WIC is Open during the government shutdown!

gov shutdown

 

WBW

Every year, ITCA WIC local agencies highlight the importance of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding by celebrating National Breastfeeding Month during the month of August. ITCA WIC plays an important role in the promotion and support of breastfeeding on many of the Tribal Lands throughout Arizona. Breastfeeding is a team effort! When fathers, partners, families, hospitals, workplaces and communities support nursing moms, breastfeeding improves.

This year, ITCA WIC will be celebrating National Breastfeeding Month by encouraging clients to participate in a virtual Latch On throughout the month. Post your sweetest brelfie (breastfeeding selfie), a cherished photo, or your personal breastfeeding story – let’s fill our feeds with love, strength, and support!    Make sure to tag us and use #ITCAWICBreastfeeds.

ITCA WIC is proud to support breastfeeding and we are excited to share a variety of events around the state in honor of Breastfeeding Month! Check out all the opportunities to get involved below:

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community WIC
Breastfeeding Event:
Baby Bash & Support
Date/Time: Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location:  River People Health Center Lobby
Description of Event: Programs tabling to provide information that will help support breastfeeding mothers and families.  We will have light snacks and healthy drinks.  Raffles throughout the event for families and more.

Gila River Indian Community WIC
Breastfeeding Event:
Breastfeeding Celebration Luncheon
Date/Time: Friday, August 8, 2025 from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location:  Commodity Foods Warehouse – Sacaton, AZ
Description of Event: Winnie the Pooh-themed baby shower even

Colorado River Indian Tribes WIC
Breastfeeding Event:
National Breastfeeding Week
Date/Time: Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Location:  CRIT WIC Clinic – 13350 1st Ave., Parker, AZ
Description of Event: Walk-in event with poster board presentation, breastfeeding incentive, and breastfeeding certificate

White Mountain Apache Tribe WIC
Event:
Breastfeeding Celebration Luncheon
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: WIC Conference Room
Description of Event: Invitation only luncheon with our breastfeeding moms/babies, questions/comments with an Indigenous Lactation Consultant, incentive give away, and games if time permits.

Native Health WIC
Podcast Information – Coming Soon

Hopi Tribe WIC
Event:
Breastfeeding Fun Run/Walk
Dates/Times/Location: August 12, 2025 at the Hopi Tribal Complex in Kykotsmovi from 12 pm – 1 pm and August 13, 2025 at the Hopi Health Care Center in Polacca from 12 pm – 1 pm.

Event: Breastfeeding Craft n’ Learning
Date/Time: August 27, 2025 from 6 pm – 8 pm
Location: Hopi Health Care Center
Description of Event: At this event we will begin crafting medicine breasts while we provide breastfeeding information.

Pascua Yaqui Tribe WIC
Event:
National Breastfeeding Month Carnival Celebration
Date and Time: Friday, August 1, 2025, from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center – Tucson, Arizona
Description of Event: Our Carnival will promote breastfeeding benefits, support our breastfeeding community, and celebrate our breastfeeding families. Our resource fair will include other health departments that will bring family-friendly games to engage and support breastfeeding. We will have music, food, and a scavenger hunt filled with breastfeeding myths and facts to send the community home with something meaningful.

2025 National Breastfeeding Month Weekly Observances

Week 1 (August 1-7): World Breastfeeding Week & National WIC Breastfeeding Week

Week 2 (August 8-14): Indigenous Milk Medicine Week

Week 3 (August 15-21): Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week

Week 4 (August 25-31): Black Breastfeeding Week

Week 5 (September 1-7): Workplace Lactation Week

Week 6 (September 3-9): Semana de La Lactancia Latina 

 

 

Addressing Maternal Health Disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

American Indian and Alaska Native women face maternal mortality rates two to three times higher than white women, driven by systemic inequities and under-resourced care. Over 90% of these deaths—often linked to mental health and hemorrhage—were preventable, underscoring the urgent need for culturally competent, data-informed solutions.

Addressing Maternal Health Disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

The Need to Do More Than Screen

A Mother’s Story: Beyond the Checklist
Emily Johnson’s story sheds light on Postpartum Anxiety and suicidal thoughts and how screening alone isn’t alone isn’t enough. Her experience highlights the urgent need for invlusive, culturally responsive mental health care that truly supports all birthing people. Read her story.

