Affordable Care Act
Aging
Caregiving
Children
Data
Death and Dying
Dementia & Alzheimer’s
Disabilities
Disaster Prep/Dealing with Emergencies
Diversity
Elder Justice
Fall Prevention
Financial Empowerment
Grant & Funding Opportunities
Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
Housing
Long-Term Supports & Services (LTSS)
Medicare
Mental Health
Nutrition
Public Health
Scams
Stress
Substance Abuse
Technology
Transportation
Tribal Law
Veterans
Violence
Wellness
Women


Affordable Care Act

Links

How Does the Affordable Care Act Impact American Indians and Alaska Natives?
The Affordable Care Act provides more than 500,000 uninsured American Indians and Alaska Natives an opportunity to get affordable health insurance coverage. The following gives an overview of the coverage and benefits available to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Medicaid and American Indians and Alaska Natives
This brief provides an overview of the health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives, discusses the role of Medicaid and the potential impact of the Medicaid expansion for this population, and summarizes new guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that expands the scope of Medicaid services provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives that may qualify for 100% federal match.

CMS Outreach & Education Resources
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Tribal Affairs is responsible for creating and disseminating informational materials to American Indian Alaska Native beneficiaries, providers, and relevant health professionals on CMS programs. This includes multimedia (video & radio), printed materials, webinars and training materials. Many of these materials were developed in collaboration with HHS (Intergovernmental External Affairs), the Indian Health Service, the CMS TTAG, and national Indian organizations. These materials can be downloaded from this page or ordered from the CMS warehouse. Click on below links to access materials.

Medicaid Coverage and Access to Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives Under the Affordable Care Act
In this issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, Frean and colleagues find Medicaid coverage gains among American Indians and Alaska Natives in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion. They also find that, among AIANs living near reservations, most gaining Medicaid utilize Indian Health Services (IHS) for care. These findings suggest important strides forward for the 5 million individuals who self-identify as AIAN. Medicaid coverage gains will increase their access to care and enhance capacity among IHS and Tribal health care providers.

Aaron Payment: Affordable Care Act boosts Indian Country health
American Indians and Alaskan Natives have long been recognized as having the highest poverty rates of any ethnic group. The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marks an opportunity for all Americans, even those of us who are the most poor, to obtain health care coverage. Thanks to the ACA, American Indians and Alaska Natives now have better access to medical care than ever before. This article reviews many of the ways the ACA has positively impacted Indian Country.

Coverage exemptions for American Indians, & Alaska Natives, and others eligible for services from Indian health programs
American Indians and Alaska Natives as well as other people eligible for services through the Indian Health Service, tribal programs, or urban Indian programs (like the spouse or child of an eligible Indian) do not have to pay the fee for not having health coverage. This is called having an Indian health coverage exemption. Find out how to apply for the Indian exemption in two easy ways.

Insurance Marketplace Sponsorship Calculator for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Tribes interested in a premium sponsorship program can estimate the costs and benefits of buying insurance using the insurance marketplace sponsorship calculator. A user tutorial provides step-by-step instruction on how to use the calculator.


Aging

Links

Generations Journal
This summer 2023 issue of Generations Journal is filled to the brim with new perspectives and research about The Solo Ager. Nationally renowned expert and Solo Ager herself, Guest Editor Sara Zeff Geber has built a collection of articles that touch on the import of community, planning, and interconnectedness.

Generations Today
Generations Today, (formerly Aging Today), is a bimonthly digital publication covering current trends and people impacting the field of aging through OpEds, feature articles, profiles, and first-person pieces. Their most recent issue is now available, March-April 2021 Volume 42 Issue 2.

Aging & Socioeconomic Status
The United States is facing unprecedented increases in the older adult population. Americans age 65 years and over comprise nearly 13% of the U.S. population (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010). The older adult population is projected to double between 2012 and 2060, from 43.1 to 92.0 million (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). The older adult population is projected to double between 2012 and 2060, from 43.1 to 92.0 million (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). As the percentage of older Americans rises, so does concern for their economic stability.

AARP Celebrates Native Origins
Welcome to AARP's Native Origins page, where we celebrate the lives and culture of 50-plus American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians!  Here you can find recipes by Emmy-winning chef Loretta Barrett Oden, that offers a back-to-basics approach to preparing nutritious meals that are easy to make for caregivers and families. These heart-healthy dishes are sprinkled with native pride.  It also features great articles regarding Native American Health and topics influencing Native culture.

Moving Forward with Wisconsin’s Quality Long Term Care System
This presentation from the HCBS Conference August 30, 2017 will share strategies utilized by the Wisconsin Department of Health Service in developing successful partnerships between Tribes and the State, with the goals of expanding access to LTSS in tribal communities and delaying entry into nursing homes. Areas of discussion will include: existing Medicaid care services, waiver services, and acute and primary services currently provided by Tribes; strategies implemented to fully utilize 100 percent Federal match; coordination of service providers; the importance of identifying tribal communities’ needs and assessment of capacity for service provision; and understanding the distinctive needs of Tribal communities.

National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) State of Aging and Health in America: Data Brief Series
State of Aging and Health in America: Data Brief Series are topic specific documents focusing on public health issues related to older adults. These briefs provide public health professionals with the most recent data available on health and aging related conditions, including the importance of brain health, the management of chronic conditions, and caregiving burdens, to help identify needs and mitigate the future effects of a growing older population.

Toolkit: State Strategies to Support Older Adults Aging in Place in Rural Areas
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) has released a toolkit, "State Strategies to Support Older Adults Aging in Place in Rural Areas."  The toolkit highlights state initiatives that help older adults living in rural areas to age in place. It is designed to help state leaders, especially Medicaid officials, adapt and adopt existing strategies and develop new strategies that build on their peers’ experience and insights.


Caregiving

Links

November is National Family Caregivers Month
Please review the following webinars for valuable information intended for caregiving audiences or for clinicians working with caregivers; Proven Strategies to Enhance Caregiver Mental Health and Well-Being, Families Aging with Mental Health and Substance Use, and Beyond the Basics: Building Resilience for Informal Caregivers.  Additionally, you can locate our collection of resources for older Veterans and their families and caregivers here.  Rush Center for Excellence in Aging’s Caring for Caregivers model works to integrate supporting caregivers as part of Age-Friendly Health Systems across the U.S. See the Caring for Caregivers flyer here.

The Importance of Recognizing Family Caregivers
by Valerie Jones, MPA, MA, Elder Care Data Coordinator, Division of Clinical and Community Services, Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, IHS Headquarters
In November, we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month to highlight those who give their all to help their loved ones. A caregiver is a person who provides care and assistance to someone who is experiencing health issues or has a disability. Family caregivers are different from doctors or nurses because they are usually unpaid family members who provide the primary source of care. Taking care of family is part of everyday life in tribal communities, yet the work of caregivers is not always recognized or valued enough.

ACL Awards $3.6 Million to Improve Support for Family Caregivers
ACL is pleased to announce four new cooperative agreements for ACL’s 2023 grant initiative in support of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy). The project period for these new grants is September 30, 2023-September 29, 2027. The collective award amount is over $3.6 million. Funds for this initiative are drawn from Title III-E formula funds and use the demonstration authority found in Sec 373(i) of the Older Americans Act.

The Conversation Project
The Conversation Project® is a public engagement initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Our goal is both simple and transformative: to help everyone talk about their wishes for care through the end of life, so those wishes can be understood and respected.

Acting Administrator Alison Barkoff Interview on POLITICO Live
Acting Administrator Alison Barkoff participated in a conversation on POLITICO Live about the recent release of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.  The conversation focused on how federal action can improve the lives of family caregivers across America.

New From NADRC: Dementia Training Resources for Professionals and Volunteers
NADRC's "Dementia Training Resources for Professionals and Volunteers" provides links to training and educational materials for professionals and volunteers working with people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The resources are intended to increase the dementia-capability of organizations, professionals, and volunteers by providing information on how to recognize, understand, and meet the unique needs of people living with ADRD and their caregivers.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Delivers Report and Recommendations for Improving Support to Kin and Grandparent Caregivers
On November 16, 2021, the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren delivered its initial report to Congress. It includes a comprehensive review of the joys, challenges, gaps, and unmet needs and 22 recommendations for how the federal government, states, tribes, territories, and communities—in partnership with the private sector—can better support kin and grandparent caregivers.

NIEA Announces the Launch of Good Medicine Bundles
In partnership with Discovery Education and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), NIEA is excited to announce the launch of “Good Medicine Bundles,” culture-based resources developed for the Operation Prevention platform. The elementary and middle school lessons address the nation’s opioid crisis and encourage resiliency through a Native approach to balance and wellness. They are designed to help students understand how their connection to community and nature can restore balance and support better decision-making. The bundles combine traditional storytelling, the medicine wheel, and other Native practices of wellness with the insights of modern science to help students form a better response to trauma and stressors.

Supporting Family Caregivers in America:  Collaborative Opportunities for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Health Departments
The webinar on "Supporting Family Caregivers in America: Collaborative Opportunities for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Health Departments", offered by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors on July 23, 2020, is now available for viewing.

2019 Caregiver Resource Directory
The 2019 Caregiver Resource Directory (CRD), from DoD Military Caregiver Support, has officially been released. The annual update includes 114 pages of thoroughly vetted resources, organizations, agencies, and programs for Veterans and Caregivers. The directory is an extensive source of information for childcare, education and training, healthcare needs, legal assistance, rest and relaxation, peer support, mentoring, and so much more.

Care Partner Information: Caregiver Stress
Taking care of an older adult can be stressful. Adults can live many years with a chronic disease. Over time, these diseases can make it hard for older adults to do things for themselves. It is a lot of work to help someone with basic care and disease care when they are not able to take care of them self.

Elder Care: Resilience in Aging
The concept of resilience in aging was born out of the “paradox of old age.” The paradox is that in spite of losses and physical declines experienced in later life, older adults report feeling content, and they have lower rates of psychopathology than the general population. Researchers have argued that this is due to resilience, and that an understanding of resilience can lead to new health promotion strategies that yield healthier, happier people and communities.

Caregiver Support in Indian Country (PDF)
Providing long-term care for a family member with a chronic illness or disability is an important and challenging endeavor. Caregiving can become overwhelming and place strain on an individual’s health and wellbeing. To alleviate these challenges and the accompanying stress, families may choose to utilize caregiver support services. Caregiver support includes a number of services, such as counseling, respite care, transportation, caregiver training, case management, support groups and adult day care.

Native Elder Caregiver Curriculum: Caring for Our Elders
The Native Elders Caregiver Curriculum is a tool to assist family and community members, as well as CHRs, who have the responsibility of caring for their elders. It is dedicated to these caregivers and their values of respect, generosity, compassion, and fortitude. We hope it will empower these special people with some of the information they need to carry out their sacred work.

The Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country, Trainers Manual (PDF)
The Manual is designed for use by all American Indian and Alaskan Native people caring for an elder with memory loss and thinking problems, referred to as dementia.

National Family Caregiver Support Program
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), established in 2000, provides grants to States and Territories, based on their share of the population aged 70 and over, to fund a range of supports that assist family and informal caregivers to care for their loved ones at home for as long as possible.

Financial Steps for Caregivers (PDF)
The National Resource Center on Women and Retirement Planning serves as a national clearinghouse of tools and information on retirement planning and related financial materials, such as consumer fraud and prevention. The goal of the Center is to assist women, especially middle and low income women, women of color and women of limited English-speaking proficiency, to advance their capacity to and expand their choices for planning for their economic security later in life.

Family Caregiver Alliance
On an airplane, an oxygen mask descends in front of you. What do you do? As we all know, the first rule is to put on your own oxygen mask before you assist anyone else. Only when we first help ourselves can we effectively help others. Caring for yourself is one of the most important—and one of the most often forgotten—things you can do as a caregiver. When your needs are taken care of, the person you care for will benefit, too.

Caregiver tool box
A list of Public and Federal resources for Caregivers.

Picking a Culturally Sensitive Caregiver
Many older people, due to their cultural backgrounds, have firm views on caregiving. These may include:

• A sense that the family should provide all facets of care for their loved one.
• Resistance to medical intervention, medical professionals and any nonfamily caregivers.
• Wariness about any arrangement that could distance the care recipient from his or her family.

