Health conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 are leading to negative health consequences—ranging from rejecting behaviors like mask wearing and social distancing to vaccine resistance. While traditional health education works well for the “vaccine-hesitant” population who simply has questions, those same traditional methods fall flat with the “vaccine-resistant” population who consumes online health conspiracies.
May 17, 2021
Dear Tribal Leaders, Public Health Officials, and Indian Country Professionals,
On behalf of the White House Covid Response Team, please join us for a White House Tribal Covid-19 Update.
EVENT: White House Tribal Covid-19 Update
TIME: 4:30 PM EST
REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE for weekly calls from May 19 through July 28
Please Note: This call is closed press and not for attribution.
We will continue to send weekly reminders about this recurring meeting to those on our listserv and look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday!
Thank you,
Tribal Affairs Team
Office of the Secretary | Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
FEMA released the “COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery,” a document aimed at helping emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
FEMA is offering a series of webinars throughout the month of June to further educate people on the pandemic operational guidance:
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Attend on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month (register)
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET / 1:00-2:00 p.m. CT / Noon-1:00 p.m. MT
11:00 a.m-Noon PT /10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. AK
Contact: ihsECHO@salud.unm.edu
The IHS COVID-19 sessions convene IHS, tribal and urban area providers from around the U.S., many working in rural areas with limited resources, in crucial real-time, peer-to-peer clinical learning.
IHS national clinical consultants for Emergency Medicine and Infectious Disease present and lead discussions on topics including
This allows local providers and national experts to discuss urgent focus areas and new developments in COVID-19 screening, treatment, and management of post-infection syndromes.
The sessions occur on the first and third Thursday of each month and include a clinical update by the IHS Chief Clinical Consultant for Infectious Disease, an update from IHS headquarters, case presentations and a brief didactic presentation.
To submit a Covid-19 case for review and recommendations, please use the Case Presentation Form.
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The National Council of Urban Indian Health's Technical Assistance and Research Center (TARC) proudly presents "Learning to Love Ourselves: Incorporating Compassion Care In Our Work.” This special mental wellness for healthcare workers session is focused on compassion fatigue and burnout due to COVID-19, and its impact within AI/AN communities. Participants can learn about self-assessment strategies and tools for cultivating wellness from within ourselves and our environment.
Objectives
Presenter: Dr. Bonnie Duran, Professor at University of Washington School of Social Work & Indigenous Wellness Research Institute
Dr. Duran addresses stress, fatigue, and burnout, among frontline health care workers across Indian Country. She is a leading expert on mindfulness and processes related to Indigenous Healing and meditation for all ages.
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Every other Thursday at 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Eastern
A link to RSVP is provided shortly before each call and will be added here ASAP.
Note: You must RSVP to join the call. Upon successful registration, you will receive a confirmation email with dial-in instructions.
On June 2, President Biden announced a “Month of Action” focused on helping Americans get vaccinated in the lead-up to July 4th, and the White House would like to invite you to a special Month of Action kick-off call this Friday, June 4th at 4pm ET featuring Congressman Cedric Richmond, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and remarks from Vice President Kamala Harris! You can RSVP here, and all are welcome. You can read about the Month of Action, and sign up to take action if you haven’t done so already. We look forward to seeing you Friday!
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The National Indian Health Board (NIHB), in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will be hosting a Community Based Organization (CBO) Vaccine Toolkit Discussion Group on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm ET.
This discussion group will feature an overview of the CBO Vaccine Toolkit. The toolkit was designed to help CBOs educate communities and promote vaccines as a prevention tool by sharing clear and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines. There will also be an overview of new communication tools for adolescent vaccination.
Following the overview there will be an opportunity for discussion and community feedback.
Who should attend?
This discussion group is open to any interested person, but is likely most relevant to Tribal public health professionals, Tribal health departments, staff of Tribal organizations and those working at social service organizations, schools, or work with elders.
For questions, please contact Courtney Wheeler at cwheeler@nihb.org.
***If you were previously registered to attend the CBO Vaccination Toolkit Discussion Group on Thursday, May 20, 2021 you have automatically be registered for the reschedule discussion group. You will not have to register again.
