In This Issue

Senate Likely to Confirm Sylvia Mathews Burwell as New HHS Secretary, Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Holds Field Hearing on IHS in Billings, MT

Healthy Food Financing Initiative Listening Session at USDA Headquarters

The Notah Begay III Foundation's Native Strong: Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Announces Promising Program Grant Opportunity

This week, the House of Representatives is in recess, but the Senate is expected to vote on the confirmation of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be the new Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. It is expected that her confirmation will achieve bipartisan support.  Mathews Burwell is currently the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. 

Tribal leaders from across Indian Country, including NIHB Chairperson Cathy Abramson, NIHB Vice Chairman Rex Lee Jim, and NIHB Billings Area Representative Jace Killsback will meet with outgoing Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this week as part of the Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee meeting in Washington, DC. Topics for this meeting include, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Tribal budget priorities, and discussion of human services programs.

On Tuesday, May 27, 2014, the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing in Billings, Montana on "The Indian Health Service: Ensuring the IHS is Living Up to Its Trust Responsibility."  At the hearing representatives of several Montana and Wyoming Tribes highlighted the need for improved health care access and delivery to the American Indian and Alaska Native population. Following reports by the Crow Tribe of delayed and sub-standard health care provision by the Indian Health Service, Tribal leaders in Montana and Wyoming shared medical challenges faced by their people. 

The life-expectancy for Native Americans is nearly 20 years less than that of whites and rates of chronic health issues occur at rates much higher than the rest of the population.  Tribal leaders are asking Indian Health Service and Congressional officials to aggressively reform the system, prioritize the health of Native people, and to focus on their core mission. Hearings have been set, investigations are requested, and reforms are promised.  Yet, the statistics reveal the urgent need for more timely and meaningful changes to an under-resourced system charged with the health of over two million people.

The National Indian Health Board is dedicated to aggressively advocating for the resources needed to promote the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native people and supporting the efforts of Tribal leaders and government officials to meet the health care and wellness needs across Indian Country.

On Friday, May 30, 2014, the USDA held a listening session on the implementation of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) at USDA headquarters in Washington, DC. The Farm Bill passed in February 2014, authorizing up to $125 million for the USDA to house the HFFI with the goal of increasing the availability of healthy, affordable foods in areas lacking sustainable access through retailer incentives, grants, and strategic partnerships. The purpose of this listening session was to provide comments or suggestions to USDA and HFFI about the implementation process of this program. The USDA is starting the implementation process and is looking for input by stakeholders. Comments and suggestions made by organizations present included:

• The importance of partnerships between Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), food access organizations, grocers, and others to ensure investments are based on locally determined needs and priorities
• Maximize access to healthy foods 
• Implement a program where purchase of healthy foods receives discounts
• Place the fund in the hands of a national fund manager (certified CDFI) who will infuse into the program accessibility, flexibility, and responsiveness to local markets and conditions that will lead to successful projects by tailoring financing to meet individual needs
• Coordinate with other federal programs to maximize benefit and support access to healthy food
• Clarification of the needs and types of investment in urban and rural communities is essential for a successful program
• Increase benefit levels (SNAP, WIC)
• USDA should engage in transportation options, some communities/families may not have reliable transportation

It was made clear that more outreach needs to occur with Indian Country. Indian Country faces many health disparities related to accessible quality food. Farmers' markets and improved quality of food in Tribal schools may help keep the people of Indian Country healthier and prevent or delay health problems. Increasing the number and quality of grocery stores within areas serving Tribes may go a long way and reducing reliance on gas stations or convenience stores for food that is overpriced and lacking in healthy nutritional value.

The Notah Begay III Foundation's (NB3F) is accepting proposals for its second round of Promising Program Grants to support projects that strategically target childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes prevention through physical activity and/or healthy nutrition programs.  The application deadline is July 14, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. MDT. Additional information including eligibility criteria, application guidelines, the full Request for Proposal (RFP), and the link to the online application can be found on NB3F's Promising Program Grant page.