Elder Care: Anxiety in Older Adults - Pharmacotherapy
Anxiety disorders are common among older adults and associated with poor quality of life, increased disability, and cognitive impairment. Studies indicate that early treatment targeting full cessation of anxiety symptoms has considerable benefit for older adults. Despite this, anxiety disorders in late life are understudied and underreported, and patients are often under-treated. A variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches are used to treat anxiety disorders. This edition of Elder Care will focus on evidence-based pharmacotherapy for treating anxiety in older adults

Caregiver Stress
Taking care of an older adult can be stressful. Adults can live many years with a chronic disease. Over time, these diseases can make it hard for older adults to do things for themselves. It is a lot of work to help someone with basic care and disease care when they are not able to take care of them self.

Fit to Fly? Older Adults and Air Travel
As more older adults travel on commercial airliners, it is important to recognize and help prevent air travel-related medical complications. While the vast majority of older adults travel without incident, clinicians should consider several key issues when providing care for jet-setting older adults (Table 1). Those with recent hospitalization, injury, or surgery should seek medical consultation at least 10 days before flying. For those with complicated cardiopulmonary problems or planning foreign travel, referral to a travel medicine specialist may be helpful.

Making the Most of a Doctor Visit
It is important for older adults and their care providers to prepare for a health care visit. Most visits are short, and it is easy to forget to talk about something important. Some people like to bring a family member or friend to the visit to help remember what to say, and what the doctor says. It is important that the patient gets to talk with the doctor, not just the care partner. Be sure to plan who is going to say what.

Elder Care: Hyponatremia in Older Adults – Therapeutic Considerations
This Elder Care sheet, “Hyponatremia in Older Adults – Therapeutic Considerations” provides best practice approaches for treating this common electrolyte abnormality.

Caregiver Respite
This Care Partner sheet, “Caregiver Respite,” describes the different types and sources of respite available to caregivers of older adults. All of our Care Partner sheets are available in English and Spanish.

Animal-Assisted Interventions for Older Adults - Part 2
Older adults live longer, healthier, and happier lives when they regularly interact with cats, dogs, birds, horses, reptiles, fish, and other animals. Pet ownership has been positively associated with higher survival rates following heart attack; reduced levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and cortisol; lower systolic blood pressure; as well as reduced and faster recovery from stress.

Older People and Pets
Pets can be good for older adults. Pets can keep them company and help them feel less depressed or nervous. They can also help an older adult stay active. But, there are important things to think about if an older adult has a pet, or wants to get a pet. Click here for Spanish version.

AARP

Federal and State Advocacy
Caregiving Resource Center
Caregiving Planning Guides
AAARP and Alzheimer's Association Community Resource Finder
State Offices
I Heart Caregivers Stories

Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Hidden Heroes Cities Program
Dole Caregiver Fellows
Hidden Heroes Resource Directory

Federal and State Government

Federal Register
Eldercare Locator
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
State Veterans Affairs Offices
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Combating Elder Isolation
Maintaining social contacts helps elders stay healthy. And it’s something elders have difficulty with. Researchers at Brigham Young University found links between social isolation and increased risks of heart disease, infections and cognitive decline. Few studies zero in on Native elders, but the problem is noticeable enough that organizations are offering ways to get elders out of the house and interacting with young people, each other and other members of the public.

Recognizing Dehydration in Older Adults (PDF)
Dehydration in older adults is common. Two national studies, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and the Established Populations for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly (EPESE), estimated that 40% of community-dwelling older adults were under-hydrated, and 20% met the threshold for dehydration as measured by plasma osmolality.

Home Safety Issues Part 2: Dementia & Fire Safety (PDF)
House fires and burns are real dangers for older adults. The three big causes of house fires and burns are cooking, space heaters, and cigarettes. Always be sure there are working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby that has been inspected in the last 12 months. Click here for Spanish PDF.

Skills and Techniques for Community Health Workers Addressing the Needs of Dually Eligible Beneficiaries
This brief highlights the valuable role CHWs play in care teams. It describes the range of skills, competencies, and techniques that CHWs may use to meet individual needs and provide quality care. Examples of such competencies and techniques include engaging members, coordinating across the care team, translation, clinical assistance, and developing partnerships with local organizations and providers.

Community Health Workers at Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers
This brief highlights the organizational components the Camden Coalition uses to support CHWs in their efforts to provide coordinated care. The brief describes organizational assets that health plans, health systems, and providers may consider as they develop a network of CHWs. Examples of such organizational assets include internal support and training, consistent tools and resources, robust use of data, partnerships with local organizations and providers, and mechanisms for measuring outcomes.

Recruiting and Training Community Health Workers at Molina Healthcare
This brief highlights Molina Healthcare’s successful practices for recruiting and training CHWs. This brief provides recruitment strategies and training practices for health care organizations hoping to employ CHWs. The brief also includes additional information and resources related to CHWs at Molina Healthcare.


Children

Links

Pomai and Her Papa
Hā Kūpuna, along with many community partners, proudly presents this short storybook about a young girl, Pomai and her grandfather, Papa.  In this story, Pomai is worried as she sees Papa is beginning to show signs of dementia-related aging. Pomai’s family (Papa included) and broader community comes together in support and care for one another.

2021 State of Grandfamilies in America Annual Report
Generations United is excited to release its 2021 State of Grandfamilies Report, Reinforcing a Strong Foundation: Equitable Supports for Basic Needs of Grandfamilies.

School Health
Indian Health Service offers helpful information and resources about school health for children, including Health Education, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, Oral Health, Injury Prevention, Mental Wellness and Environmental Health.

The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA)
The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) is a national voice for American Indian children and families. We are the most comprehensive source of information on American Indian child welfare and the only national American Indian organization focused specifically on the tribal capacity to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Assistance for Native American Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
"A disproportionately large number of the native households we work with have a grandparent functioning as a primary caretaker," says NAPPR Tribal Home Visiting Project Director Maria Brock, Laguna Pueblo/Santa Clara Pueblo. "We want them to know they’re not alone and that programs and services are available to help. They shouldn't wait until things reach crisis proportion. Caregiver burnout is a well-known problem, but when caregivers do better, kids do better too. It’s like the advice airlines give adult passengers traveling with small children—put your own oxygen mask on first before attempting to attend to the child’s needs."

Grandparents as "Spiritual Guides"
One of your most important, and sacred, roles as a grandparent involves cultivating your grandchild’s spiritual development. This is the role of "spiritual guide," A most powerful role that can have a profound and lasting impact on the moral path your grandchild will take, and his relationship with nature and the numinous aspects of life. And because the limits of this role are boundless, if you are a stepgrandparent or if you have adopted grandchildren, you can fully serve as a spiritual guide to the young ones in your life.

Grandparenting Styles: The Contemporary American Indian Experience
Grandparenthood is neither defined by the narrow constraints of biological and reproductive attainments nor executed solely within the parameters of cultural consensus. Rather, grandparental roles are expressed across a range of activities, purposes and levels of intensity so varied as to be identified as distinct grand parenting styles. Six grand parenting styles—cultural conservator, custodian, ceremonial, distanced, fictive and care-needing—are identified and discussed.

'We get the kids back': Native American grandmother fights to preserve families
In South Dakota, 51% of children in foster care are Native American but one woman turned de facto legal counsellor is using the law to change that.


Data

Links

Census 101:  What You Need to Know
This fact sheet, provided by the United States Census Bureau, provides a quick refresher of what the Census is and why it's essential that everyone is counted.

2020 Census Snapshot - American Indian/Alaska Native
Every 10 years, the United States counts everyone living in the country on April 1. Our tribes do not share enrollment numbers with the government, so it is important for all American Indians and Alaska Natives to participate in the 2020 Census.  The attached flyer has information about the 2020 Census.  The 2020 Census is an opportunity to provide a better future for our communities and future generations. By participating in the 2020 Census, you help provide an accurate count of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Your responses to the 2020 Census can help shape how billions of dollars in federal funds are distributed each year for programs and grants in our communities.

Needs Assessment Survey for Title VI Grant Applications
The National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA) encourages you to start early on your needs assessment surveys for the Title VI grant applications. If you are planning to utilize the Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders (Cycle VII), please contact the NRCNAA as soon as possible to begin the surveying process. The sooner you begin, the faster we can send you the vital data needed for your Title VI grant applications. This data will strengthen your application to ensure funding for nutrition, support services, and caregiving grants for Native elders in your communities.


Death and Dying

Links

New Advance Planning Guide Developed for Indigenous Elderly
The Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, in partnership with the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI), has released a new product:  The "My Advance Care Plan & Guide for Native Americans."  Designed to assist Indigenous individuals in planning for health and end of life decisions, the Guide will also help people share their decisions with loved ones.

End of Life & Socioeconomic Status
Research has highlighted several areas where SES appears to significantly affect end-of-life issues. Some areas include early detection of terminal illnesses, racial and economic disparities, and the quality of life for people diagnosed with terminal illnesses. This fact sheet aims to expand on these areas, noting the ways that SES acts as a moderator.

Recognition of Advanced Illness and Impending Death
Recognition of approaching death is a critical skill required of all clinicians who provide care for patients at risk of dying. This skill enables the clinicians to consider a number of important issues. They include whether palliative care and hospice care are needed; whether to hospitalize the patient; or whether to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation vs. allowing natural death.


Dementia & Alzheimer’s

Links

Physical Activity Can Help Cognitive Health
According to a new study published in JAMDA, initiating physical activity in both mid-and late-life — as well as maintaining physical activity throughout the lifespan — lowers the chances of developing mild cognitive impairment. This research indicates the benefits of exercise on later-life cognition are not limited to particular ages.

Free Medicare State and County Dementia Data Available
State and county data on the Medicare fee-for-service population is available in an easy-to-use visualization tool from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). For people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementia, the data include diagnosed prevalence, costs, emergency department visits and hospitalization rates. Each can be broken down by sex, age, race/ethnicity and dual eligibility status — or any combination. The tool allows users to compare data between states and counties, and examine trends over time, with data available for each year from 2012-2022.

Third HBI Road Map Strategist Cohort Awarded
The Alzheimer’s Association and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) have launched the third cohort of the HBI Road Map Strategists. This nationwide effort focuses on building public health capacity to address dementia at the local level. The Road Map Strategist program funds local health departments and tribal health organizations to better address brain health, dementia and caregiving in their communities.

HBI Road Map Evaluation Tool
To track annual implementation and assess the nationwide impact of the HBI Road Map, state and local health departments are encouraged to share evaluation data with their local Alzheimer’s Association chapters. Reach out to publichealth@alz.org to connect with your local chapter.

10 Signs of Thinking or Memory Changes That Might be Dementia
The International Association for Indigenous Aging has created a flyer with 10 signs of  thinking and memory changes that could potentially be signs of dementia specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Public Health and Dementia Caregiving Course
Dementia caregiving is a public health issue. In this 90-minute course, Public Health and Dementia Caregiving, learn who dementia caregivers are, why dementia caregiving is a public health issue, and what public health organizations can do about dementia caregiving.  This course can be taken at any time.

The River - A Native Story About Dementia
The River Story applies a Native American cultural analogy to the topic of dementia. This updated version of The River Story has been created for use in the adaptation of the Dementia Friends for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Unmasking Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
Many people still have misinformation about this disease or false ideas about the impacts. Dr. Lakelyn Eichenberger, Home Instead, Inc. was recently cited in Reader’s Digest and Fox News articles to help address these misconceptions.

IHS Awards $1.5 Million to Address Alzheimer's Disease on World Alzheimer's Day
On World Alzheimer's Day, the Indian Health Service is reaffirming its commitment to building tribal and urban Indian health system capacity to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by announcing $1.5 million in new cooperative agreements.  The IHS Alzheimer's Grant Program 2023 awards represent a continued investment in locally developed models that incorporate comprehensive approaches to care and service for American Indian and Alaska Native people living with dementia, and for their caregivers.

Pomai and Her Papa
Hā Kūpuna, along with many community partners, proudly presents this short storybook about a young girl, Pomai and her grandfather, Papa.  In this story, Pomai is worried as she sees Papa is beginning to show signs of dementia-related aging. Pomai’s family (Papa included) and broader community comes together in support and care for one another.

Four Paths to Addressing Dementia in Tribal Communities
A webinar held on July 26, 2022, highlighting the work of four Tribal Nations working to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in their communities.  Hosted by the National Indian Health Board and the Alzheimer's Association.