Presenter:
Stefanie A. Erskine, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stefanie is a behavioral scientist who leads evaluation of social marketing campaigns in the Prevention Communication Branch within CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. She first came to CDC in 2002 as an ORISE Fellow with the Antibiotics Aware campaign (formally Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work). Subsequently, she worked for the National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) and was instrumental in establishing CDC-INFO. Stefanie was the Director of Evaluation at the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools (AMHPS), a nonprofit organization in Atlanta that aimed to increase ethnic and racial minority participation in the health professions. Throughout her career she’s been involved in a variety of projects including designing and implementing interventions, program evaluations, and conducting behavior change research with vulnerable populations. She has worked on the frontlines of numerous emergency responses including Ebola, Zika, and now COVID-19. She is in her third deployment to the ongoing COVID-19 response, where she leads stakeholder engagement for CDC’s Vaccine Task Force communications team.
Stefanie holds a BA in Sociology from Spelman College, a MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan, was trained in evaluation at the Evaluation Center located at Western Michigan University, and is completing a DrPH at the University of Georgia. Most importantly, she’s a proud, hands-on mother to three daughters ranging in age from 10 to 23 years. She is a self-professed NPR and podcast addict who enjoys traveling, storytelling, music, art, design, and spending time with interesting people.
FEMA released the “COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery,” a document aimed at helping emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
FEMA is offering a series of webinars throughout the month of June to further educate people on the pandemic operational guidance:
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The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides the largest single infusion of federal funding into Indian Country in the history of the United States. More than $32 billion is directed toward assisting American Indian nations and communities as they work to end and recover from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic – which was made worse in Indian Country precisely because such funding has been so long overdue.
From setting tribal priorities, to building infrastructure, to managing and sustaining projects, ARPA presents an unprecedented opportunity for the 574 federally recognized tribal nations to use their rights of sovereignty and self-government to strengthen their communities. As the tribes take on the challenges presented by the Act, the Ash Center’s Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development presents a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts.
This second session, titled “Where Other ARPA Monies Live -- How to Avoid Tribes Leaving $12 Billion on the Table” will feature a range of experts including:
Watch Session 1, “How Tribal Governments Can and Can’t use ARPA,” of Navigating the American Rescue Plan Act: A Series for Tribal Nations.
Registration is required for this event. Please register using the link above to receive details via email for how to join the virtual discussion.
You can submit questions to the panelists in advance during the registration process. A live Q&A will also be available during the event with an option to submit questions in real-time.
The Ash Center encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its events. Should you wish to inquire about an accommodation, please contact our events team at info@ash.harvard.edu prior to the event.
Additional questions? Email the Ash Center events team at info@ash.harvard.edu.
May 17, 2021
Dear Tribal Leaders, Public Health Officials, and Indian Country Professionals,
On behalf of the White House Covid Response Team, please join us for a White House Tribal Covid-19 Update.
EVENT: White House Tribal Covid-19 Update
TIME: 4:30 PM EST
REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE for weekly calls from May 19 through July 28
Please Note: This call is closed press and not for attribution.
We will continue to send weekly reminders about this recurring meeting to those on our listserv and look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday!
Thank you,
Tribal Affairs Team
Office of the Secretary | Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
FEMA released the “COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery,” a document aimed at helping emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
FEMA is offering a series of webinars throughout the month of June to further educate people on the pandemic operational guidance:
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The second Friday of each month (effective June 1, 2021): USET COVID-19 ECHO The session will include updates related to Indian Country, updates on the status of COVID-19 in the USET region, and an opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice.
Fridays at 11:00 AM Central (join)
Agenda
Join by phone only at any of the following numbers using meeting ID 918 0885 1929:
646-558-8656; 253-215-8782; 301-715-8592; 346-248-7799. Press *6 to mute your line.
**Continuing education credits are NOW available for these sessions.**
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Attend the Town Hall (A recording will also be available at this link after the event.)
Colleagues,
Thank you again for your partnership over the past months to work towards our shared goals on the national vaccination effort. It has been a pleasure to work together to expand vaccine access, confidence, and equity.
On behalf of the White House COVID-19 Response Team and the U.S. Surgeon General, I am pleased to invite you and your health department to a virtual town hall on Primary Care Providers, Health Systems, and the Next Phase of the Vaccination Rollout. The event is on Friday, June 11, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET.
