Strengthening Vaccine Confidence in Native Communities: Mass Media and Outreach Strategies
2026-01-21 14:00 - 14:40 (America/New_York)
January 21, 2026 | 2:00 – 2:40 p.m. ET

Mass Media and Outreach Strategies
This session is the second event in NCUIH’s Strengthening Vaccine Confidence in Native Communities Community of Learning series. Healthcare workers serving American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities will explore how mass media, digital outreach, and trusted messengers can support informed vaccine decision-making and community wellness. The discussion will focus on shared clinical decision-making, effective communication approaches, and practical outreach strategies. Participants will also hear examples from Urban Indian Organizations demonstrating successful digital vaccine promotion efforts.

Smart Health Access: The Rise of Wellness Vending Machines
2026-01-29 14:00 - 14:45
January 29, 2026 | 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. ET

Smart Health Access: The Rise of Wellness Vending Machines
What if getting Narcan or a hygiene kit was as simple as using an ATM?
With American Indian and Alaska Native people experiencing one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the U.S., Urban Indian communities are installing Wellness Vending Machines that provide free, anonymous access to Narcan, fentanyl test strips, condoms, hygiene kits, smudge kits, Plan B, and needle exchange supplies. These machines expand access, reduce stigma, and empower individuals to manage their health on their own terms bridging service gaps and promoting safer, healthier outcomes for all.
Presenters:

Johnny Delgado, BAIHP
Dr. Ashleigh Herrera, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, California State University, Bakersfield

Objectives:

Learn how medical vending machines work and how they’re being used to expand access to care, reduce stigma, and serve as tools for prevention.
Identify the steps and partnerships to implement this model in urban Indigenous communities
Discuss how low-barrier innovations like vending machines can support prevention, wellness, and outreach efforts.

Audience:

UIO ED/CEOs
UIO Staff
Tribal Partners and Tribes

Innovating Through Storytelling: Health Campaigns in the Digital Age
2026-02-26 14:00 - 14:45
February 26, 2026 | 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. ET

Innovating Through Storytelling: Health Campaigns in the Digital Age
This session is the final learning opportunity in our Community of Learning (COL) Series: Navigating the Future of Health Care. Grounded in innovation and community-centered practice, this session explores how storytelling can be used to co-create health campaigns with community rather than delivering messages to them. Participants will gain practical strategies for meaningfully engaging community voices throughout campaign design and implementation, and learn how to select digital platforms and impact measures that prioritize trust, engagement, and real-world impact over one-way information sharing.
Presenters:

Lyz Best, Manager of Technical Assistance, NCUIH
River Carroll, Policy and Communications Associate, NCUIH

Learning Objectives:

Use story mapping to co-create health campaigns with community members, centering lived experience and cultural values.
Identify practical strategies for meaningfully involving community voices throughout the design and implementation of health campaigns.
Select appropriate digital platforms and impact measures that reflect community engagement, trust, and real-world outcomes.

Audience:

UIO ED/CEOs
UIO Staff
Tribal Partners and Tribes

NCUIH 2026 Annual Conference
2026-04-27 - 2026-04-30 | The Westin Downtown, 999 9th St NW, Washington, DC, DC, 20001, United States
April 27-April 30, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

2026 NCUIH Annual Conference: Celebrating 50 Years of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act

Early bird registration is now open for the NCUIH Annual Conference on April 27 – April 30, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
This year’s conference will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) and highlight five decades of progress, collaboration, and continued commitment to Native health.
The conference provides a vital platform for Urban Indian Organizations, health care professionals, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates to come together and discuss critical issues related to urban Indian health.

Monday, April 27: Training for Urban Indian Organization Boards of Directors
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 28 – 29: Conference Programming
Thursday, April 30: Hill Day
Note: Hill Visits are for IHS UIOs only and will require pre-registration.

Register now through March 6 for a discounted conference rate, and stay tuned for more information, including the full conference agenda, which will be sent out in the coming months.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our conference organizers at conference@ncuih.org.