New From NADRC: Dementia Training Resources for Professionals and Volunteers
NADRC's "Dementia Training Resources for Professionals and Volunteers" provides links to training and educational materials for professionals and volunteers working with people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The resources are intended to increase the dementia-capability of organizations, professionals, and volunteers by providing information on how to recognize, understand, and meet the unique needs of people living with ADRD and their caregivers.

Drugs and Dementia:  Caregivers
In this presentation focused for caregivers, Eric Metterhausen, PharmD, BCPS, CPP, CPH, presents on what medications may help memory in patients with Alzheimer’s and the efficacy, safety, and limitations of current treatments.

A Public Health Approach to Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
A Public Health Approach to Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias is an introductory curriculum that is intended to increase awareness of the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as well as the role of public health. This curriculum addresses cognitive health, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease and is intended for use by undergraduate faculty in schools and programs of public health and other related disciplines. This work supports The Healthy Brain Initiative: The Public Health Road Map for State and National Partnerships (Road Map) in its goal of developing a competent workforce. The curriculum is available free of charge and consists of four modules that are designed to be used individually or as a whole each with slides and a faculty guide.

A Public Health Approach to Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
As Alzheimer’s disease gains more national attention as a public health crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health have an updated, flexible resource to help prepare the future public health workforce.  The curriculum introduces students of public health and related disciplines to information about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, as well as to public health approaches to address Alzheimer’s as a multilayered, growing public health challenge.

End-of-life Planning for People with Dementia
End-of-life care is a common long-term care need. The progress of dementia can make it difficult for an elder to discuss what they want for end-of-life care.  Having the conversation before symptopms progress can help caregivers and care providers learn their patients' preferences before the patient is unable to share them.

Get Tools and Training for your practice
The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, part of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has free resources to help health professionals identify, diagnose, and care for people with Alzheimer's and Dementia. Resources include things such as tools for assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management, disease-specific information, professional training and cirrcula, patient and caregiver information and much more.

Alzheimers/ Dementia Plain Language Fact Sheets
These fact sheets were developed by Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles as part of an AOA grant

Inaugural National Conference on Alzheimer's: Disease/Dementia in Native American Communities (PDF)
The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) among Native Americans is largely unknown and many tribes lack vocabulary to describe dementia. The growth of Native American elders is at a historical high number, and age is by far the greatest risk factor for developing dementia. Cultural differences, access to care, along with limited training of health and social service providers may result in inadequate reporting, recognition, diagnosis and treatment of ADRD in this population.

Providing Culturally Sensitive Dementia Care (PDF)
How to incorporate Cultural Sensitivity into the caregiver patient dynamic.

Alzheimer's Disease Underdiagnosed In Indian Country
About 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, the latest statistics suggest, and it's probably about as common on Native American reservations as anywhere else. But a diagnosis in Indian Country is rarer, say mental health workers. That's likely at least partly because of a cultural belief — many Native American communities don't recognize dementia as a disorder.

The Alzheimer's Association – 10 Warning Signs
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. We work on a global, national and local level to enhance care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. We are here to help. As the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research, the Association is committed to accelerating the global progress of new treatments, preventions and ultimately, a cure. The Association is also the leading voice for Alzheimer's disease advocacy, fighting for critical Alzheimer's research, prevention and care initiatives at the state and federal level.

Elders at Risk: New Study Finds Higher Dementia Rates for Natives
More than one third of American Indians/Alaska Natives over age 65 can expect to develop dementia before age 90, according to a new study published online by Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. The research project is the first to look at the incidence of Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and non-specific dementia in AI/AN populations and Pacific Islanders.

Dementia in the Native American Cultural Context
ADRD are not being diagnosed early enough for them to benefit from locally available care and support services. It is important to receive a timely diagnosis to enable family to plan and coordinate the management of medical services

Wandering
People with dementia may wander. They get confused about where they are or where they want to go, and they walk away or get lost. Sometimes people with dementia will try to go find a place they once were or look for something that they don’t own any more. Or, sometimes they just walk somewhere because they are bored or unhappy. Anyone with memory problems can wander.

When May it Be Time to Stop Treatment?
At some point, people with dementia will be unable to care for themselves. They may not take medicine. They may not feed themselves. They may not eat or drink at all. They may become inactive. Some people with dementia want to live as long as possible, even if they are bedbound and can’t think. Others may wish to stop treatment when they cannot function on their own. Everyone has the right to decide what treatment is right for them.

Helping Children Understand Dementia
Many people who care for someone with dementia also have young children or grandchildren. Children may bring joy for the person with dementia, and dementia may become a normal part of the child’s life. But at times it can also be scary. Adults often think that children do not notice the changes with dementia, or the stress of caregiving. But they do. Talking about dementia can help children to understand and not be afraid of dementia. This article will show some tips to help talk to children about dementia.

Hearing Loss: Epidemiology & Screening
Hearing loss is the third most common chronic condition and the primary sensory impairment in older adults, affecting 2/3 of adults over the age of 70 years. While hearing loss can affect all age groups, aging is considered the most important risk factor.

Common Infections with Dementia
People with dementia often get infections. In fact, infections are a common cause of death among people with dementia. Many different kinds of infections can occur. The most common are infections in the lungs, urine, or skin. Click here for the Spanish version.

Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain
The series Communicating in Indian Country: Healthy Brain, Healthy Heart includes posters, flyers, provider guide, radio public service announcements, and short videos (coming soon) with important medical information and key messages with input from public health, tribal health, and aging experts

Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map for Indian Country
The population of older American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) is growing — and quickly. Between 2014–2060, the number of AI/ANs aged 65 and older living with dementia is projected to grow over five times. These longer lives give more time for older generations to share knowledge and traditions with the next. But greater age brings increased risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementias (when memory and thinking problems interfere with daily life and activities). People living with this chronic condition gradually need more help caring for themselves. Family members, from the young to the old, play a vital role in caring for relatives with dementia. This care may include managing medications, bathing and feeding, paying bills and cleaning, and help going to appointments or social events. View the executive summary here.


Disabilities

Links

Four Course Series:  Intersection of Food Justice & Disability Justice - Course 1:  Food Justice 101
We discussed many common terms that are part of the food justice movement and set the stage for why food justice is important to understand and how it can impact people with disabilities at disproportionate rates. Find the PowerPoint and Transcript here.

Association for Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
APRIL is a premiere national disability-led organization that advances the equity of people with disabilities in rural communities through advocacy, collaboration, shared experience, leadership development, education, and training. APRIL continues to focus on being national grassroots, nonprofit membership organization consisting of members from centers for independent living and statewide independent living councils, other organizations, and individuals committed to advancing equity throughout rural communities and beyond.

Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities Toolkit Released
The National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) has released a toolkit dedicated to increasing awareness and knowledge of the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native persons living with disabilities. The toolkit — “Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities” — contains information about disabilities, tribes and resources.

Understanding and Acknowledging Disabilities from a Native Perspective
View this video from the Native American Disability Law Center about understanding and acknowledging disability from a Native perspective.

Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico (ASPNM) Celebrates 35 Years!
When the Lovelace/Sandia Peak Ski Program was founded 35 years ago in 1985, with just a few dedicated volunteers and athletes, organizers couldn’t imagine the organization growing to become the Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico! Today, with the assistance of nearly 300 volunteers around the state, ASPNM provides thousands of lessons each year throughout New Mexico. In addition to adaptive skiing and snowboarding, this program gives hundreds of individuals with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy rock climbing, archery, sailing, rafting, waterskiing, and much more.

Parenting While Blind
A thoughtful commentary on Parenting While Blind by Shawn Callaway who works for the Office on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, part of the Administration on Community Living.

Quality Trust for People with Disabilities
Quality Trust is an independent, non-profit advocacy organization focused on improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families in the District of Columbia and beyond.  We work with individuals and family members to solve problems, identify opportunities for learning and contribution and find creative ways to minimize “differences” and make the most of each person’s abilities.

Frailty – Elders At Risk
Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome associated with aging that is predictive of a decline in health. It is characterized by a loss of physiologic reserves that makes older adults more vulnerable to poor health outcomes. There is consensus by frailty experts Fried and Rockwood to define frailty as: “A medical syndrome with multiple causes and contributors that is characterized by diminished strength, endurance, and reduced physiologic function that increases an individual's vulnerability for developing increased dependency and/or death.”

Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding disorder is the accumulation of possessions and persistent difficulty discarding them, regardless of their actual value. Significant distress is associated with attempts to discard possessions, creating a large volume of items which can be associated with functional impairment and compromise the intended use of living areas.

Low Vision Aids
The National Eye Institute reported that in 2014 more than 4 million adults in the US had blindness or low vision, and the majority were over age 65. By 2030, that number is expected to increase to over 7 million. As noted in a prior edition of Elder Care, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of irreversible blindness among older adults in the US. It affects 30% of people over 75, with 1 in 14 having serious visual impairment.

Disability & Socioeconomic Status
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act assures equal opportunities in education and employment for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, people with disabilities remain overrepresented among America’s poor and undereducated. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (2017) Office of Disability Employment Policy, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (including physical, intellectual and developmental, sensory, and other disability categories) aged 16 and over is 20.1% as compared to 68.6% for people without disabilities of the same age. Disabilities among children and adults may affect the socioeconomic standing of entire families. In 2015, roughly 38,601,898 people in the United States had a disability (U.S. Census Bureau, 2015).

Promising Practices for Meeting The Needs Of Dually Eligible Older Adults With Schizophrenia: Resource Guide
This is a supplemental resource guide to the webinar hosted on November 6, 2018, Promising Practices for Meeting the Needs of Dually Eligible Older Adults with Schizophrenia. Older adults who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid have higher rates of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders than older adults with Medicare only. Read more here.


Disaster Prep / Dealing with Emergencies

Links

Emergency Preparedness Resources for Elders
Available on the American Red Cross website, the resources include:
• An emergency kit supplies checklist
• Downloadable emergency contact cards
• Tips for assessing needs and building a support network

Cultural Awareness in Tribal Crisis Response
Access the training materials from this webinar provided by the National Indian Justice Center here:  PowerPoint, Recording, Training Manual

AARP's Disaster Resilience Tool Kit
This tool kit covers strategies to help keep elders safe during extreme weather events and public health crises.  Help caregivers be better prepared by downloading or ordering copies.

Older Adults and Extreme Cold
Older adults are more sensitive to cold than younger adults. Cold-related illnesses like hypothermia increase their risk of heart disease and kidney or liver damage. Read about Older Adults and Extreme Cold page to learn how to stay warm and safe during the winter months and avoid cold-related illnesses and injuries.

‘Race against time’: Pandemic propels fight to save Native American languages
Covid-19 hit Indian Country hard. As elders die, tribes are fighting to preserve their languages. Congress is sending funding. Read more here.

Disaster Distress Helpline Brochure
SAMHSA prepared this brochure with information about getting help and support for any distress that you or someone you care about may be feeling related to any disaster.  The brochure also includes tips for coping with stress after a disaster.  Also available in a Spanish version.

Be Prepared for a Wildfire
FEMA provides this information sheet about how to be prepared and stay safe in the event of a wildfire.

NARIC Research Brief on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
The National Rehabilitation Information Center, known as NARIC, produced a research brief on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. NARIC is National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)’s library and National Information Center that serves anyone who calls them.


Diversity

Links

National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging is the country's first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults. Established in 2010 through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging provides training, technical assistance and educational resources to aging providers, LGBT organizations and LGBT older adults. The center is led by SAGE, in collaboration with 18 leading organizations from around the country.

Ethnic and Racial Miniorities & Socioeconomic Status
The relationship between SES, race, and ethnicity is intimately intertwined. Research has shown that race and ethnicity in terms of stratification often determine a person’s socioeconomic status (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009). Furthermore, communities are often segregated by SES, race, and ethnicity. These communities commonly share characteristics: low economic development, poor health conditions, and low levels of educational attainment. Low SES has consistently been implicated as a risk factor for many of these problems that plague communities.

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Socioeconomic Status
Evidence indicates individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) are especially susceptible to socioeconomic disadvantages. Thus, SES is inherently related to the rights, quality of life, and general well-being of LGBT persons.

Celebrating Our Magic: Toolkit
“Celebrating Our Magic” Toolkit is a culturally-specific resource for American Indian/Alaska Native communities and aims to provide resources for transgender and Two-Spirit youth, their relatives, and their healthcare providers.


Elder Justice

Links

Under Executive Orders 13985 and 14091, Federal Agencies are Required to Product and Regularly Update Equity Action Plans
Advocates for older adults can use these updated plans to track the progress made by agencies to advance equity in their programs and services and also to hold relevant entities accountable to ensuring that the needs of low-income older adults from underserved communities are met.