The event will be an opportunity to thank primary care providers and health systems for their service to their patients, state, and country throughout the COVID-19 response and vaccine rollout. It will focus on the importance of primary care providers and health systems in further expanding efforts to administer vaccination programs and educate their patients on the vaccine, as well as the tools the federal government is providing to support them.
The event will feature five conversations with primary care providers, health system leaders, and state health officials on innovative approaches they are taking to patient outreach and implementing vaccination program at primary care provider offices. Each conversation will be chaired by a different public health leader from the Biden Administration – Dr. Fauci, Dr. Walensky, Dr. Murthy, Dr. Nunez-Smith, and myself.
Thank you,
Dr. Bechara Choucair; National Vaccinations Coordinator, White House COVID-19 Response Team
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HHS/OASH Region IV ORHO and Health Equity Council invite you to join a COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Listening Session featuring the Tennessee Department of Health’s Elizabeth Hart, Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Engagement.
May 17, 2021
Dear Tribal Leaders, Public Health Officials, and Indian Country Professionals,
On behalf of the White House Covid Response Team, please join us for a White House Tribal Covid-19 Update.
EVENT: White House Tribal Covid-19 Update
TIME: 4:30 PM EST
REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE for weekly calls from May 19 through July 28
Please Note: This call is closed press and not for attribution.
We will continue to send weekly reminders about this recurring meeting to those on our listserv and look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday!
Thank you,
Tribal Affairs Team
Office of the Secretary | Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
FEMA released the “COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery,” a document aimed at helping emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
FEMA is offering a series of webinars throughout the month of June to further educate people on the pandemic operational guidance:
FEMA released the “COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery,” a document aimed at helping emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
FEMA is offering a series of webinars throughout the month of June to further educate people on the pandemic operational guidance:
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A few minutes before the webinar begins, please join.
OR
Dial-in US:+1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 or +1 669 216 1590 or +1 551 285 1373
Webinar ID:160 782 6639
Passcode: 183098
OR
One-tap mobile:
US: +16692545252,,1607826639#,,,,*183098# or +16468287666,,1607826639#,,,,*183098#
Overview
During this COCA Call, clinicians will learn about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new interim guidance which provides a framework for healthcare providers in their initial assessment, evaluation, management, and follow-up of persons with possible post-COVID conditions. Post-COVID conditions refer to the wide range of physical and mental health consequences experienced by some patients that are present four or more weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection, including by patients who had initial mild or asymptomatic acute infection. Post-COVID conditions are still being characterized and include symptoms such as cognitive difficulties, fatigue, headache, dyspnea, and palpitations. Subject matter experts, physicians, and patient representatives from across the United States collaborated to develop the new guidance. Rapid recognition by healthcare providers of patients with post-COVID conditions and multidisciplinary care using the assessments and approaches described in this guidance could improve the wellbeing and treatment of people with post-COVID conditions.
Jennifer R. Chevinsky, MD, MPH, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Post-COVID-19 Conditions Unit, COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Alex Vosooney, MD, Chair, Subcommittee on Clinical Recommendations and Policies, American Academy of Family Physicians
Michael Saag, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director, UAB Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama Birmingham
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Attend on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month (register)
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET / 1:00-2:00 p.m. CT / Noon-1:00 p.m. MT
11:00 a.m-Noon PT /10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. AK
Contact: ihsECHO@salud.unm.edu
The IHS COVID-19 sessions convene IHS, tribal and urban area providers from around the U.S., many working in rural areas with limited resources, in crucial real-time, peer-to-peer clinical learning.
IHS national clinical consultants for Emergency Medicine and Infectious Disease present and lead discussions on topics including
This allows local providers and national experts to discuss urgent focus areas and new developments in COVID-19 screening, treatment, and management of post-infection syndromes.
The sessions occur on the first and third Thursday of each month and include a clinical update by the IHS Chief Clinical Consultant for Infectious Disease, an update from IHS headquarters, case presentations and a brief didactic presentation.
To submit a Covid-19 case for review and recommendations, please use the Case Presentation Form.
Join the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health for an informational session with Dr. Sophina Calderon (Diné, Family Physician and Deputy Chief of Staff, Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, Navajo Nation), who will share examples from her own practice as well as address audience concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccine for youth in Tribal communities.
Your participation is encouraged! Submit your questions when you register.
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Every other Thursday at 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Eastern
A link to RSVP is provided shortly before each call and will be added here ASAP.
