USET/USET SPF COVID-19 Tip of the Day

5/21 Tip of the Day 2020:12: Ensuring the Safety of Your Water before Reopening

5/1 Tip of the Day 2020:11: Pausing the Section 106 Review Process during the COVID-19 Emergency – ACHP Guidance

4/25 Tip of the Day 2020:10: Paycheck Protection Program: Apply Early!

4/24 Tip of Day Follow-up to 2020:01: Follow Up: Document

4/21 Tip of the Day 2020:09: Expanded Telehealth Services for Tribal Medicare and Medicaid Enrollees

4/17 Tip of the Day 2020:08: Numerous Covid-19 Funding Opportunities Available

4/15 Tip of the Day 2020:07: Federally-Backed-Mortgage Relief Available During COVID-19 Emergency

4/10 and 4/13 Tip of the Day 2020:06: CARES Act $8B Tribal Set-Aside: Prepare Now

4/9 Tip of the Day 2020:05: Accessing the Strategic National Stockpile

4/8 Tip of the Day 2020:04: Tribal Nations Access to FEMA Public Assistance for COVID-19 Emergency Response

4/7 Tip of the Day 2020:03: Case Definitions

4/6 Tip of the Day 2020:02: Don’t Fall Prey to Scammers

4/3 Tip of the Day 2020:01: Document

USET Tribal Epidemiology Center Recommendations for Tribal Consideration

General Resources

• Georgia Institute of Technology: COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool
• 10/21 FDA: New COVID-19 vaccine information is posted as it becomes available
• USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide Lists Federal Programs That Can Help Rural Communities, Organizations and Residents Impacted by COVID-19
• 8/31 National Grants Management Association: COVID Allowability Documentation and How to Avoid Audit Findings
• FEMA Region I: COVID-19 Long-Term Recovery Task Force Resource Guides:
  • Housing
  • Broadband Infrastructure
  • Arts and Culture
  • Fisheries/Aquaculture
• 7/30 The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development: What Tribes and Tribal Entities Need to Know When Procuring Personal Protective Equipment
• 7/16: CDC updated information for Tribal Communities to plan, prepare and respond to COVID-19 and provided updated information in each of the following links:
  • Guidance and Tips for Tribal Community Living During COVID-19
  • CDC/EPA cleaning and disinfection guidance
  • Considerations for events and gatherings
  • Safe watering points
• 7/16 CDC: Food and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) webpage provides helpful information about handling food packages and tips for safely shopping for groceries
• 7/8: CDC Interim Guidance for Election Polling Locations
• 7/8: CDC Interim Considerations for Health Departments for COVID-19 Testing in Homeless Shelters
• Contact Tracing Resources
  • CDC COVIDTracer 1.0: a spreadsheet-based tool that allows public health officials and policy makers to compare three different contact tracing and monitoring strategies. A user manual also accompanies this tool. If you encounter any issues downloading the spreadsheet, please email HEMU@cdc.gov with subject line: COVIDTracer tool inquiry.
  • CDC Contact Tracing Training and Resources
  • Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity: Contact Tracing Workforce Estimator
  • CDC Interim Guidance on Developing a Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Plan
  • Association of State and Territorial Health Officials: Making Contact: A Training for COVID-19 Contact Tracers (free on-demand training)
• 6/18: National Indian Education Association and IllumiNative Native Education for ALL (NEFA) Initiative – NIEA and IllumiNative have partnered to bring virtual and home learning educational materials and resources online. Their goal is to ensure that students have access to culture-based educational resources in an online format. NIEA and IllumiNative want to give educators a platform to share what has been working in their communities.
• 6/9: IHS has established a Critical Care Response Team of health care professionals that can be mobilized to provide urgent lifesaving medical care to COVID-19 patients admitted to IHS or Tribal hospitals. They can also provide hands-on clinical education to help train frontline health care professionals to manage COVID-19 patients and other critically ill patients.
• 6/3 IRS: Topics for Tribes section on the Coronavirus Tax Relief for Businesses and Tax-Exempt Entities page on IRS.gov
• 6/2: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) COVID-19 Response Resource Center provides improved access to USPTO initiatives, programs, and other helpful intellectual property (IP)-related information regarding the COVID-19 outbreak
• 5/28: Prioritizing Equity video series: COVID-19 & Native Voices in the Field
• 5/26: COVID Pandemic in Indian Country presentation by Setu Vora, MD
• 5/11 IHS: Interactive map which displays COVID-19 testing data by IHS area