Justice in Aging Resource Library
Justice in Aging publishes frequent issue briefs, reports and advocate guides that help on-the-ground advocates assist low-income older adults and persons with disabilities deal with often complex challenges related to federal and state benefits programs. Many of the issue briefs are also reflected in our ongoing, free webinar trainings.

FNA Title VI Program Code of Conduct
Title VI Program Code of Conduct Policy & Procedures provided by Fairbanks Native Association.  This code of conduct includes bullying.

Human Rights of Older Persons
In June 2015, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons.  Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) continues promoting the Convention by sharing information and good practices on active and healthy aging and developing strategies focused on improving health services in order to meet the needs of older persons. Their “Human Rights of Older Persons” brochure lists 27 Older Persons’ Rights.

Animal Abuse, Animal Hoarding and Elder Abuse: Challenges and Strategies for Adult Protective Services
The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) hosted a webinar on Animal Abuse, Animal Hoarding and Elder Abuse: Challenges and Strategies for Adult Protective Services. This presentation describes The LINK that connects animal abuse as a marker for elder/disabled abuse, domestic violence and child maltreatment, with a particular focus on eldercare and animal hoarding issues. It describes innovations in academic research, public policy and organizational programming in these areas, with emphasis on specific strategies, animal-assisted interventions and best practices for providing more effective collaborative services that protect all victims of family violence.

Capacity to Consent to Sex for Vulnerable Adults
The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) recently sponsored a webinar that addressed determining Capacity to Consent to Sex for Vulnerable Adults.

A Caregiver’s Guide to Understanding, Recognizing, and Preventing Elder Abuse
This guide offers information on the various types of elder abuse, outlines the signs, explains methods of prevention, and ways to properly report it.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Webinar:  Helping Seniors Avoid Robocall Scams and Scams Affecting their Health Care and Finances
This webinar was presented by the SMP and SHIP Resource Centers and the Federal Trade Commission on March 19, 2020.

NIEJI Elder Abuse Video
The National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI) shares this video of the St. Regis Mohawk tribal members of Akwesasne, New York, taking a stand against elder abuse in their Native language.

New Research on Elder Abuse Among American Indian and Alaska Native Populations
The National Center on Elder Abuse has released its webinar, "New Research on Elder Abuse Among American Indian and Alaska Native Populations".

National Assessment on Abuse of Tribal Elders
The International Association for Indigenous Aging has released its findings from their national needs assessment:  "We see things other people aren't going to see" Facilitators and Barriers to Screening and Management of Elder Abuse by Tribal Health Care Providers.

Interdisciplinary Training for those who serve Vulnerable Adults and Seniors
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is pleased to present this Representative Payee Interdisciplinary Training series.  It includes useful modules to educate individuals and organizations about the roles and responsibilities of serving as a representative payee, elder abuse and financial exploitation, effective ways to monitor and safely conduct business with the banking community, and ways to recognize the changes in decisional capacity among vulnerable adults and seniors.

The Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative Webinar - Highlighting the role of Victim Specialists

National APS Resource Center: Putting Research Into Practice
The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), in conjunction with the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) are pleased to release a new Research to Practice (R2P) Brief, titled Disrespect of Our Elders: Elder Abuse in Indian Country by Dr Jacqueline Gray. This brief is a follow-up to the webinar of this subject. The R2P series links cutting-edge research with everyday practice in adult protective services. This brief and others are available on our website.

Elder Abuse: Warning Signs
A previous edition of Elder Care (see resource list) provides details about the reporting process if elder abuse is suspected, including what information is needed to make a report, what happens after a report is filed, and common reasons why older adults sometimes fail to report abuse. This edition will focus on the different types of elder abuse, and some general (not inclusive) warning signs that healthcare professionals should know.

SAFESTAR
SAFESTAR is a unique model of care that draws upon the strength and resilience of Indigenous women to improve safety and justice outcomes for victims of sexual violence and to provide long-term, compassionate, culturally meaningful, holistic care. Click here for the link to The Southwest Center For Law And Policy.

Elder Abuse Prevention
It addresses the most common elements of elder abuse, how to address it and most importantly how to prevent it.


Fall Prevention

Links

Taking Action to Reduce the Risk of Falls
September 18-22 is Falls Prevention Awareness Week. ACL’s National Falls Prevention Resource Center created this public health observance to raise awareness of the impact of falls and help people take action to prevent them.

Six Steps to Prevent a Fall
Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths for American Indian adults ages 55 and over.  This flyer, developed by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, provides six steps to prevent a fall and protect our elders.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Issues for Older Adults
One risk factor for falls in older adults is rheumatoid arthritis. The Elder Care sheet, Rheumatoid Arthritis describes treatment and special considerations for older adults. All of the Elder Care sheets are available and can be found by clicking here.

Falls
The Care Partner sheet, Falls,” provides an overview of fall risks and how to address them. All of the Care Partner sheets are available in English and Spanish.

Canes
Many older adults use a cane to help with balance, injuries or mild pain. Different types of canes work better for different needs. A doctor, physical therapist or other health care provider can help pick the best cane for the person, and show them how to correctly use it. When used right, a cane can help with pain or prevent a fall. But if a cane is not used right, it can cause more problems.

Using a Walker
Many older adults need some support when walking. Different types of walkers work better for different needs. A doctor, physical therapist or other health care provider can help pick the best walker for the person’s needs, and show them how to correctly use it. Using a walker in the right way can help older adults stay mobile and prevent falls. But if a walker is not used in the right way, it can cause problems.


Financial Empowerment

Links

Oweesta Corporation
Oweesta is the longest standing Native CDFI intermediary offering financial products and development services exclusively to Native CDFIs and Native communities. Specifically, Oweesta provides training, technical assistance, investments, research, and policy advocacy to help Native communities develop an integrated range of asset-building products and services, including financial education and financial products.  Asset-building tools stimulate reservation economies by providing tribal members the opportunity to acquire financial management skills and build and accumulate assets through small business creation, homeownership, education, and much more.

2022 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines Released
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the Federal poverty level (FPL) guidelines for 2022.  The FPL for a single person is $13,590 and for a couple, it is $18,310 (Alaska: $16,990/$22,890; Hawaii: $15,630/$21,060). These guidelines are in effect as of January 12, though some states delay application of these in their Medicaid programs until March/April.

Focus on Native Communities
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's companion guide, developed with the support of tribes and other organizations that serve Native communities.  It provides organizations with information that meaningfully connects the Your Money, Your Goals suite of financial empowerment tooks to the financial lives of Native community members.


Grant & Funding Opportunities

Links

NABS Receives Grant from DOI to Create Permanent Collection of Stories from Survivors of Federal Indian Boarding Schools
NABS received a grant from the Department of the Interior (DOI) to conduct video interviews with Indian boarding school survivors across the United States to create a permanent oral history collection. This effort is part of the DOI’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.  Sign up here if you are interested in sharing your Indian boarding school experience.

List of Federal Funding Opportunities Available
This is a list of current federal funding opportunities available, with links and deadlines.

2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs
The intent of this funding opportunity is to help communities develop capacity for, deliver, and sustain evidence-based falls prevention programs to reduce falls and falls risk among older adults and adults with disabilities, particularly in those in underserved geographic areas and populations.

2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Evidence-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs
The intent of this funding opportunity is to help communities develop capacity for, deliver, and sustain evidence-based chronic disease self-management education and support programs for older adults and adults with disabilities in areas where programs do not currently exist, targeting those in underserved geographic areas and populations, and those with the greatest social determinants of health needs.

Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund
Federal Highway Administration funds are available for projects to prevent transportation-related deaths and serious injuries in tribal communities.

New Grant Opportunities:  Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services - Replication
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to replicate selected successful, completed INNU grants that have demonstrated positive senior nutrition program participant impacts.

New Grant Opportunities:  Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services - Research
Proposals create partnerships between universities, tribal colleges, or other research organizations in collaboration with aging services organizations to demonstrate whether innovative Senior Nutrition Program interventions impact nutrition, socialization, and/or health and well-being outcomes.

ANA Notice of Funding Opportunities are Live
ANA is happy to share that the FY23 Notice of Funding Opportunities are now published and live.  Funding opportunities include:  Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance, Social and Economic Development Strategies, Environmental Regulatory Enhancement, and Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska.

AmeriCorps Announces Funding Opportunity for Tribal Communities
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, announced the 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors Native Nations and Indigenous Elders Senior Demonstration Program funding opportunity.  Tribal-affiliated organizations that engage older adults in volunteerism are eligible to apply.

Rural Tribal Health Funding & Opportunities
The Rural Tribal Health hub is your guide to improving health for rural residents—we provide access to current and reliable resources and tools to help you learn about rural health needs and work to address them.

Foundation Funding for Native American Issues and Peoples (PDF)
Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grant makers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector.

Administration for Native Americans – Funding Opportunities
ANA project funding is available in short-term development terms of 12, 24, and 36 months. All ANA community projects must be completed by the end of the project period or supported by alternative funds. Training and technical assistance is available to applicants for project and proposal development and to grantees for project implementation and reporting.

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Green Building
Green building, also known as sustainable design, can assist tribal communities to reduce the impact of construction on the environment while protecting the health, livelihood and culture of tribal residents.

Want to work with the Diverse Elders Coalition?
We are a dynamic, collaborative group of people working to improve aging in diverse communities. See link for current job opportunities and information on how to apply.


Health Promotion & Disease Prevention (HP-DP)

Links

CMS OMH Recognizes National Rural Health Day
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) celebrates National Rural Health Day and the unique challenges experienced by each community in rural areas, Tribal nations, the territories, and other geographically isolated areas. We take pride in our work to address the unique health care needs of the more than 61 million Americans who live in rural, Tribal, frontier, and geographically isolated communities throughout the year. Rural communities often face challenges with access to care, financial viability, and the critical link between health care and economic development.

Experiences With and Access to Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs for Older AIANNH Peoples
An article on evidence-based programs as published in the journal of Health Promotion Practice.

Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Tribal and Underserved Communities
This webinar from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), provided information on impriving access to oral care for tribal and underserved communities.

Hear Her Campaign Releases New Segment to Honor the Voices of American Indian and Alaska Native People
Centering on the culture and strength of American Indian and Alaska Native people, this segment of the Hear Her campaign shares stories from five American Indian women who experiences pregnancy-related complications.

Apply to Become an Evidence-Based Program
NCOA is now accepting Letters of Intent for the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Title III-D Evidence-Based Program Review. You can learn more about the application process here.

Coronovirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?  With many illnesses, older adults and people with disabilities face higher risks of contracting the disease and/or experiencing complications, particularly if they also have chronic medical conditions. Consequently, there often are additional prevention and treatment recommendations for these populations. That currently is not the case for COVID-19.  At this time, CDC recommends that everyone, regardless of age or disability, take the same precautions to avoid illness.  Read more about preventative actions here.

Injury Prevention
Effective community-based injury prevention initiatives use multiple strategies to reduce and prevent injuries and fatalities.  The Indian Health Service Injury Prevention Program promotes building the capacity of Tribes and communities by increasing understanding about the injury problem, sharing effective solutions, and assisting communities in implementing programs.

Health Honoring Newsletter
Honoring Health: Resources for American Indians and Alaska Natives is a quarterly e-newsletter that features a different health topic in each issue and highlights resources, events, training, and grants and funding opportunities. It is produced by the NIAMS on behalf of the National Institutes of Health, the Indian Health Service, and the Administration for Community Living’s Administration on Aging. Subscribe to receive the newsletter.

National Resource Center on Native American Aging: Well-Balanced (Wise Elders Living Longer)
WELL-Balanced is a group program designed specifically for Native American elders. The program uses exercise, information, and social interaction to help elders remain active and independent in their own homes as long as possible.

Let’s Move!
Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled. Obesity is more than two times more common among American Indian/Alaska Native children (31%) than among white (16%) or Asian (13%) children. This rate is higher than any other racial or ethnic group studied.

National Indian Health Board Health Broadcast
Monthly National Indian Health Board (NIHB) alerts and announcements including upcoming events and news.

Resilience in Aging
The concept of resilience in aging was born out of the “paradox of old age.” The paradox is that in spite of losses and physical declines experienced in later life, older adults report feeling content, and they have lower rates of psychopathology than the general population. Researchers have argued that this is due to resilience, and that an understanding of resilience can lead to new health promotion strategies that yield healthier, happier people and communities.