Note: You must RSVP to join the call. Upon successful registration, you will receive a confirmation email with dial-in instructions.
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Webinar Recording, PowerPoint, and Supporting Document (Helpful Links)
The Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC) invites you to participate in a Webinar that will provide an overview on the use of IHS and tribal funding in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the new Reporting Requirements for the Department of Health and Human Services' Provider Relief Fund established by the Coronavirus, Aid, Security and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The ARPA provides $1.9 trillion worth of funding to support COVID-19 relief and vaccination efforts and includes over $31 billion specifically for tribal communities. This $31 billion includes $20 billion for Tribal governments and over $6 billion specifically for Native health systems.
The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund provided $175 billion in direct relief funding for health care providers for expenses and lost revenues due to coronavirus. HHS recently updated its Reporting Requirements for recipients of Provider Relief Funds. The first reporting period begins on July 1, 2021.
Panelists will summarize the main provisions and funding made available to Tribes and Tribal Organizations under the ARPA and the new reporting requirements for the Provider Relief Fund.
As always, we will allow time for discussion and questions/answers.
If you have questions, please contact Cyndi Ferguson, TSGAC ACA/IHCIA Project Lead, at cyndif@senseinc.com.
Facilitator: Cyndi Ferguson, SENSE Incorporated
Elliott A. Milhollin, Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP
Adam P. Bailey, Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP
Joint BIA/IHS TEAMS call with Eastern Region Tribal Leaders
2:00 pm CT
June 23
To provide support and communication to Tribes within the Eastern Region, BIA, IHS, and OJS leadership have scheduled a call via TEAMS to be held Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 2:00 PM (CST) for a forum to provide information related to the American Recovery Plan (APR) funds.
A TEAMS invite will be sent separately. The TEAMS platform allows for a call-in option.
If you should need any additional details to participate in this call, please contact Tiffany Crennel at Tiffany.Crennel@bia.gov or 615-788-2509.
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From setting tribal priorities, to building infrastructure, to managing and sustaining projects, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) presents an unprecedented opportunity for the 574 federally recognized tribal nations to use their rights of sovereignty and self-government to strengthen their communities. As the tribes take on the challenges presented by the Act, the Ash Center’s Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development is hosting a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts.
During this discussion, the third in the series, each panelist presentation will be followed by a brief Q+A session to maximize the opportunities for audience participation.
This session is titled “A Conversation with Bryan Newland – How Tribes Can Maximize their American Rescue Plan Opportunities” and will feature:
Registration is required for this event. Please register using the link above to receive details via email for how to join the virtual discussion.
You can submit questions to the panelists in advance during the registration process. A live Q&A will also be available during the event with an option to submit questions in real-time.
The Ash Center encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its events. Should you wish to inquire about an accommodation, please contact our events team at info@ash.harvard.edu prior to the event.
Additional questions? Email the Ash Center events team at info@ash.harvard.edu.
May 17, 2021
Dear Tribal Leaders, Public Health Officials, and Indian Country Professionals,
On behalf of the White House Covid Response Team, please join us for a White House Tribal Covid-19 Update.
EVENT: White House Tribal Covid-19 Update
TIME: 4:30 PM EST
REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE for weekly calls from May 19 through July 28
Please Note: This call is closed press and not for attribution.
We will continue to send weekly reminders about this recurring meeting to those on our listserv and look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday!
Thank you,
Tribal Affairs Team
Office of the Secretary | Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
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The National Indian Health Board in partnership with ASU School of Social Work are excited to announce the NIHB Health Learning Event being held on June 24th, 2021.
Sessions will occur online via zoom meetings and will focus on Suicide Prevention, Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence Prevention/Intimate Partner Violence and topics related to the COVID-19 crisis.
Attendees will earn approximately 4.5 hours of CEUs depending on type. We will be providing the following continuing education:
NAADAC - Addictions Counseling: http://www.naadac.org/ which is typically accepted by most licensing and certification bodies.
NASW: Approved by National Association of Social Works, Arizona Chapter for licensed Social Workers.
APA: The Training Institute-Southwest Behavioral Health is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
NBCC: The Training Institute-Southwest Behavioral Health has been approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6368.
Please contact sswevents@asu.edu with any questions.
