COVID-19: Resources and Materials for Indian Country
COVID-19: Indian Country
There
are seven Indian reservations in Montana.
In 'normal' times, each of these locations confronts significant challenges
resulting from very high unemployment, substance abuse, teen-age pregnancy, hunger and
inadequate housing, every day.
The
results of these and other factors are devastating. The Montana Healthcare Foundation summarized it this way:
In a 2014 report on the health of Montanans,
the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services documented severe
health disparities among American Indians living in Montana. The report found
that American Indians in Montana die at a median age of 50 years (more than 20
years earlier than non-Indian Montanans). Death rates for specific illnesses,
including heart disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses, injuries, and suicide
are substantially higher as well.
COVID-19 only serves to exacerbate these dreadful statitisics, especially for those with heart disease and respiratory illnesses.
The Center for American Indian Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at
Johns Hopkins University has a treasure trove of information and available resources specifically
tailored for the needs of those in Indian Country.
There site has a page devoted to providing instruction and materials to contain and prevent the spread the virus.
1. Provider
- Elder Mental Health during COVID-19 - for Care
Providers (pdf)
- Stress and Anxiety Management for Providers during
COVID-19 (pdf)
2. Caregiver
- Elder Mental Health During COVID-19 - for Care
Providers (pdf)
- How to Care for Someone at Home during COVID-19
(pdf)
- Positive Parenting during COVID-19_JHU (pdf)
- Tips for Elders and their Caregivers during COVID-19
(pdf)
3. General Public
- Caring for Yourself at Home during COVID-19 (pdf)
- How to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
in the Home (pdf)
- Stay Home to Protect You and Your Family Against
COVID-19 (pdf)
- What Tribal Members Need to Know about COVID-19 -
general use (pdf)
4. Tribe Specific
- What Navajo Tribal Members Need to Know about
COVID-19 (pdf)
- What White Mountain Apache Tribal Members Need to
Know about COVID-19 (pdf)
The following materials can be customized with tribal name and
local contact number. If a tribal community needs help with customizing the
materials or would like to do further customization like adding their logo to
the flyer, we are happy to help, but they must contact Rose Weeks at
rweeks@jhu.edu for assistance.
- What Tribal Members Need to Know about
COVID-19 (pdf)
- What Tribal Members Need to Know about COVID-19 (Word)
Social Media Materials:
The Indian Health Services (IHS), the principal healthcare provider on Indian reservations, provides the following information about COVID-19 in Indian Country.
Resources
available for clinicians:
- CDC: Clinician Outreach and
Communication Activity (COCA)
- IHS Clinical Resources for Providers: COVID-19
Materials
developed for Tribal use:
- Fillable General Fact Sheet for
Tribes [PDF - 208 KB]
- How to Prevent the Spread of
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Home [PDF - 2 MB]
- Tips for Elders and Their
Caregivers [PDF - 376 KB]
- What Tribal Members need to know
about COVID-19 [PDF - 213 KB]
Frequently
asked questions.
Q: Where can I find the most-up-to-date
information?
A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website is the best place to
find comprehensive updated information and guidance on COVID-19, including
information on symptoms, treatment, schools, quarantine, travel, etc.
Q: How is the IHS working with federal,
tribal, and urban Indian health facilities to promote awareness of changing
guidelines, protocols, and processes related to COVID-19?
A: IHS headquarters is holding weekly conference
calls with tribal and urban Indian health organization leaders from across the
country to provide updates, answer questions, and hear concerns from tribal
communities. Additionally, IHS area offices provide technical assistance and
support to tribal and urban Indian programs. For federal staff, IHS
headquarters is holding regular all-employee conference calls and communicating
through email updates. Area chief medical officers are in regular communication
with clinical directors at all IHS facilities. We are actively extending
outreach to all within the federal, tribal and urban clinical communities
regarding webinar and similar resources as they become available from the CDC
.
Q: How is IHS working across the
Departments of the federal government to ensure a comprehensive holistic
approach to addressing COVID-19 in Indian Country?
A: The IHS is in constant communication with the CDC
and other operating divisions across the Department of Health and Human
Services. In addition, the IHS is in close communication with the White House
and other non-HHS Departments across the federal government to ensure
comprehensive communication is shared with Indian Country.
Q: What is IHS doing to ensure the
protection of their providers as they test and treat individuals for COVID-19?
A: The IHS is following CDC guidance for health care
professionals. Many of our service units are screening individuals for COVID-19
prior to entering our health facilities to determine their risk for COVID-19
and to prevent additional infections within our facilities. Individuals
suspected of having COVID-19 will be given a mask and cared for separately from
other patients in a designated area with a provider. The National Supply
Service Center is distributing personal protective equipment
(PPE) and other supplies to regional centers and to IHS, tribal, and urban
facilities as quickly as possible to address supply shortages. We are exploring
every avenue to acquire more supplies.
Q: Is it safe to travel?
A: The CDC continues to provide regular updated travel guidance 
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