Active Aging: Gardening
It is important for older adults to stay active for as long as they can. This sheet describes how caregivers can help older adults stay active by gardening. These tips can be used at home, at a care facility, in a community garden, or other places that serve older adults.

Immunizations for Older Adults
Vaccines are among the most successful public health interventions, saving millions of lives and preventing millions of disabilities. While most vaccines are targeted at children and young adults, there are five recommended for routine use in adults aged 65 and older: influenza vaccine, two types of pneumococcal vaccine, herpes zoster vaccine, and a vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria. The latter includes the addition of pertussis protection in a vaccine (given one time) that combines tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap). This issue of Elder Care will discuss these five vaccines.

Herpes Zoster (“Shingles”) and Postherpetic Neuralgia
Herpes zoster, commonly known as “shingles,” is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). It occurs in about 1 million individuals each year in the US. Due to waning cell-mediated immunity over time, age is a major risk factor for herpes zoster with over half of unvaccinated patients 85 years and older being affected.


Housing

Links

HHS Publishes Report on Older Adult Homelessness
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released “Addressing Homelessness Among Older Adults: Final Report,” which examines the unique needs of older adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness. This report provides an overview of the characteristics of older adults who are unhoused, as well as the services and supports available for this population. In addition, the paper highlights policy recommendations to better identify and serve older adults experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

Reservation Profiles
Explore key demographic and economic indicators for American Indian reservations (with at least 2,500 residents).

Tribal Leaders Handbook on Homeownership
The handbook is your guide to the new mortgage programs (government and private), the new kinds of lenders (loan funds, Native CDFIs), and the new energies that are transforming Indian Housing.

White House Fact Sheet Details Housing Updates
This White House Fact Sheet from the Biden-Harris administration details housing updates such as new regulations, increased housing for skilled workers, and the Native American Veteran Homelessness Initiative to help increase home ownership on trust land, bring skilled workers to Tribal communities, strengthen intake and referral services for Native veterans, and more.

EPA Local Resources for Bed Bug Assistance
Bed bug support is widely available from a variety of sources.  Many communities offer resources related to bed bugs.  The EPA has put together some local resources for bed bug assistance.

Generations Today: May-June 2022 Issue - Housing, Homelessness, and Hunger
Too often in the United States we put the onus of becoming (or failing to become) economically secure on individuals and families, overlooking how our communities shape—and are shaped by—whether we can each meet our essential needs throughout our lives. The May-June issue of Generations Today does not overlook this, but magnifies the intersections of community with Housing, Homelessness and Hunger as critical foundations of economic security. Published by the American Society on Aging.

Tribal Housing - Housing and Services Resource Center
The Housing and Services Resource Center is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The partnership was established to improve access to affordable, accessible housing and the critical services that make community living possible. The Tribal Housing page provides important resource links to solutions for accessible, affordable housing and access to supportive services, gathering core knowledge, and tools and resources for Tribal Housing partnerships.

Housing Needs of American Indans and Alaska Natives Tribal Areas Report
HUD's comprehensive assessment of Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives - findings of three new comprehensive reports of tribal housing needs released January 2017 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Urban Institute.

The Green House Project
The Green House Project e-Newsletter provides thought leadership, innovative practices, and updates from developing and operating Green House homes across the country.

Office of Native American Programs (ONAP)
HUD's Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) administers housing and community development programs that benefit American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments, tribal members, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Native Hawaiians, and other Native American organizations.

Rural Home: Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Resources for Native Americans (PDF)
Over 500 Native American tribes reside in disparate locations across the United States, and Native American lands can be found in all regions of the United States. While geographically diverse, these communities are the product of a common set of historical and political actions.

HUD Grants to Support Native American Housing Totals $660M
The grants, known as Indian Housing Block Grant allocations, are distributed each year to eligible Native American tribes or their tribally-designated housing entities for a range of affordable housing activities. Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program The Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program is a home mortgage specifically designed for American Indian and Alaska Native families, Alaska Villages, Tribes, or Tribally Designated Housing Entities. Section 184 loans can be used, both on and off native lands, for new construction, rehabilitation, purchase of an existing home, or refinance.

Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative
The Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC) focuses on culturally and environmentally sustainable development with American Indian, First Nations, and Indigenous communities worldwide. Through planning, architectural design, technical assistance and research, our services help tribal communities gain self-sufficiency, improve their impacts on the natural world, and develop healthy, green, culturally-appropriate communities.

American Indian Supportive Housing Initiative (AISHI)
CSH partners with Tribal Nations and American Indian organizations to develop affordable housing linked to services to end homelessness. We blend tested supportive housing models with tribal culture and traditional service approaches to build programs that work in American Indian communities.

Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act: Revisions to the Indian Housing Block Grant Program Formula
This proposed rule would revise the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program allocation formula authorized by section 302 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, as amended (NAHASDA).


Long-Term Supports & Services (LTSS)

Links

ICYMI: How Does Your State Rank on Providing Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and Family Caregivers?
AARP Public Policy Institute has released the fifth edition of the Long-Term Services and Supports State Scorecard and LTSS Choices, a multifaceted project and online resource to catalyze the transformation of the nation’s long-term care system for older adults and people with disabilities.

CMS Tribal Nursing Home & Assisted Living Directory
The 2023 issue of the Tribal Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Directory that is updated annually.

American Indian/Alaska Native Long-Term Services and Supports Solutions - June 2023 Issue
This monthly newsletter is published by the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with LTSS planners, tribal leaders, and supporters.

American Indian/Alaska Native Long-Term Services and Supports Solutions - December 2022 issue
This monthly newsletter is published by the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with LTSS planners, tribal leaders, and supporters.

LTSS Program Example Videos
Drawing from interviews with tribal health experts, community planners, elders, and caregivers, these videos provide examples of successful programs and strategies for your review.  View the videos here.

NICOA Resources
Click here to see some fact sheets on AI/AN Health Disparities, Creating a Welcoming Facility, and Culturally Competent Healthcare.

Updates to CMS database of LTSS programs in Indian Country
This month, CMS update its ITU database, which lists Indian Health Service, tribally operated, and urban Indian health programs (ITUs) that offer LTSS throughout Indian Country.  This interactive map shows an overall pictrue of where LTSS programs are available in Indian Country and provides insight into where certain types of LTSS services are offered.

Tribal Pathways to Sustainable Long-Term Care: Capturing Medicaid reimbursements through Aging Services Webinar
Elaina Seep from Aniwahya Consulting Group presented great examples and explanations of funding sources for home and community based services including caregiving support, nutrition services, and transportation.  Download the webinar slides and cheat sheet resources which outlines steps to work with medicaid reimbursements for the long-term services that you already provide.

The No Wrong Door
The No Wrong Door (NWD) System, including Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC), represents a collaborative effort of the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), to support state efforts to streamline access to Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) options for all populations and all payers.

Elder Abuse and Prevention
The Arizona on Aging provides great resources on Elder Abuse and Prevention of Elder Abuse.

Engaging American Indian/Alaska Native Adults in Chronic Disease Self-Management Education
View this overview of health disparities in chronic diseases among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and a list of effective strategies for increasing access to chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) programs to improve overall health.

Overview of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin’s Model of Long-Term Care (PPT)
This presentation provides information on why tribal waivers are important, and how the Menominee Indian Tribe has used the waiver to improve health and mortality, maintain a culturally competent service delivery system, and provide a trusted alternative that improves access to care and health care utilization.

LTSS for Native Veterans
Long-term care needs among Native Veterans are high, and tribal LTSS programs can help connect Veterans with care. The resources below describe the care needs of Native Veterans and offer program planning considerations for improving access to care for Veterans.

Nocturia in Older Adults
Nocturia, defined as voiding at least twice per night that interrupts sleep, is a common complaint in older adults. The prevalence among those 70 years and older is reported to be 69-93% in men and about 75% in women. Because it is so common, clinicians often dismiss nocturia as a normal consequence of aging and provide limited advice on how to deal with it.


Medicare

Links

2024 Medicaid SSI, Spousal Impoverishment, and Medicare Savings Program Financial Eligibility Standards
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the updated 2024 Medicaid financial eligibility standards for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and spousal impoverishment protections, as well as the resource limits for the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). As of January 1, 2024, the resource limits for three MSPs (QMB, SLMB, and QI) will be $9,430 (single) and $14,130 (married). In 2024, the 300% SSI income limit will be $2,829, while the SSI resource limit remains at $2,000 for an individual. The bulletin also provides the 2024 minimum and maximum maintenance needs allowance, community spouse housing allowance, community spouse resource standards, and home equity limits

2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles & 2024 Medicare Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts
On October 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts.

CMS Releases New Medicaid Transportation Coverage Guide
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a State Medicaid Director Letter which introduces the Medicaid Transportation Coverage Guide. This guidance serves as a consolidated and comprehensive compilation of Medicaid transportation policy, providing a one-stop transportation resource for states on federal requirements and state flexibilities.

HHS Takes the Most Significant Action in a Decade to Make Care for Older Adults & People with Disabilities More Affordable and Accessible
In their continued efforts to improve access to health care and lower costs for millions of Americans, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), finalized a rule to streamline enrollment in the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), making coverage more affordable for an estimated 860,000 people

Redetermination of Part D Low-Income Subsidy Eligibility for 2024
Part D LIS provides extra help for people with Medicare who have limited income and resources by helping to pay their Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit costs (plan monthly premiums, co-payments, and the annual deductible). Effective January 1, 2024, Section 11404 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Expanding Eligibility for Low-Income Subsidies Under Part D of the Medicare Program, will expand eligibility of the full LIS group to individuals with incomes up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level and who meet the statutory resource requirements.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Tools to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
The Biden-Harris Administration announced the release of a new fact sheet about new tools that can lower prescription drug costs for low-income older adults and people with disabilities.

Recording of the MIPPA Call from April 18, 2023
A recording of the MIPPA network call from Thursday, April 18, 2023.

Updated List of MIPPA Leads
Title VI MIPPA Programs!  Here is the updated list of MIPPA leads in each state so that you can coordinate your MIPPA activities and events with them. You’ll notice that some states have more than one MIPPA lead, in those state MIPPA Priority 1,2,3 funding is being allocated to more than one state agencies.

Health Coverage Options for American Indians and Alaska Natives
This fact sheet provides information and guidance to help American Indians and Alaska Natives understand health coverage options through the Marketplace, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

NCOA'S Integrated Care for People with Medicare and Medicaid
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has partnered with the Medicare Rights Center to develop a toolkit for counselors who work with dual eligibles, and beneficiaries themselves. This toolkit was created following interviews and focus groups with counselors, and will be updated and enhanced with additional materials on an ongoing basis.

Updated List of MIPPA Leads
Title VI MIPPA Programs!  Here is the updated list of MIPPA leads in each state so that you can coordinate your MIPPA activities and events with them.  Don’t forget about your MIPPA obligations during COVID!!!  If you aren’t sure what you can do to meet those MIPPA obligation, that’s a great reason to contact your state office for coordination, collaboration and cooperation!!!  You’ll notice that some states have more than one MIPPA lead, in those state MIPPA Priority 1,2,3 funding is being allocated to more than one state agencies.

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Chart
This chart represents the standard  levels of coverage for Part D in California. Actual costs vary by location and by company. To find out about coverage in your area, contact the State Health Insurance assistance Program (SHIP) in your state by visiting https://www.shiptacenter.org/ or calling 877-839-2675.

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (Wisconsin)
We are so excited to share this innovation from the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. SHIP and SMP programs!  What a fantastic method to provide outreach about these critical services to tribal elders and people with disabilities.  While GLITC, Inc. only works with tribes in the State of Wisconsin, they are available to provide general information about the SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program) and SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) Programs.  Stay tuned for them to join a webinar in the new year to introduce us to their office!!!

For additional information about SHIP or SMP in your area please contact our very own Leslie Green (leslie.green@acl.hhs.gov) and she can assist you.

Medicare & You 2021 Handbook Available
CMS has posted its Medicare & You 2021 handbook, the official U.S. government Medicare handbook.  Download your desired format of the handbook here.

PSAs on Medicare and Medicare Fraud
The International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2) just released a set of audio public service announcements (PSAs) that are available for use by anyone working with American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) tribes or for tribes or tribal health providers use. There are four English language PSAs, 2 in Navajo and 2 in Lakota of varying lengths (:30 and :6) with accompanying scripts for each set of PSAs.