• 5/5 House Natural Resources Committee: Coronavirus in Indian Country Resources
• 5/1: The Alabama Fire College offers free online COVID-19 safety training
• 4/30: COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint
• 4/29 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Section 106 and Coronavirus Impacts
• Center for World Indigenous Studies: COVID-19 in Indian Country
• 4/17 Children’s Bureau Guidance for Cell Phones and Personal Protective Equipment
• FEMA 4/17 Disaster Financial Management Guide and Fact Sheet
• 4/15 Public service announcements from RADM Michael Weahkee, Acting Director, IHS:
  • Thanks to the dedicated public servants in the Indian Health Service and the many Tribal health care professionals
  • A Message to Indigenous People
• 4/15 Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker Client Memo: HRSA Hold Consultation on Emergency Funding; CMS Issues FAQ on Topics Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
• 4/14 Congressional Research Service: COVID-19 and the Indian Health Service
• 4/13 The Harvard Project – COVID-19 Resources for Indian Country Toolbox
• HHS 4/8: Indian Health Service Expands Telehealth Services During COVID-19 Response
• Akin Gump: Interactive map that provides current information on U.S. state, county and local government business closure and stay-at-home orders.
• Surviving Isolation
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
  • Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Pandemic: Eligible Emergency Protective Measures
  • Current Process for Tribal Governments to Request a Presidential Declaration
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response: Tribal Recipients (fact sheet)
• 3/24 Congressional Research Service: Senior Nutrition Programs’ Response to COVID-19
• Washington State American Indian Health Commission Resources
• Council on Governmental Relations developed a list of resources related to the Institutional Agency Responses
• Information about requesting items from the Strategic National Medical Stockpile
• PowerPoint for Community Education
• Keep up to date with the latest coronavirus-related scams at www.ftc.gov/coronavirus or by signing up to get these consumer alerts
• CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity Group has compiled all COVID- 19 webinars on the TRAIN Learning Network. Once you create an account and log in, you can access COVID-19 training.
• CMS: Telehealth Toolkit for General Practitioners
• CMS: End-Stage Renal Disease Providers Toolkit
• FEMA: Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis, stay informed with FEMA’s updated myth vs. facts related to the federal COVID-19 response.
• CNN: How to coronavirus-proof your home tip sheet
• Indian Country Today launches weekday broadcast to cover COVID-19
• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Section 106 and Coronavirus Questions & Answers for Indian Tribes
• Native Governance Center: guide with tips for Indigenized communication during COVID-19
• 4/10 Federal Agency Information to Prevent Frauds and Scams
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has tips to avoid scams related to COVID-19 and identifies critical infrastructure during COVID-19.
  • HHS warns about Medicare, COVID-19 testing and treatment scams.
  • DOJ is investigating and prosecuting Coronavirus scams and fraud.
  • FBI is seeing a rise in Coronavirus scams, including fake emails from the CDC, and fraudulent testing and medical equipment like face masks.
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has COVID-19 scam information and is taking action against companies marketing fraudulent COVID-19 treatments.
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation warns consumers about potential scams.
  • Social Security Administration warns Americans about fraudulent letters threatening the suspension of Social Security benefits.
  • U.S. Postal Inspection Service tips for avoiding and reporting fraud.

Resources for Grants Management

• 8/31 National Grants Management Association: COVID Allowability Documentation and How to Avoid Audit Findings
• 6/18 OMB Memo M 20-26: Extension of Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by COVID-19 Due to Loss of Operations
• OMB: Guidance on Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by COVID-19
• 3/19 OMB Memo M-20-17: Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by COVID-19 due to Loss of Operations
• 3/9 OMB Memo M-20-11: Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by COVID-19

WE HAVE SEEN FAKE GRANT COMMUNICATION CIRCULATING CONCERNING NON-COMPLIANCE. MAKE SURE TO VALIDATE ANY/ALL GRANT COMMUNICATIONS TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE NOT THE VICTIM OF A SCAM.