A Mother’s Story: Postpartum Anxiety and Suicidal Thoughts and the Need to Do More Than Screen

Indian Health Service access and health insurance coverage associated with higher quality perinatal care among American Indian and Alaska Native people

A new School of Public Health study finds that perinatal care among AI/AN people is insufficient for many, but access to Indian Health Service care and health insurance coverage may help.

click here to learn more

Dismantling Disparities: Rejecting DEI Comes at a Cost We Cannot Afford

Prioritizing DEI in maternal healthcare helps create a fairer system where all women receive quality care, leading to better health outcomes and a stronger, more equitable society.

click here to learn more

Food Insecurity in Pregnancy, Receipt of Food Assistance, and Perinatal Complications

“In this cohort study, food insecurity in pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of perinatal complications, and these associations were overall attenuated to the null among individuals who received food assistance in pregnancy. These findings support clinical guidelines of screening for food insecurity in pregnancy and provide evidence to expand food assistance programs that may help improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.” See link for more information.

Food Insecurity in Pregnancy, Receipt of Food Assistance, and Perinatal Complications

Find Birthing Resources

      Search provided by WP Store Locator

      Indigenous doulas helping Native moms take back their health after centuries of discrimination

      “Now, organizations across North America are resuscitating the practice of Indigenous doulas. They’re training them to offer culturally safe, emotional and physical care, relying on traditional knowledge and reestablishing their place in the health care system: by the sides of Indigenous birthing women, where today’s doulas say they were always meant to be.” Read more below!
      Indigenous doulas are helping Native moms take back their health after centuries of discrimination

      National Indian Health Board Tribal Prenatal-to-Three Policy Agenda

      The National Indian Health Board developed the Tribal Prenatal-to-Three Policy Agenda to raise
      awareness regarding the most impactful and culturally appropriate policy levers and strategies
      to support American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health and wellbeing in the earliest years
      of life, from the prenatal period through age 3. These recommendations chart a path forward to
      health equity and improved outcomes for AI/AN families, infants, and toddlers.
      2024 Tribal Prenatal-To-Three Policy Agenda

      MHI Tribal Maternal Health Strategic Plan

      ITCA_MaternalHealth_Secondary Logo_Black

      In 2020, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA), was contracted by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to develop a strategic plan in collaboration with tribal maternal health professionals. The Maternal Health Innovation program is funded nationally by HRSA and is designed to assist states in collaborating with maternal health experts and optimizing resources to implement state-specific actions that address disparities in maternal health and improve maternal health outcomes.

      Program Purpose:

      The purpose of the Maternal Health Innovation Program is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in American Indian communities in Arizona.

      MHI Program Goals

      1. Improve maternal mortality and morbidity in Tribal communities
      2. Improve access to maternal health data surveillance
      3. Improve maternal health partnerships between tribal communities and the state

      Strategic Plan Image

      Maternal Health Resources

      ITCA_MaternalHealth_Secondary Logo_BlackPublic Health and Policy Resources
      Governmental and large-scale health and policy organizations addressing maternal and child health (MHI) broadly.

      • Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
      • ADHS Women’s and Children’s Health
      • CDC: Maternal Mortality
      • CDC: Hear Her Campaign
      • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
      • HRSA Tribal Affairs
      • Indian Health Service (IHS)
      • Medicaid Innovation Collaborative
      • Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
      • National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
      • Public Health Shift (Maricopa)
      • American Public Health Association (APHA)
      • Doula Medicaid Project
      • Doula Medicaid Resource Library
      • Best Practices for Medicaid Coverage for Doula Care
      • Pregnancy Related Deaths: Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees
      • American Indian/Alaska Native Pregnancy Related Deaths: Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees
      ________________________________________
      Indigenous and Tribal Maternal Health Resources
      Organizations and initiatives supporting Indigenous and tribal maternal health needs.

      • Native Health
      • Native Birthworkers
      • Cihuapactli Collective
      • Seattle Urban Natives
      • Native American Women’s Dialogue on Infant Mortality (NAWDIM)
      • Family Spirit Program
      • Indigenous Midwifery
      • Paths Remembered
      • Arizona Birthworkers of Color
      • Indigenous Birth
      • Navajo Nation Institute (NNI)
      • Labriola National American Indian Data Center
      • Indian Country ECHO
      • Native Reach
      • Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (AASTEC)
      • National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH)
      • Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care (AACIHC)
      ________________________________________
      Maternal Support, Education, and Community Initiatives
      Community-focused organizations, advocacy groups, and educational resources for maternal health.

      • Spinning Babies
      • Evidence-Based Birth
      • Doula Match
      • Candelen.org
      • Healthy Families Arizona
      • March of Dimes
      • Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center
      • Support Birth
      • PSI Arizona
      • Spiritual Garden Healing
      • CityMatCH
      • Brazelton Touchpoints: Indigenous Early Learning
      • CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance – NNI Database
      ________________________________________
      Research, Data, and Specialized Maternal Programs
      Research organizations and specialized initiatives for advancing maternal health and well-being.