The PSAs are designed to complement a larger toolkit released earlier this year by IA2 that included a resource manual that discussed outreach to AIANs, a brochure, two PowerPoints, 4 drop-in articles about Medicare and Medicare fraud, and series of 6 fact sheets focused on Medicare as well as Medicare fraud and abuse.

The key theme for all the resource materials is “Medicare Matters.”

The resources are available for download and are free of charge. Visit the IA2 website to access the materials.

No Wrong Door
Medicaid Administrative Claiming is one avenue for sustaining and supporting a NWD System

Medicaid claiming, also known as Federal Financial Participation (FFP), represents a way in which Federal funds are used to reimburse agencies doing work that supports Medicaid programs.

The role that NWD System’s play in assisting individuals with understanding and navigating complicated long-term services and supports includes many administrative functions that are eligible for Medicaid claiming.

Federal matching funds under Medicaid are available for costs incurred by the state for administrative activities that directly support efforts to identify and enroll potential eligibles into Medicaid and that directly support the provision of medical services covered under the state Medicaid plan, when those activities are performed either directly by the state Medicaid agency or through contract or interagency agreement by another entity.

SMP, SHIP, and MIPPA Social Media Webinar
The MIPPA Resource Center partnered with the SHIP & SMP Resource Centers on a webinar to talk about their experiences with social media. Dan Hoblick, from the South Dakota SHIP, spoke about his state’s experience using Facebook grants to target outreach to people potentially eligible for benefits. Listen to other SMP, SHIP, and MIPPA representatives speak about their social media experiences and what has worked well for them.

Webinar Links:
-Recording playback
-SMP Resource Center video: Facebook Analytics Walkthrough
-SHIP TAC video: How SHIP Helps Beneficiaries

MIPPA Fact Sheet Templates (one for Hawaiian population, Alaskan population and American Indian population): The National Council on Aging (NCOA) recently developed fact sheet templates to help programs and beneficiaries understand the Medicare Extra Help and Medicare Savings Program. These templates are designed for the American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian populations, and include program eligibility requirements for 2019, with special information about how Native resources may/may not be counted in assessing income and assets. Contact your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) if you need assistance in editing the second page of the template, or for their contact information.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Contact List: For over 10 million older adults in the U.S., hunger is a real struggle. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of several food assistance benefits that help low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. To find partners in your area that can assist with enrolling in SNAP benefits, see this SNAP contact list, created by the National Council on Aging (NCOA).


Mental Health

Links

2024 ACL Traumatic Brain Injury Partners Day
If you are still interested, a recording of the webinar is available here. The slides can be downloaded at the link here.  Additional materials for this webinar will be available here.

Biden-Harris Administration Awards More than $230 Million for Suicide Prevention Behavioral Health Care Programs for At-Risk Communities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), recently awarded $232.2 million in grants for suicide prevention and behavioral health care for at-risk communities, including more than $200 million in new funding for states, territories, and Tribal nations and organizations to build local capacity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and related crisis services.

Crisis Services for Ineigenous People Map
The THRIVE suicide prevention project at Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, in partnership with the Indian Health Service (IHS), has developed an interactive Crisis Services for Indigenous People map by IHS regions in the United States. For access to the map, go to  https://www.npaihb.org/thrive/crisis-intervention-services/. This map was developed to prevent people, especially those from indigenous communities, from needing more restrictive care, such as psychiatric hospitalization or emergency detention.

Request 988 Materials for Indian Country
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s suicide prevention project, THRIVE (see: npaihb.org/thrive), has partnered with the Indian Health Service, tribes, and tribal organizations across Indian Country to develop social marketing and media materials announcing the 988 three digit mental health emergency number.  To request 988 Materials please click this link and add your name, Tribe/tribal organization, address, and email. The 43 member Tribes of the NPAIHB will automatically receive a box of materials so please do NOT request if you with one of these Tribes.

A description of what the 988 direct 3-digit mental health emergency resource is and how it can affect Tribal Nations and Communities can be found here: https://www.npaihb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03.2022-Coming-to-Indian-Country-988-and-the-National-Suicide-Prevention-Lifeline.pdf.

4th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium
COVID has shined a spotlight on mental health, especially for older adults. Join a free virtual event on May 6 that will empower professionals with the latest tools to improve the lives of older adults in their communities, during COVID and beyond. The all-day symposium is sponsored by the National Council on Aging, U.S. Administration for Community Living, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. View Flyer and Register here.

Transforming Tribal Communities: Indigenous Perspectives on Suicide Prevention
Culturally relevant suicide prevention strategies that are endorsed by community members can lead to long-lasting change. These six-to-eight-minute webinar clips, adapted from SPRC’s Tribal Community of Learning Series, feature expert advice on addressing the root causes of mental health issues and suicide in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities by drawing on community strengths.


Nutrition

Links

Family Style Meal Service with Children in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
USDA Team Nutrition is pleased to announce our new Family Style Meal Service With Children in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) resources.

Four Course Series:  Intersection of Food Justice & Disability Justice - Course 1:  Food Justice 101
We discussed many common terms that are part of the food justice movement and set the stage for why food justice is important to understand and how it can impact people with disabilities at disproportionate rates. Find the PowerPoint and Transcript here.

Blog on the Role of Traditional Foods in Native Elder Health
Check out this new ICAA blog on food sovereignty from Dr. Collette Adamsen of the National Resource Center on Native American Aging. In a review of OAA Title III and VI programs, they found Native American Elders on reservations who consume traditional foods five or more times per week reported lower rates of diabetes, better nutrition status, and higher participation in cultural practices.

New Blog on Serving Native American Elders in Title VI and III Nutrition Programs
Explore this American Society on Aging blog discussing Title VI and III Nutrition Programs, shedding light on food sovereignty and addressing nutrition risk.

USDA Invests in Bison Purchase Pilot Incorporating Indian Country Bison for Tribal Feeding Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing partnerships for a new, interagency pilot project aimed at offering more localized ground bison meat for tribal communities through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). The pilot will look at changes to how USDA purchases bison to better support buying the meat from local, small, and mid-sized bison herd managers and delivering it directly to their local tribal communities.

Reflecting on and Improving on Tribal Programs at FNS
Posted by Cindy Long, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Administrator
Each opportunity to engage directly with the people we serve through our programs provides moments to learn and reflect. For far too long, decisions about the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, also known as FDPIR, were made for tribes rather than with tribes or even by tribes. But USDA is committed to turning that tide and making the future of FDPIR one marked by listening, understanding and collaboration. Last month’s National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, was the perfect occasion for FNS to discuss recent and upcoming changes to FDPIR with our tribal partners and hear feedback directly from those who would be impacted.

Fall Snack Recipes from the USDA
Are you looking for some fresh and different flavors to snack on this fall?  Find many fantastic fall recipes on MyPlate Kitchen. These tasty snacks are quick and easy to prepare, low-cost, and delicious!

More New Resources from the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center
Take a look at these new resources from the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, including:  Leftovers and Safe Food Handling, Restaurant Partnerships, Meals in Motion Food Truck, DGA Policy and Practice Implications for Senior Nutrition Programs, Nutrition Resources for Kin and Grandfamilies, NSIP FAQ, USDA Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative, FDPIR Recipes, FDPIR Nutrition Education

SNAP-Ed Connection News:  Soup and Stew Recipes
Soups are a great way to incorporate a variety of seasonal vegetables to help you stay warm and nourished during the colder months. Eating soup can be an easy way to have a balanced meal. You can find soup with vegetables, grains, dairy, and proteins.

New Resources from the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center
Find new resources from the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, including Choice Menu Quick Guide, Eat Smart, Move More, Weight Less, Understanding Title III-C Flexibilities, Partnering with Food Service to Reduce Sodium, Culturally Diverse Recipes, and Food as Medicine Research Guide Master List.

USDA Special Bulletin:  Native American Heritage Month - November, 2022
November is Native American Heritage Month, and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is highlighting the resources and programs dedicated to advancing nutrition security in tribal communities through this special bulletin.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and help prevent chronic disease. This edition of the Dietary Guidelines is the first to provide guidance for healthy dietary patterns by life stage, from birth through older adulthood, including women who are pregnant or lactating.

Cooking with Confidence
A dynamic series of virtual cultural nutrition education classes.  Brought to you by the Bond of Color and and the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition.

Native Americans Across Midwest Embrace Traditional Foods Rejected by Centuries of Colonization
The idea of food sovereignty — or people having the right to control where and how they get food — is growing throughout the U.S. It especially resonates with Native Americans, many of whom have been separated from their cultural food by centuries of colonization, leading to systemic food insecurity and health disparities.  Indigenous organizations across the Midwest are building new formal food sovereignty programs from the ground up.

Traditional Foods Resources
If you’re looking for resources for planning and implementing an indigenous foods initiative at your Title VI program, check out this resource document for Title VI directors and Title VI staff.

ACL Senior Nutrition Program 50th Anniversary
Since 1972, the national Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults across the country. Funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA), local senior nutrition programs serve as hubs for older adults to access nutritious meals and other vital services that strengthen social connections and promote health and wellbeing.  ACL has chosen "Celebrate. Innovate. Educate." as the theme for the Senior Nutrition Program's 50th anniversary. With this theme, we celebrate the many accomplishments of the national and local programs; we acknowledge innovative approaches used to support seniors; and we look at how education can help communities understand and use nutrition services.

Please join us in celebrating this milestone by promoting the anniversary, the program, and the impact of nutrition services in March 2022 and beyond. Check out our 50thAnniversary Celebration webpage for information and support materials.  The anniversary awareness webinar (YouTube) is posted for a look at what's planned for the month!

Food Safety Guidance for Severe Weather
Severe weather forecasts often present the possibility of power outages that could compromise the safety of stored food. USDA encourages those in the path of the storms to take the following precautions:

  • During a power outage, the refrigerator will keep food at a safe temperature (below 40°F) for up to 4 hours. A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full). Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent cold air from escaping.
  • Keep an appliance thermometer in both the refrigerator and freezer in the event you do need to check the refrigerator or freezer temperatures.
  • Freeze water in small plastic storage bags or containers prior to a storm. These containers are small enough to fit around the food in the refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cold.
  • Freeze refrigerated items, such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately—this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
  • Consider getting 50 pounds of dry or block ice if a lengthy power outage is possible. This amount of ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.
  • Group foods together in the freezer—this ‘igloo’ effect helps the food stay cold longer.
  • Keep a few days’ worth of ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or cooling.

Quick Guide to Title III-Title VI Nutrition Collaboration
This document is intended to provide suggested steps to State Units on Aging (SUA), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and local nutrition providers on ways that Title III and Title VI nutrition service providers can work together to achieve the goals of the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA has specific requirements for both state plans and the AAA plans to detail how they are working together with the Title VI programs in their states/service areas if applicable.

The Cherokee Chefs Bringing Back North America’s Lost Cuisine
Their meals will help tell the story of one of North America’s oldest regional cuisines—and transport eaters deep into the past, to 1492 and beyond. As Cherokee, these chefs say such meals offer a way to celebrate, affirm, and change perceptions around the ingenuity of their ancestors.

Celebrating Indigenous Women Chefs
The "Celebrating Indigenous Women Chefs" webinar series is the first of its kind, highlighting the expertise of indigenous women through six live cooking demonstrations with commentary by other indigenous women chefs, stressing cultural importance, cooking techniques, ingredient sourcing, and recipes.

View recordings of previous webinars and register for future webinars here: https://www.hfhl.umn.edu/indigenouschefs. Sponsored by the Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute of the University of Minnesota.

USDA Spring Produce Guide
Check out the Spring Produce Guide for ideas and inspiration on how to incorporate these tasty fruits and veggies into your lessons and your life. The guide features over 25 fruits and veggies that are abundant in spring. You'll find recipes, teaching tools, and resources to learn more about each item.

Food Service Software Considerations for Title VI
This document recommends a quantity food production book and provides tables on nutrient analysis software, foodservice production software and meal delivery software.

Understanding the Training Needs of Older Americans Act (OAA) Title VI Program Nutrition and Aging Program Professionals
The primary purpose of this paper was to examine the availability of data to help inform how to meet the training needs of OAA Title VI nutrition and aging program professionals.

FDPIR Sharing Gallery
The FDPIR Sharing Gallery is a source of inspiration and sharing of nutrition education materials, recipes, photos, grant opportunities, and more for Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) participating in FDPIR.