Resources for Healthcare Personnel

• 1/13/21 Provider Relief Fund FAQs:
  • Full FAQs
  • FAQs added since 12/5/20
• 12/16 CMS: COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers
• 11/12 HSDW Client Memo: Summary of new HHS reporting and recordkeeping requirements on the use of Provider Relief Funds – General and Targeted Distribution Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements 11/2
• Rural Health Information Hub: Rural Healthcare Surge Readiness
• 8/21 CMS: Rural Crosswalk: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19
• 7/16 CDC: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE and Equipment
• 6/30 CMS: Updated COVID-19 FAQs
• 6/29 FEMA and HHS ASPR: New England Tribal Testing and Contact Tracing Strategy
• 6/28 CDC: Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers
• 6/9: IHS has established a Critical Care Response Team of health care professionals that can be mobilized to provide urgent lifesaving medical care to COVID-19 patients admitted to IHS or Tribal hospitals. They can also provide hands-on clinical education to help train frontline health care professionals to manage COVID-19 patients and other critically ill patients.
• 5/29 CDC: Discontinuation of Home Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 (Interim Guidance)
• 5/22 CDC: Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• 5/12 NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines
• 5/5 HSDW Health Care Memorandum: CMS Broadens Flexibilities to Address COVID-19
• 4/30 CDC: Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• 4/30 AMA COVID-19 video: The pandemic’s impact on the Native American population
• 4/20 New England Journal of Medicine: How to Obtain a Nasopharyngal Swab Specimen
• 4/14 Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee: COVID-19-Related Income: Marketplace and Medicaid Eligibility
• 4/10: CMS Introduces Medicaid Diagnosis Code for COVID-19
• 4/10 HHS: Letter and FAQs to Hospital Administrators
• 4/7 CMS: Dear Clinician Letter with links to helpful information
• 4/7 CDC: Personal protective equipment (PPE) burn rate calculator
• 3/27 IHS DTLL re: Coronavirus Funding from Families First Coronavirus Relief Act
• CDC: Get Your Clinic Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• CDC: COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Healthcare Providers Fact Sheet
• CDC COVID-19 Case Report Form, COVID-19 Case Report Form Instructions, Data dictionary, and supplemental guidance regarding specimen collection, storage, and shipping to CDC laboratories
• CMS: COVID-19 testing is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace plans. For Tribal-specific resources, visit the CMS enrollment assistance webpage.
• Federal Healthcare Resilience Task Force: Toolkit on Alternate Care Sites
• Information about requesting items from the Strategic National Medical Stockpile
• HHS Office for Civil Rights: OCR Announces Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC HHS): COVID-19 Outpatient Triage and Assessment Guidance
• NC HHS: Interim guidance for use of personal protective equipment
• A diagram for general steps that Tribal clinics established to collect of drive-up samples
• 3/24 Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana media advisory: Coushatta Tribe and Vivera Pharmaceuticals Join Forces in Fight Against COVID-19
• OB/GYN items of interest:
  • Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology COVID-19 toolkit
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists COVID-19 resources
  • UCSF COVID-19 resources
  • California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative resources
  • CDC guidance about pregnancy and breastfeeding

Resources for Housing Personnel

Behavioral Health Resources

• Resource from SAMHSA’s National AI/AN Prevention Technology Transfer Center: Prevention in the Midst of Crisis (December 2020)
• Pathways RTC: Telehealth for Transition Age Youth and Young Adults (tip sheet); Supporting Youth Peer Support Specialists During COVID-19 (webinar recording)
• SAMHSA: Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19 (updated 8/21)
• CDC’s How Right Now initiative is a communication initiative focused on mental health and emotional well-being amid the COVID-19 pandemic and reopening of the country
• Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network – Tips for Using Videoconferencing to Deliver Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Services
• Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network – Virtual Learning Guide
• COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub
• SAMHSA: Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health – Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak
• SAMHSA: Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
• American Psychological Association (APA): Keeping Your Distance to Stay Safe
• APA: Five Ways to View Coverage of the Coronavirus
• CDC: Coping with Stress
• The Native Wellness Institute is bringing uplifting messages, information, entertainment and tools to help your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. They will have programming for all ages and stages. LIVE each day at Noon Pacific on the Native Wellness Institute Facebook page!
• IHS: Resources for Mental Health Programs
• Online 12 Step Meetings
• Free App to Support People in Recovery During COVID-19 Outbreak

Resources for Pandemic Preparedness and Plans

• Information about requesting items from the Strategic National Medical Stockpile
• CDC: Pandemic Planning and Preparedness Resources
• CDC: Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs)
• EBCI: DRAFT Pandemic Flu Plan
• Tribal Pandemic Influenza Plan
• Pandemic Flu Checklist for local Health Departments