You are invited to join Vice President Kamala Harris for a special virtual event on the National Vaccine Month of Action today, Thursday, June 24th at 4:15pm ET. Please RSVP to attend or tune in to the livestream here: whitehouse.gov/live
During this event, the White House will provide an update on the Month of Action and how you can get involved in the lead up to July 4th. We hope you can make it!
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Treasury recently published Draft FAQs for Payments by Indian Tribal Governments to their Individual Members Under COVID-Relief Legislation. The Draft FAQs provide general information on the federal income tax treatment and required reporting for these payments and refer to CARES Act, CAA, and ARP emergency relief payments collectively as “COVID relief payments.” Treasury is seeking your feedback on the federal income tax treatment of COVID relief payments.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is seeking consultation on the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act as it pertains to Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act. The SSA seeks recommendations on a process to identify tribal members who have received COVID relief payments, identify tribal members who were denied or received reduced benefits as a result of COVID relief payments considered as income when determining eligibility for SSI or other Social Security benefits and confirm that COVID relief payments are part of a needs-based program administered by or on behalf of the Tribe.
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NOAA Fisheries leadership will hold a Webinar on June 25, 2021 from 3-4:30pm (Eastern Time) to answer questions about the application (see information below). All tribal leaders representing Federally-recognized tribes are encouraged to attend. Natural Resource/Fishery Leads and tribal staff engaged in the application process are also welcome to attend.
Webinar information
Date: June 25, 2021
Time: 3-4:30pm ET
Conference Line: 1-877-716-4288 or 1-630-395-0424
Passcode: 6268962
URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/
Conference number: PWXW2188616
Audience passcode: 6268962
Participants can join the event directly at: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PWXW2188616&p=6268962&t=c
NOAA Fisheries Coronavirus response and relief Application for Federally Recognized Tribes - Division M of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Act) provides $30M to Federally recognized tribes in appropriated funds to assist fishery participants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The funding is for Federally recognized tribes in any of the Nation’s coastal States, Great Lakes States and territories for direct and indirect fishery economic related losses as well as subsistence, cultural and ceremonial impacts related to COVID 19. Impacted tribes will need to apply for funding using the provided instructions and revenue template. Applications are due July 12.
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Last week Treasury released Compliance and Reporting Guidance for all eligible governments on reporting and compliance for the Fiscal Recovery Funds. As noticed last week, we have a tribal information session scheduled for June 28, 2021 at 3pm-4pm EDT (register for the session). Treasury has received Tribal feedback on the reporting guidance and we look forward to receiving further questions during our information session. Additionally, we will be issuing a forthcoming update to address tribal inquiries on the reporting guidance.
Each Tribal government is required to meet compliance and reporting responsibilities, as defined in the Interim Final Rule and further described in the Compliance and Reporting Guidance. The Reporting Guidance requires program and performance reporting to build public awareness, increase accountability, and monitor compliance of eligible uses. Treasury will begin to accept Interim Reports in August 2021 and will issue a User Guide and other reference materials by the beginning of August. Interim Reports are due by August 31st. Please check Treasury’s website frequently for updates.
Each Tribal government must submit an Interim Report by August 31, 2021, which covers the period from March 3 to June 30, 2021 and includes a summary of spending by expenditure category (see Reporting Guidance Appendix for a list of expenditure categories). In addition, each Tribal government must submit a quarterly Project and Expenditure Report beginning on October 31, 2021 and every quarter thereafter.
For more information, please visit Treasury’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for Tribal Governments website.
Indian Country,
The White House invites you to join a briefing about the Child Tax Credit with the White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling (register for the briefing). We hope that you can join us to learn more about how the Child Tax Credit will help Native American families.
Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan provides the largest Child Tax Credit ever and historic relief to the most working families ever.
Find more information at https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/.
May 17, 2021
Dear Tribal Leaders, Public Health Officials, and Indian Country Professionals,
On behalf of the White House Covid Response Team, please join us for a White House Tribal Covid-19 Update.
EVENT: White House Tribal Covid-19 Update
TIME: 4:30 PM EST
REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE for weekly calls from May 19 through July 28
Please Note: This call is closed press and not for attribution.
We will continue to send weekly reminders about this recurring meeting to those on our listserv and look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday!
Thank you,
Tribal Affairs Team
Office of the Secretary | Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Department of Health and Human Services