Native American Heritage Month, New Long COVID Resources, New POP Webinars

Native American Heritage Month

November is recognized across the United States as Native American Heritage Month. Washington is home to 29 federally recognized Tribes who deeply enrich the quality and character of our state. This month and every month, we celebrate the contributions and heritage of these remarkable Americans and honor the diverse cultures and peoples of Indian Country. 

Despite their significant contributions, however, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in Washington experience disparities in many areas of health and health care, including COVID-19 health outcomes and vaccination rates. Not only is COVID-19 the leading cause of death for AI/AN Americans across the country but Tribal communities in the state experience COVID-19 case rates at almost twice the rate of white residents, and COVID-related hospitalization and death rates that are more than twice as high. Although AI/AN residents had the highest completion rates for their primary COVID-19 vaccination series in the early stages of the pandemic, fewer have taken advantage of the latest COVID-19 vaccine for updated protection.

We hope that the following resources will support you in serving your American Indian and Alaska Native patients, and that you will share them with others in your community:

• Calls and webinars and other community health tools from the National Indian Health Board.
• Outreach materials and other community resources such as video and radio PSAs, customizable social media graphics, conversation guides, and patient handouts from the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.
• Urban Indian Health Institute’s COVID-19 resources website, which includes a messaging guide, video series, and downloadable posters, fact sheets, and social media graphics.
• Culturally Inclusive Healthcare: Honoring Traditions for a Healthier Tomorrow webinar, public health campaigns, and other COVID-19 resources from the National Council of Urban Indian Health.

New Long COVID Resources

In addition, you can register now for two new POP peer-to-peer learning webinars on Long COVID.

• January 12: Post COVID-19 Conditions: Diagnosis and Management Options with Dr. Anita Chopra and Dr. Janna Friedly
• February 16: Post COVID-19 Conditions: Expanding Our Understanding of Long-term Sequelae of COVID-19 with Dr. Eric Chow

Check out DOH’s Long COVID website for more information on Long COVID prevention and treatment.

More Peer-to-Peer Learning Webinars 

The recording and slides from Vaccine Fatigue: Addressing the Elephant in the Room with Dr. Gretchen LaSalle are now available on our webinar page.

Register for these upcoming webinars:

Kira Mauseth, PhD a clinical psychologist, senior instructor, and consultant. 

All POP webinars are from noon to 1:00 p.m. PT.  

Continuing education credits are available for nurses and medical assistants for all webinars listed. We continue to pursue CME credits for physicians as well and will provide information on how to apply for credit prior to each event.​ 

We remain thankful to you for all the ways you contribute to the health of our state and hope you are able to enjoy some warm times with loved ones this month.

Power of Providers (POP) Team  

Prevention and Community Health Division  

Washington State Department of Health  

360-236-2662 | powerofproviders@doh.wa.gov