve on the 2019 National Council of Urban Indian Health Youth Council.

I am currently pursuing a doctorate degree in pharmacy at Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy. Throughout my pharmacy career, I have been privileged to intern at the Oklahoma City Urban Indian Clinic where my experience has directly allowed me to appreciate the importance of Native American health and wellness.

I joined the 2019 NCUIH Youth Council with aspirations to establish the necessary skills to increase awareness of suicide prevention, combat substance abuse, and promote healthy lifestyle routines for Native American youth and young adults living in urban settings. The Youth Council and social marketing campaign grants me the opportunity to advocate for Native issues while forging techniques to create resiliency among the Native American youth population.

To join the national social marketing campaign and learn what it takes to become an Idigi-Youth Champion, please join me and my colleagues for our National Virtual Native Youth Convening on Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST.

NCUIH Youth Council: Meet Lala Forrest

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I am an enrolled member of the Pit River Tribe located in Northern California. Growing up in a rural area but, pursuing higher education in an urban setting, I see firsthand how social inequalities exist and continue to persist for Native American youth.

I joined the Youth Council because I saw it as an opportunity to educate the public on urban Native American issues ranging from social welfare to health ailments. The NCUIH Youth Council understands that urban Native American youth encounter unique barriers as they strive to find a balance between their indigenous roots and Western living. We also know that Native tribal youth living on reservations also have unique barriers.

It is our hope that the Youth Council can be a source of support, and can empower both urban and tribal Native American youth to persevere and see their goals come to fruition. Thus, we created a national social media campaign under the hashtags “Culture is Prevention” and “This is Native” to raise awareness and disseminate culturally-tailored resources for both urban and tribal Native American youth on suicide and substance misuse.

If you are looking to connect to tools and resources that help you overcome social and health barriers, learn how to become an Indigi-Youth Champion and much more, please attend our National Virtual Native Youth Convening Pre-Launch Campaign.

The Virtual Native Youth Convening will occur on Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 from 3:00 PM- 5:00PM EST.\

Register