      • Seven Directions Indigenous Public Health Institute
      • Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health (CIH)
      • Maternal and Child Health Bureau
      • Reproductive Grief Care
      • Brazelton Touchpoints Center
      • Safe to Sleep Campaign (NICHD)
      • First Things First
      • Arizona Perinatal Trust
      • Rural Development (USDA)
      • Fatherhood Initiative
      ________________________________________
      Substance Use Resources
      Research and resources to support recovery and well-being.

      • Opioid Service Locator
      • Arizona Pregnant and Parenting Women Resource Guide
      • Supporting Recovery with Pregnant, Birthing and Parenting People Living with Substance Use Disorder
      • AZ Mental Health Map

      Related Resources for Further Learning

      Toolkits

      Social Media Toolkit
      ITCA is pleased to provide a social media toolkit for tribal health programs to promote perinatal health in their communities. This is a living document that will be updated periodically as we add new information so check back often! There are also links to presentations on how to share maternal health research findings using social media.

      Click here to access the social media toolkit

      Disseminating Maternal Health Research Findings on Social Media

      Practical Steps for Using Social Media to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes

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      Implementing a Tribal Maternal Health Task Force Toolkit

      PatientInfo

      Data Reports

      AZ Tribal Needs Assessment ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS 2024 Health Profile ADHS Health Status Profile SMM Report ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile

      Tribal Maternal Health Steering Committee Meetings

      The steering committee is composed of health care, community health, traditional healers, and other maternal health professionals who work with pregnant women and those of childbearing age in tribal communities across Arizona. Meetings are designed to share data, best practices, and new ideas to support pregnant people and their families. The Steering Committee also informs ITCA’s work on implementation of the Tribal Maternal Health Strategic Plan.

      If you would like to participate in steering committee meetings, contact Wendell Honanie, Jr. at wendell.honanie@itcaonline.com.

      Infographics

      Funding for this was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

       

      The ITCA Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed and distributed the infographics below to support tribal communities in responding to GHWIC tobacco topics. Tribes are welcome to download, print, and distribute these materials. Please contact ITCA HHS staff if you have any questions about the materials, if you’d like to add your Tribe seal to the infographic, if you want to request development of a infographic related to the GHWIC Strategy Areas, or experience any difficulty in downloading the files.

      Tobacco

      • Electronic Smoking Devices

      Electronic Smoking Devices

      • Smokeless Tobacco

      Smokeless Tobacco

      • Pregnancy & Smoking

      Pregnancy & Smoking

      • Secondhand Smoke & Children

      Secondhand Smoke & Children

      • Diabetes & Smoking

      Smoking & Diabetes

      • Heart Disease & Tobacco

      Heart Disease & Tobacco

       

      ITCA GHWIC Funding Opportunity

      Funding for this was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

       

      Recorded Zoom Meeting

      Note: All meeting times are listed in Mountain Standard Time (MST). 

      A Cultural Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) Funding Opportunity

      Resources:

      Consumer Alerts

      Emergency Preparedness

      Food Safety Information

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      Things you Need to know

      WATCH OUT FOR Spoofing SCAMS!!!

      What is a Spoofing Scam?

      A Spoofing scam is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally, but also can be used legitimately, for example, to display the toll-free number for a business.

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      Medicare Open Enrollment 

       Protect Yourself from Marketing and Enrollment Fraud 

      Watch out for people who:

      • Pressure you to join their plan
      • Tell you they represent Medicare and want to offer you a service for free
      • Call you or visit your house without your permission to offer services or equipment
      • Offer free consultations only to people with Medicare and ask for your Medicare number
      • Inform you that you will lose your Medicare benefits unless you sign up for a certain plan.

      If you feel you have experienced marketing violations or enrollment fraud:

      • Save all documents or suspicious information (marketing materials, business cards, voicemails)
      • Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). You can visit www.smpresource.org or call 877-808-2468 to find your local SMP.

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      2024 Open Enrollment Medicare coverage  for Part D is from October 15 to December 7.

      During this annual enrollment period (AEP) individuals can make changes to various aspects of your coverage.

      • You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.
      • You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another.
      • And if you didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so during the general open enrollment, although a late enrollment penalty may apply.

      If you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must meet some basic criteria.

      *If you are an American Indian /Alaskan Native and utilize Indian Health Services, You will need to know that Medicare Advantages plans are not accepted by your local IHS facility.

