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SAMHSA releases Tribal Behavioral Health grants totaling $7 million to provide support to Native American communities   The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released 29 Tribal Behavioral Health Grants for $7 million to Native American communities.   SAMHSA’s Centers for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program (Native Connections) funds are devoted to preventing suicide and substance misuse, reducing the impact of trauma, and promoting mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) young people up to and including 24 years old.   “Too often, American Indian and Alaska Native communities see disproportionately higher rates of behavioral health needs,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, who leads SAMHSA. “Our Native Connections program’s goals are to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders for communities, foster culturally responsive models that reduce and respond to the impact of trauma there, and enable communities to facilitate collaboration among agencies to support young people as they transition into adulthood.”   Read More

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration  5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 USA 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) | www.samhsa.gov | Privacy

FEMA Announces Initial Initiatives to Advance Equity July 2021

FEMA announced two initiatives to advance equity across the agency, which are part of the agency’s efforts to focus on reducing barriers and increasing opportunities.

The two major initiatives are the formation of an Equity Enterprise Steering Group and the establishment of a robust stakeholder engagement process to develop the agency’s 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan. Both initiatives include internal and external stakeholders to reflect the agency’s commitment to advancing equity. These actions are just the first of many planned for the coming months.

Too many disaster survivors face barriers in accessing assistance programs and resources to support their recovery. Certain populations – specifically low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, people with disabilities and older adults, those with language barriers and those living in rural and isolated areas – are disproportionately impacted by disasters. FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance programs do not exacerbate existing unequal conditions.

“We’re turning a page at FEMA and infusing equity throughout our agency, programs, and policies to better serve people who face unique barriers before, during and after disasters,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Systemic racism across institutions and society has sidelined generations of people of color and low-income households and that practice needs to end.”

The new Equity Enterprise Steering Group is focused on assessing issues like access and delivery of FEMA programs, services, and activities. Members include representatives from each of the major offices across the agency and is co-chaired by the Office of Equal Rights and the Office of Response and Recovery. The group is designed to drive forward our commitment to equity in every part of the agency, not just certain programs. 

FEMA is developing the 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan through input from stakeholders within the agency and beyond to reflect a whole of community perspective. Stakeholders will inform the agency’s goals and objectives, with equity as a foundational priority for the coming years.

“As emergency managers, we must meet people where they are. Our first steps forward will shape future decisions by engaging our teams, partners, key stakeholders, and the public to boost access and reduce barriers,” Criswell said. “In time, we hope our work will ultimately lead to systematic generational change for underserved populations in disaster-prone communities.”

Increasing Additional Equitable Measures

FEMA continues to use equity as a lens to drive response operations and deliver better services to marginalized and other vulnerable populations. While FEMA continues to work towards creating equitable outcomes for survivors, the agency is working within its specific authorities and responsibilities to make changes, including: 

• Spearheading a successful Community Vaccination Centers Mission to combat COVID-19 and administer vaccinations, in which more than 58% of all vaccines were given to individuals of color, provides a model for how equity considerations can be incorporated into other policies and programs.
• Establishing three new positions in the National Response Coordination Center to address equity during all large-scale response operations with other federal agencies. Those positions include a civil rights advisor, an accessibility compliance leader, and a tribal recovery position.
• Encouraging active employee engagement to ensure internal discussions generate new ideas on workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diverse organizations such as FEMA’s Employee Resource Groups and other employee-led groups have partnered with senior leadership to seek ideas and input.
• Hosting a Command and General Staff “Equity Stand Down” with over 400 FEMA field leaders on August 4-5. This will provide critical information on civil rights law, equity “levers” field leaders can pull to enhance equity, and training on how to use the many tools available within FEMA to incorporate equity into tactical decision making (e.g., where to place Disaster Recovery Centers).
• Issuing a request for information and began soliciting public comment on our programs to help identify regulations and policies that may benefit from modification, streamlining, expansion or repeal to better address climate change and underserved communities and populations. The request for information will remain open until July 21.
• Assessing several programs to determine where the agency can make improvements and where there is a need for support from other federal partners and the legislative branch.
• Expanding eligibility criteria for Critical Needs Assistance to include applicants who state they have a need for shelter but have not been able to leave their damaged dwelling.
• Expanding access by integrating a Documentation Drop Off Center model for Disaster Recovery Centers that enables survivors to submit documentation in-person, notifies survivors when a representative is available, and provides estimated wait times.

 

Join FEMA July 28 to Learn About Climate Change, Future Conditions, and Nature-Based Solutions

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Division invites you to a webinar that will provide an overview and examples of climate change, future conditions and how nature-based solutions can help build community resilience against these issues. Additionally, panelists from FEMA, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will discuss best practices when considering applications to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. Title: Climate Change, Future Conditions, and Nature-Based Solutions Date: Weds., July 28, 2021 Time: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1 p.m. CT, 12 p.m. MT, 11 a.m. PT) Adobe Connect: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/bric-and-fma-series-2021/ Phone: 886-448-3399 View HMA's schedule for the 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance Programs' Webinar Series. The webinars will run July 28 through Oct. 13. Note: Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting.

VA Careers "Talk About It Tuesday" LinkedIn Live broadcast on July 27th

 

#VetResources is a weekly newsletter for Veterans, their Families, Caregivers, and Survivors.  VIEW/SHARE | EVENTS | WELCOME KIT | PODCAST

Work at VA, join us in our mission to support Veterans VA Careers "Talk About It Tuesday" LinkedIn Live broadcast on July 27th features special guest Angie Weldon, Director, Human Capital Management Operations, Office of Information and Technology. Join our broadcast at noon to hear Ms. Weldon discuss IT Careers at VA. The monthly VA Careers Virtual Open House will feature law enforcement careers on Wednesday, July 28. Participants can also meet with VA recruiters to learn about available nursing and physician careers. Seats are limited.  VISIT VA CAREERS

2021 Fall Nutrition Course

 

 

Photo by: Jonathan Fong

2021 Fall Nutrition Course  NUSCTX 20 Personal Food Security and Wellness Join Today See course details here.