Looking for Innovation?  How about Food Trucks on the Rez?
Here's another option to provide nutrition services to tribal elders. The California AAA4, based in Sacramento, would like to highlight their in-house Congregate Nutrition Program available in Yuba and Sutter Counties. Please see a link to video below of our Mobile Dine Around Town Program. Traditionally, they provide a restaurant voucher program called Dine Around Town, but they recently incorporated a mobile version of the program to include a food truck option.If you have questions feel free to contact Teja Payne, the AAA4 Nutrition Services Manager (P: 1.916.710.8371) or Jean Lloyd, the Title VI Nutrition Expert at jlloyd095@gmail.com.

Still Tasty
How long will your favorite food or beverage stay safe and tasty?  What's the best way to store it?  Get the answers for thousands of items.

Save the Food
Twenty Percent of the Food we each  buy never gets eaten. The good news: There's something we can do.

Further with Food
Find and Share information on this website about proven solutions and innovative new approaches to reducing food loss and waste.

National Resource Center on Nutrition
Designed to assist the national aging network, including local nutrition programs, national associations, tribes, states and regional agencies involved with aging, in the implementation of the national portions of the Older Indians Act.

Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook for Homes
The recipes in this USDA cookbook feature foods both children and adults should consume more of: dark green and orange vegetables, dry beans and peas, and whole grains. All of these healthy recipes are low in total fat, saturated fat, sugar and sodium. With fun names like Porcupine Sliders, Smokin' Powerhouse Chili, and Squish Squash Lasagna, these kid-tested, kid-approved recipes are sure to please children and be an instant hit!

Food Insecurity by County
Food insecurity exists in every county and congressional district in the country. But not everyone struggling with hunger qualifies for federal nutrition assistance. Learn more about local food insecurity and the food banks in your community by exploring data from Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap project. Food security, as defined and measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, means “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.” Overall, more than 42 million people, or 13.4% of the population, were considered food-insecure in the year 2015, the last year for which data are available.  The highest rate was in Mississippi, where 21.5% are food insecure. Rates of food insecurity are generally higher in rural households than urban.

Alaska Traditional Foods Movement The Alaska Food Code allows the donation of traditional wild game meat, seafood, plants, and other food to a food service of an institution or a nonprofit program with the exception of certain foods that are prohibited because of significant health hazards. Examples of facilities that can accept these donations include residential facilities, school lunch programs, head starts and elder meal programs.

Nutrition.gov Resources for Seniors
Nutrition.gov provides a comprehensive list of resources for seniors who are looking for information on nutrition.

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) is a Federal program that provides USDA foods to low-income households, including the elderly, living on Indian reservations, and to Native American families residing in designated areas near reservations and in the State of Oklahoma. This article discusses eligibility, how to apply, resources, and contact information.

Seeds of Native Health
Extreme poverty and the loss of traditional foods have caused many Native Americans to suffer from inadequate diets and have led to widespread, chronic health problems. Many grassroots practitioners, researchers and advocates are already working to restore healthful diets. But a national campaign is needed to encourage broader strategies to improve Indian nutrition now and in the future. Seeds of Native Health is a multifaceted national campaign to improve Native American nutrition and is supported by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The effort includes grant-making, sharing of best practices, capacity-building, sponsored research, and educational initiatives.

Feeding Ourselves (PDF)
This report explores the complex historical and contemporary challenges to Native American healthy food access, childhood obesity, and health disparities. Feeding Ourselves encourages its readers to take the first step toward a solution – becoming aware of the extent of the problem of Native health disparities and its deep interconnections to U.S. Indian policy, poverty, historical trauma and food systems. This includes building awareness of the complex historic and present-day situations of Native peoples, innovative models, and how systemic and long-term changes may be supported by policy changes at the tribal, federal, and philanthropic levels.

Rights of Mother Earth: The enactment of the Yurok Tribe Genetically Engineered Organism Ordinance
On December 10, 2015, after several months of committee drafting and opportunity for public comment, the Yurok Tribal Council unanimously voted to enact the Yurok Tribe Genetically Engineered Organism (“GEO”) Ordinance. The Tribal GEO Ordinance prohibits the propagation, raising, growing, spawning, incubating, or releasing genetically engineered within the Tribe’s territory and declares the Yurok Reservation to be a GMO-free zone. While other Tribes, such as the Dine’ (Navajo) Nation, have declared GMO-free zones by resolution, this ordinance appears to be the first of its kind in the nation.

Native Food Systems Resource Center
We recognize that accessing healthy food is a challenge for many Native American children and families. Without access to healthy food, a nutritious diet and good health are out of reach. To increase access to healthy food, First Nations supports tribes and Native communities as they build sustainable food systems that improve health, strengthen food security and increase the control over Native agriculture and food systems. First Nations provides this assistance in the form of financial and technical support, including training materials, to projects that address agriculture and food sectors in Native communities.

Food Safety and Nutrition
Some changes with age affect hunger and eating. Some of these changes are normal. Some of these changes are caused by diseases that are common with aging. The link lists some of these changes.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service CSFP Sharing Gallery
USDA Food and Nutrition Service has developed some excellent material for you to use in your nutrition education to your seniors. This information can easily be copied and used to guide nutrition education presentations.
Check out the materials currently available in the following categories:


Public Health

Links

NCUIH Newsletter - October 3, 2023 issue
IHS Provides Update Following Conference on Urban Indian Interagency Workgroup; Be a Good Relative and Get Vaccinated.

The Vax Chat 2023: Paths to Equity
The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) invited experts and community members in urban Indian health to discuss what materials and strategies are needed to achieve permanent, equitable vaccination of adult American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) peoples, including COVID-19 and other vaccines.

Sample Position Descriptions:
Community Health Representative
Community Health Specialist
Community Health Worker for COVID
Evidence Based Intervention Specialist
Health Educator
Program Evaluator
Public Health Educator
Public Health Program Coordinator
Public Health Program Specialist II Substance Misuse Specialist
Senior Public Health Nutritionist
Tribal Public Health Specialist and Senior Public Health Specialist
TAU Project Specialist

Nutrition in Public Health
Ideas for emphasizing public health in Title VI nutrition programs.

CDC's Tribal Practices for Wellness in Indian Country (TPWIC)
Program strategies focus on: health promotion, cultural practices, and social and emotional well-being. They have several current projects focused on food/food sovereignty.

Michigan’s Bay Mills Indian Community Restoring Health with New Farmers’ Market
Bay Mills Indian Community (BMIC) in northern Michigan shop and eat healthier thanks to a farmers’ market that opened in July 2015. Tribal communities have long struggled with obesity and other health issues because of limited access to healthy, local food options. The Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan used support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help the BMIC offer fresh produce to residents. The market’s first season ran for 10 weeks and attracted more than 900 visitors.

Navajo Families in New Mexico Now Enjoy a Healthy Dose of New Produce Options
Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE), the Navajo Nation-based site of Partners In Health, started a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) program. Families with limited access to healthy foods receive FVRx vouchers to buy produce when they attend nutrition education sessions. After five months, child participants’ body mass index decreased. Participating stores restock produce more often to meet customer demand.

International Association for Indigenous Aging Brain Health Promising Practice Article:  Food Pathways as Medicine in Tribal Communities
Indigenous communities have long recognized that food is medicine.  Nutrition and diet-related issues are risk factors for dementia now recognized by public health. Research has also suggested that “heart-healthy” eating like the traditional Mediterranean diet is brain health, too.

Indian Health Service Educational Materials and Resources
The Indian Health Service provides a number of educational materials and resources in their Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention.

Indian Health Service Description of Public Health Nutrition Staff Role and Responsibility
The RRM Public Health Nutrition staffing module estimates the requirements for Registered Dietitians (RDs)/nutritionists who work primarily outside the hospital/clinical setting to provide nutrition services to communities and programs that promote health promotion and disease prevention in the community. She/he will focus on populations and groups of people rather than on individuals. The public health nutritionists (RD) function as the nutrition expert working with other members of the public health team in a local health agency/setting.

American Public Health Association Debuts ‘That’s Public Health’ Web Series
An engaging new web series is helping Americans understand the link between public health and their own well-being.  Launched in December by APHA and Complexly, the “That’s Public Health” series features short, easy-to-understand videos on public health topics.

Local Resilience Programs Take on COVID-19, Disaster Relief
Faced with growing weather-related disasters and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, local leaders across the U.S. are stepping up to form teams to boost resilience, particularly for vulnerable residents.  In communities such as Baltimore, New Orleans and New York City, resilience programs are providing jobs and skills for pandemic recovery, disaster preparedness and maintenance of public spaces.

Health Misinformation a Threat to Public Health
The problem of health misinformation has long existed, but the past two years have made its urgency grimly clear, especially as hospitals flooded with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients in January. Last year, one of the country’s top health officials, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, issued an advisory on the issue, describing health misinformation as a “serious threat to public health” and calling on stakeholders, including technology platforms, to step up.

Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is offering funds to expand public health capacity through health care job development, training, and placement in rural communities affected by COVID-19. Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.  Deadline:  Friday, March 18, 2022.

HHS Announces Availability of Nearly $48 Million to Increase the Public Health Workforce in Rural and Tribal Communities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, is announcing the availability of nearly $48 million in American Rescue Plan funding for community-based organizations to expand public health capacity in rural and tribal communities through health care job development, training, and placement. Awardees will be able to use this funding to address workforce needs related to the long-term effects of COVID-19 as well as health information technology (IT) needs and other key workforce issues.


Scams

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Consumer Alert:  Fraud Schemes Targeting Native American Communities in Behavioral Health Treatment Centers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public about fraudulent activities aimed at members of Native American communities in relation to behavioral health outpatient treatment centers (OTCs).

Placemat-IRS Scams
This is a placemat on IRS scams that a meal recipient can read while waiting for a meal, or while eating. These are easy to use, can be printed locally and are a low cost method for programs to alert seniors about these scams.


Stress

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Work, Stress and Health & Socioeconomic Status
Work is central to the psychological health and well-being of individuals and communities (Blustein, 2008). Vocational and industrial–organizational psychology have demonstrated the importance of work and how it promotes connection to the broader social and economic world, enhances well-being, and provides a means for individual satisfaction and accomplishment (Blustein, 2006; Brown & Lent, 2005; Hall, 1996; Spector, 2005).


Substance Abuse

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National Tribal Opioid Summit Federal Policy Recommendations
Read this report of the National Tribal Opioid Summit Federal Policy Recommendations from December 2023.

Rx Pain Medications. Know the Options. Get the Facts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and SAMHSA have developed a series of fact sheets entitled Rx Pain Medications. Know the Options. Get the Facts.  These fact sheets are designed to increase awareness of the risks associated with prescription opioid use and misuse, as well as to educate patients who are prescribed opioids for pain about the risks and to provide resources on methods for alternative pain management.

Many of these fact sheets are relevant to older adults, and we will be sharing these fact sheets with you periodically this year.  The first fact sheet that we are distributing as part of this effort focuses on alternative pain management methods such as acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, and meditation.

Office of National Drug Control Policy: Collaborating with Native Americans and Alaskan Natives
Drug abuse exacts a heavy toll among Native Americans and Alaskan Natives in the United States. In response, ONDCP is developing programs and policies tailored to Indian Country and designed to assist Tribal authorities using a balanced strategy of prevention, treatment, recovery support, and law enforcement.

Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health: Evidence-Based Practices and Substance Abuse Treatment for Native Americans
While there have been some highly successful efforts to meld the traditions of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes with that of 12-step approaches, some American Indian and Alaska Natives remain profoundly uncomfortable with the dominance of this Euro-American approach to substance abuse treatment in their communities. This long-standing tension has now been complicated by the emergence of a number of evidence-based treatments that, while holding substantial promise for improving treatment for American Indian and Alaska Natives with substance use problems, may conflict with both American Indian and Alaska Native and 12-step healing traditions.

Indian Health Service- Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program
The objective of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) is to reduce the incidence and prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse among the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population to a level at or below the general U.S. population. ASAP strives to meet the goal through the implementation of alcohol and substance abuse programs within tribal communities, including emergency, inpatient and outpatient treatment, and rehabilitation services in rural and urban settings.

Study Debunks Notions About Native Americans, Alcohol
Native Americans are more likely to abstain from alcohol than whites are, and heavy drinking and binge drinking rates are about the same for both groups, according to a UA study. Tribal Court Clearinghouse: Alcohol and Substance Abuse The following documents and hyperlinks should be of assistance to tribal court personnel, tribal law enforcement personnel, social services personnel, and others in handling alcohol and substance abuse cases. For more specific information concerning drug courts and tribal drug courts, see the Tribal Drug Courts page.