Resources for Telemedicine

• HSDW 4/3: CMS’ Informational Bulletin on Medicaid Telehealth Flexibilities
• CMS 4/2: Rural Health Care and Medicaid Telehealth Flexibilities
• CMS: Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet
• CMS Press Release: President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak
• CMS Press Release: CMS Publishes FAQs to Ensure Individuals, Issuers and States have Clear Information on Coverage Benefits for COVID-19
• CMS: COVID-19 FAQs for Essential Health Benefits
• CMS: CMS Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit
• CMS: Services payable under Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth

Resources for Parents and Caregivers

Explore the National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Knowledge 360° and their lessons and resources. Learn about current and future exhibits, including Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation’s Armed Forces, Americans, and Developing Stories: Native Photographers in the Field.

Check out our other resources, including tips for talking to children about the coronavirus and tips for keeping kids busy while keeping yourself calm.

Print Resources for Communication – fact sheets, flyers, and posters

• 9/16: Face Masks and COVID-19: What Community Members Need to Know
• USET Coronavirus Fact Sheet
• 7/30: NIHB Community Health Tools – one-page fact sheets on various COVID-19 issues
• Share Facts about COVID-19
• What you need to know
• Stop the spread of germs
• What to do if you are sick
• Get your Clinic Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019
• 10 ways to manage respiratory symptoms at home
• If you have these symptoms, please see the front desk immediately
• Please read before entering
• Stay Healthy Wash Your Hands
• Wash Your Hands
• Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands
• Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
• Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
• Prevention Steps for Caregivers and Household Members of Individuals with COVID-19
• What People with Diabetes Should Know
• Common Questions and Answers for Tribal Elders
• Information for People Who Have Had Close Contact with Someone with COVID-19
• Stay at home if you are sick!
• What Tribal Members need to know about COVID-19
• Elder Mental Health during COVID-19
• Native Realities has worked with some of the best Native comic artists and graphic designers to bring you a series of C-19 Health Propaganda Posters!

Education Resources

• Society for Research in Child Development: New Briefs Address Inequities in Education During COVID-19 and How Education Policy and Schools Can Support Marginalized Children and Youth
• 7/2 BIE: School Reopening Plan
• 7/1 CDC: Considerations for K-12 Schools – Readiness and Planning Tool
• 7/1 Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs: DTLL and Indian Affairs COVID-19 Adaptive Operations Recovery Plan
• 5/19 CDC: Considerations for Schools
• 5/14 NIEA: Survey on Impact of COVID-19 in Native Schools
• 4/10 CDC: Interim guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Childcare Program: Plan, Prepare, and Respond to COVID-19
• 3/14 BIE: BIE-Funded School Closure Guidance Memorandum
• 3/14 BIA: Dear School Leaders Letter – Guidance and Communications Protocols
• BIA: School Closures (as of March 23, all 185 BIE schools are closed)
• Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center: Responding to COVID-19
• The Readiness Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center has useful information, resources, trainings, and tools for addressing infectious diseases, related topics, and protecting the school community
• Fact Sheet: Impact of COVID-19 on Assessments and Accountability under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• 3/20: Helping Students Adversely Affected by School Closures, Secretary DeVos Announces Broad Flexibilities for States to Cancel Testing During National Emergency
• Federal Student Aid: Coronavirus Information for Students, Borrowers, and Parents
• AISES Together Towards Tomorrow Fund: Provides Native American/Indigenous undergraduate/graduate students enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university who have been affected by COVID-19 a one-time scholarship of $500

Resources for Tribal Administrators, Managers, and Teleworkers

• Native Learning Center Hoporenkv Podcast: Responding To a Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis in the Workplace
• COVID-19 Emergency Sick and Family Leave: What Employers Need to Know
• Tips for Managers/HR While Working from Home
  • Manager/Employee Relations
  • How to Run an Effective Virtual Meeting
  • How to Manage Your Team from Home
  • 7 Tips to Remotely Manage Your Team
• Improving Your Work from Home Experience
  • 32 Tips to Make Working from Home Easier
  • 5 Tips for Staying Productive and Mentally Healthy While You’re Working from Home
  • 7 Effective Ways to Work from Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak
  • Keeping Your Mind and Body Healthy