      Auto-renewal is available

      • If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan and you don’t want to make changes to your coverage for 2019, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment, assuming your current plan will still be available in 2019.
      • If your plan is being discontinued and isn’t eligible for renewal, you would have received a non-renewal notice from your carrier prior to open enrollment. If you didn’t, it means you can keep your plan without doing anything during open enrollment.

      Benefits and Premium changes for 2024

      • Be aware that your benefits and premium could be changing for 2024. So even if you’re confident that you want to keep your current coverage for the coming year, it’s important to make sure you understand any changes that may apply, and that you’ve double checked to make sure that your current plan is still the best available option. The available plans and what they cover changes from one year to the next, so even if the plan you have now was the best option when you shopped last year, it’s important to verify that again before you lock yourself in for another year.

      * Medicare General Enrollment for Part A & Part B  is in January 1 – March 31 of every year 

      When considering a Part D plan:

      • Does the plan cover all the medications I take?
      • Does the plan have restrictions on my drugs, such as prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits?
      • How much will I pay for monthly premiums and the annual deductible?
      • How much will I pay at the pharmacy for each drug I take?
      • Is my pharmacy in the plan’s preferred network?
      • Can I fill my prescriptions by mail order?
      • What is the plan’s star rating?

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      Public Benefit Outreach Flyer

      ICIN Resources

      ICIN Resources

      Resources listed here are for Tribal Law Enforcement and Tribal Communities for information and reporting purposes:

      ICIN Links

      State of Arizona Links:

      Law Enforcement:

      Certification:

      Intelligence and Criminal Justice:

      Federal Links:

      Law Enforcement Organizations:

      Title III & VI Monitoring

      FY 2024 ITCA-AAA Title III & VI Monitoring Schedule

      FY24 TIII & TVI Monitoring Schedule

      FY 2022 Monitoring Schedule:

      FY22 Title III & Title VI Monitoring Schedule

      FY 2020 Monitoring Schedule:

      FY2020 Title III ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule

      FY 2019 Monitoring Schedule:

      FY2019 ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule Rev. 2.28.19

      FY 2018 Monitoring Schedule:

      Rev. 5.18.18_FY2018 ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule 

      FY2018 Monitoring Checklist for Admin, C1 & C2 Services

      FY 2017 Monitoring Schedule:

      FY2017 ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule

      FY2017 Monitoring Checklist 12.6.16

      Technical Assistance to Tribal Communities

      The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) Tribal Water System Program is dedicated to providing technical assistance to tribes in order to develop technical, managerial, and financial capacity (TMF), as well as water & wastewater utility sustainability through education, access to resources, training, and technical assistance. The program partners with federal agencies and other organizations to ensure these services are available to Tribal Water Utility operators and managers.

      Want to Learn more? CLICK HERE

      Title III – Recorded Webinars

      Caregiver Webinars:

      New Caregiver Reporting Forms Webinar 10/30/17

      pp reporting forms 10.28.17 (Handout)

      Recent Webinars:

      FY 2016 Closeout Discussion (June 22, 2016) 

      DAARS Recorded Tutorials: 

      Title III Congregate Meals – 9.29.15

      DAARS Tutorial – Adding New Authorization Period 11.09.15 

      DAARS Tutorial Annual Reassessment 11.04.15 

      Recorded Webinars: 

      Q&A DAARS Session (Recorded Webinar) – 9/30/2015

      FY2016 Title III Program Manager’s Meeting – 10/6/2015
      FY 2016 Title III Service Reporting PPT_10.6.15 (Handout)

      Title VI Manual & Forms

      Eligibility Requirements for Title VI Funds

      • American Indian/Alaska Natives
      • Funds are to be used for elders (Tribe determines age of elders)
      • The spouse of an eligible individual
      • Volunteers who assist during mealtimes
      • Persons with a disability who reside with eligible individuals

      Administration on Aging Title VI Resource Manual

      Title VI Annual Program Performance Report (PPR)

      Title VI Quarterly Program Performance Report (PPR) for ITCA Consortium Tribes Only

      Helpful Websites

      Contact

      Laurai AtcittyAAA Director
      Laurai.Atcitty@itcaonline.com

      Mary WestonAAA Program Manager
      Mary.Weston@itcaonline.com

      Jackie EdwardsFamily Caregiver Support Program Coordinator
      Jackie.Edwards@itcaonline.com

      Nanette Taho, AAA Program Manager
      Nanette.Taho@itcaonline.com

      Roxanne Thomas, AAA Program Specialist II
      Roxanne.Thomas@itcaonline.com

      Flor Olivas, AAA Tribal Ombudsman Specialist II
      Flor.Olivas@itcaonline.com