Federal Tribal Opioid Funding, Other Opioid Resources, and Technical Assistance
View the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee handout on federal resources addressing opioids here.


Technology

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Social Security Expands Video Services to Tribal and Community Service Locations
For more than ten years, the Social Security Administration has offered video services to the public in our local offices and in third-party partner locations nationwide. Using Polycom Video Service Delivery (VSD) units in partner locations, we can remotely serve people who may not have access to our local offices, telephone, or the internet.  In addition to VSD units, people at Tribal and community service locations can now use Microsoft Teams to meet with staff via video. This option allows the site to use their own equipment to securely connect customers with Social Security.

Protecting the Sacred:  Balancing & Embracing Technology in Indian Country
As 2020 has been a challenge for many communities, national conversations have often forgotten about the impact this year has had on tribal populations across the country.  On November 17th, Verizon State Government Affairs in conjunction with the Native Americans of Verizon (NAV) Employee Resource Group hosted an online discussion with tribal thought leaders on important technological issues their communities are facing today.  The conversation focused on ways to improve digital equity, the impact of COVID-19, and how non-tribal organizations can engage with tribal communities focused on a common purpose.


Transportation

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FTA Announces 22 Tribes and Alaskan Native Villages Will Receive Nearly $10 Million in Transit Grants from the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $9.9 million in grants to support and improve transit for 22 American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native communities. The grants, awarded through FTA’s competitive Tribal Transit program, will help improve transit service for tribal residents, many of whom rely on buses as their only option to get to jobs, school, and other opportunities.
FTA's Tribal Transit Program supports public transportation within federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages, groups, and communities. The funding helps meet the transportation needs of Tribal citizens, including older adults, people with disabilities, and youth in rural areas.

Transportation Quick Guide
The Transportation Quick Guide is intended to be used as an initial resource for general information pertaining to Title VI transportation, additional funding opportunities, technical assistance, and helpful guides and toolkits.  View or download the Transportation Quick Guide here.

Tribal Transportation Program (TTP)
The Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) is the largest program in the Office of Federal Lands Highway. Established in 23 U.S.C. 202 to address the transportation needs of Tribal governments throughout the United States, the program receives $450,000,000 annually to provide safe and adequate transportation and public road access to and within Indian reservations, Indian lands, and Alaska Native Village communities. A prime objective of the TTP is to contribute to the economic development, self-determination, and employment of Indians and Native Americans.
Jasmine Clemons who now oversees the FTA Tribal Transportation Program.  Elan Flippin (formerly the TTP program manager) still manages the FTA Rural Program, and works closely with Jasmine and Danielle Nelson (Office of Program Management, Rural and Targeted Programs Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Lead: www.transit.dot.gov/ccam/about  Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, danielle.nelson@dot.gov)

More Transportation Funds Head to Indian Country
A bipartisan highway bill that President Barack Obama signed into law earlier this month brings more federal funds to Indian Country. H.R.22, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, reauthorizes the Tribal Transportation Program for five years. The additional money will help tribes fix crumbling roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Tribes Transportation: Policy Challenges and Opportunities (PDF)
Transportation infrastructure development is critical to economic development, job creation, and improving living conditions for individuals and families in American Indian/Alaska Native communities, and the millions of Americans who travel through our reservations every day. Construction of transportation systems that allow for safe travel and promote economic expansion will help tribal governments strengthen Native communities and make valuable contributions to much of rural America. Surface transportation in Indian Country involves thousands of miles of roads, bridges, and highways. It connects and serves both tribal and non-tribal communities.

DOT: Resources for Tribes and Tribal Governments
Under the leadership of Secretary Foxx, we are committed to improving existing tribal transportation resources. This webpage serves as a portal to assist tribes and tribal governments find the information and contacts they need at the Department.

Native American Transportation Issues: Information Resource Center
This website provides a gateway to information and resources pertaining to research and practice pertaining to transportation issues on or near tribal lands and communities or affecting tribal historical or cultural properties wherever located.

Addressing Commuting as a Public Health Issue: Strategies Should Differ by Rurality
Car commuting is a known risk factor for poor health, by contributing to sedentary behavior and air pollution; prevention efforts to reduce car commuting—especially long, solo commutes—are important to improving public health. This brief estimates the rate of solo car commuting and long (greater than 30 minutes) solo car commutes by rurality and urban adjacency and identifies differences in socio-demographic factors that relate to commuting behavior by geographic location.

Rural Transportation: Challenges and Opportunities
Transportation, as it relates to health and health care, is widely acknowledged to have unique features in rural communities, but there is limited research on specific challenges and potential policy interventions to alleviate them. This policy brief uses survey data from 113 key informants across all fifty states to describe challenges and opportunities related to rural transportation.

Transportation to Support Rural Healthcare
Transportation is an important social determinant of health in rural communities. The availability of reliable transportation impacts a person’s ability to access appropriate and well-coordinated healthcare, purchase nutritious food, and otherwise care for him or herself.


Tribal Law

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Tribal Law and Policy Institute
The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI) is a 100% Native American operated non-profit corporation organized to design and deliver education, research, training, and technical assistance programs which promote the enhancement of justice in Indian country and the health, well-being, and culture of Native peoples.

We seek to facilitate the sharing of resources so that Native nations and tribal justice systems have access to cost effective resources which can be adapted to meet the individual needs of their communities. We strive to establish programs which link tribal justice systems with other academic, legal, and judicial resources such as law schools, Indian law clinics, tribal colleges, Native American Studies programs, Indian legal organizations and consultants, tribal legal departments, other tribal courts, and other judicial/legal institutions. Through these collaborative alliances, we are implementing a synergistic approach to the delivery of services to Indian Country - accessing a wealth of talent and resources.


Veterans

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Veterans Field Guide to Government Shutdown
If a government shutdown were to occur, this resource will provide explanations as to how it would affect VA's customers.

FREE: Brand New Medical Supplies and Equipment
Learn how Veterans and their families can save money on medical supplies and equipment with VA health care. From medical beds to wheelchair ramps, VA can help. All medical supplies and equipment are brand new, never used and yours to keep.

Veterans Quick Guide
The Veterans Quick Guide provides important links, phone numbers, and general information about the main services offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The guide also lists numerous tribal governments that might offer additional support for veterans and provides direct links to their respective contacts and websites.

101 Ways to Thank a Veteran
There are many ways to thank veterans, here are 101 ways to thank a veteran.

Activities for Veterans Day
Veterans Day is an excellent occasion for schools and local communities to produce a variety of meaningful cooperative programs. Participation by veterans organizations and other patriotic groups can enhance many of the activities suggested in this guide.


Violence

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Combating Human Trafficking in the Tribal Gaming Industry: A Call to Action
A webinar on human trafficking in tribal gaming offered by the National Indian Gaming Commission from January 11, 2024.

Human Trafficking Data Collection Activities 2023
This new BJS report details ongoing and completed efforts during 2022 and 2023 to measure and analyze the nationwide incidence of human trafficking, to describe characteristics of human trafficking victims and offenders, and to describe criminal justice responses to human trafficking offenses. The report also provides information on human trafficking suspects referred to and prosecuted by U.S. attorneys, human trafficking defendants convicted and sentenced to federal prison, and admissions to state prison for human trafficking.

Generations Today - July/August 2023 Issue
This issue of Generations Today is focused on trauma and aging.  Created by the American Society on Aging.

Talking Circle - Supporting Families of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People
Provided by the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center.  Please find the full recording of the session here.  Additional resources on the topic can be found here.

Child Victims and Witnesses Support Materials
OVC is excited to release an update to Child Victims and Witnesses Support Materials that offer age appropriate resources to support children and youth during their involvement with the justice system as a victim or witness to a crime.

Victim Connect Resource Map
The Victim Connect Resource Map is now live! This map is a searchable tool with national and local resources commonly used by our visitors. You can view resources across the nation filtered by categories, services, location, and keywords.

Talking Circle: Safeguarding Our Children from Human Trafficking: Using Culture As a Protective and Healing Influence Among Native Youth
Historical trauma and current risk factors make Indigenous people vulnerable to many forms of crime victimization, including labor and sex trafficking. Additionally, higher percentages of American Indian and Alaska Native children are living in poverty, involved in the juvenile justice system, and the foster care system, increasing their vulnerability to human trafficking. During this conversation, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Samoan panelists discuss the intersection between child welfare, human trafficking, and vulnerability to exploitation. They also discussed the impact of historical trauma and how to effectively use culture as a protective and healing factor.

New Website with Free Anti-Trafficking Resources
A new human trafficking website is available with information for organizations and federally recognized tribes wanting to start, sustain, or grow their anti-trafficking efforts. The site is hosted by the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center, supported by the Office for Victims of Crime.

The site’s robust resource library includes a range of human trafficking content provided in easily digestible formats including tip sheets, one-page overviews, sample documents, and Q&As. All services the Center provides are free and available to every organization and federally recognized tribe working to support victims of human trafficking. The Center’s services are listed on the website along with the Center’s contact information.

You Are Not Alone!  Resources for Native Communities Facing the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Native Americans
The Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, Operation Lady Justice, created this flyer with a list of hotlines for:  National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, National Runaway Safeline, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Domestic Violence Resources, StrongHearts Native Helpline for Domestic Violence Services, and National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Victim Services During the Pandemic:  Experiences of Grief and Loss
This webinar was held by the National Center for Victims of Crime as part of their Crime Victims Community in COVID-19 series on Wednesday, August 19, 2020.  A recording of the webinar is available here.  The webinar presentation is available for download here.  A copy of the webinar Q&A is available here.

Violence & Socioeconomic Status
Exposure to violence transcends age and SES, affecting all levels of income, education, and occupation. Although exposure to violence affects all SES groups, youth from lower SES backgrounds tend to have increased exposure and likelihood of suffering from detrimental future outcomes.


Wellness

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Wellness Toolkits
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have been disproportionately affected by many health issues such as diabetes, substance abuse, and sudden infant death syndrome. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is addressing the health of AI/AN communities by providing various resources available from many Institutes, Centers and Offices that can be used to promote healthier Native communities. One specific resource NIH offers is the “Our Healthiest Self: Wellness Toolkits”.These toolkits describe simple things people can do to improve their surroundings, relationships, emotional well-being, and physical health. To access the wellness toolkits, please click here.

SOAR to Health and Wellness Online Module
The SOAR (Stop, Observe, Ask, Respond) framework is a trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically appropriate response to human trafficking. It provides a quick mental reference for professionals to keep in mind the best way to help individuals who are at risk or have been trafficked. After completing the one-hour CEU credited SOAR to Health and Wellness Online module, learners will be able to:

  • Describe the types of human trafficking in the United States
  • Recognize possible indicators of human trafficking
  • Screen and identify individuals who have been trafficked
  • Assess the needs of individuals who have been trafficked and deliver appropriate services
  • Share the importance of human trafficking awareness and responsiveness with others in your work environments

Trauma-Informed Care Training Modules
As part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma offers Free Online Education on trauma and trauma informed care. Anyone can experience trauma.  In these modules, presenters discuss how to recognize the signs of trauma and deliver trauma-informed care to your patients and clients. The NCTSN is funded by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and jointly coordinated by UCLA and Duke University.


Women

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Tips for Good Health in Later Life: For Older Women
Older women are more likely than men to have chronic, or ongoing, health conditions – such as arthritis, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Women are also more likely to develop multiple health problems, according to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Older women are also more likely to have memory or other “cognitive” problems, and difficulty carrying out daily activities such as dressing, walking, or bathing without help. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to boost your chances of staying mentally and physically healthy as you age.

Healthy Women - Aging Well
Healthy Women (HW) is the nation's leading independent health information source for women. Our core mission is to educate, inform and empower women to make smart health choices for themselves and their families. For more than 20 years, millions of women have been coming to HW for answers to their most pressing and personal health care questions. Through our wide array of online and print publications, HW provides health information that is original, objective, reviewed by medical experts and reflective of the advances in evidence-based health research.

American Indian and Alaska Native Violence Against Women
This site provides information on current events, legislation, resources, provider education, public health issues, policies and procedures, clinical tools, sexual assault, community action, cultural appropriateness and access to care.

Womens Law: Native American Services
Find contact information for national Native American service organizations, broken down by subject matter.