Health Professions Preparatory, Pregraduate, and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs

AGENCY:

Indian Health Service, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of Availability of Funds for Health Professions Preparatory, Pregraduate, and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001.

SUMMARY:

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is publishing a Notice of Availability of Funds for Health Professions Preparatory, Pregraduate, and Indian Health Professions Scholarship Programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001.

The IHS announces the availability of approximately $3,593,000 to fund scholarships for the Health Professions Preparatory and Pregraduate Scholarship Programs for FY 2001 awards. These programs are authorized by section 103 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), Pub. L. 94-437, as amended by Pub. L. 100-713, Pub. L. 102-573, and Pub. L. 104-313.

The Indian Health Scholarship (Professions), authorized by section 104 of the IHCIA, Pub. L. 94-437, as amended by Pub. L. 100-713, by Pub. L. 102-573, and by Pub. L. 104-313 has approximately $8,372,000 available for FY 2001 awards. Full-time and part-time scholarships will be funded for each of the three scholarship programs.

Full-time and part-time scholarships will be funded for each of the three scholarship programs.

The Indian Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship is listed as No. 93.123 in the office of Management and Budget Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). The Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarship is listed as No. 93.971, and the Indian Health Scholarship (Professions) is listed as No. 93.972 in the CFDA.

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 2010, a PHS-led activity for setting priority areas. This program announcement is related to the priority area of Education and Community-Based Programs. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2010, (Full Report; Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2010 (Summary Report; Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Telephone 202-783-3238).

DATE:

The application deadline for both new and continuing applicants is April 1, 2001. If April 1 falls on the week-end, the application will be due on the following Monday. Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received by the appropriate Scholarship Coordinator on the deadline date or postmarked on or before the deadline date.

(Applicants should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.) Applications received after the announced closing date will be returned to the applicant and will not be considered for funding.

ADDRESSES:

Application packets may be obtained by calling or writing to the addresses listed below. The application form number is IHS 856, 856-2 through 856-8, 815, 816, 818 (approved under OMB No. 0917-0006, expires 04/30/01).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please address application inquiries to the appropriate Indian Health Service Area Scholarship Coordinator. Other programmatic inquiries may be addressed to Ms. Rose Jerue, Chief, Scholarship Branch, Indian Health Service, Twinbrook Metro Plaza, Suite 100, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone 301-443-6197. (This is not a toll-free number.) For grants information, contact Mr. Al Whiteman, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and Grants Operations, Indian Health Service, Room 100, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone 301-443-5204. (This is not a toll-free number.)

A. General Program Purpose: These grants programs are intended to encourage American Indians and Alaska Natives to enter the health professions and to assure the availability of Indian health professions to serve Indians.

B. Eligibility Requirements: 1. The Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship awards are made to American Indians or Alaska Natives who meet the criteria in section 4(c) of the IHCIA, as amended, who have successfully completed high school education or high school equivalency and who have been accepted for enrollment in a compensatory, pre-professional general education course or curriculum. Support is limited to 2 years for full-time students and the part-time equivalent of 2 years not to exceed 4 years for part-time students.

2. The Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarship awards are made to American Indians or Alaska Natives who meet the criteria in section 4(c) of the IHCIA, as amended, who have successfully completed high school education or high school equivalency and who have been accepted for enrollment or are enrolled in an accredited pregraduate program leading to a baccalaureate degree in pre-medicine or pre-dentistry. Support is limited to 4 years for full-time students and the part-time equivalent of 4 years not to exceed 8 years for part-time students.

3. The Indian Health Scholarship (Professions) may be awarded only to an individual who is a member of a federally recognized tribe as provided by section 104, 4(c), and 4(d) of the IHCIA. Membership in a tribe recognized only by a state does not meet this statutory requirement. To receive an Indian Health Scholarship (Professions) an otherwise eligible individual must be enrolled in an appropriately accredited school and pursuing a course of study in a health profession as defined by section 4(n) of the IHCIA. Support is limited to 4 years for full-time students and the part-time equivalent of 4 years not to exceed 8 years for part-time students.

Awards for the Indian Health Scholarships (Professions) will be made in accordance with 42 CFR 36.330. Recipients shall incur a service obligation prescribed under section 338C of the Public Health Service Act (43 U.S.C. 244m) which shall be met by service:

(1) in Indian Health Service;

(2) in a program conducted under a contract or compact entered into under the Indian Self-Determination Act;

(3) in a program assisted under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (Pub. L. 94-437) and its amendments; and

(4) in private practice of his or her profession, if the practice (a) is situated in a health professional shortage area, designated in regulations promulgated by the Secretary and (b) addresses the health care needs of a substantial number of Indians as determined by the Secretary in accordance with guidelines of the Service;

Pursuant to the Indian Health Amendments of 1992 (Pub. L. 104—313), a recipient of an Indian Health Professions Scholarship may, at the election of the recipient, meet his/her active duty service obligation prescribed under section 338c of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254m) by a program specified in options (1)-(4) above that:

(1) is located on the reservation of the tribe in which the recipient is enrolled; or

(ii) serves the tribe in which the recipient is enrolled.

In summary, all recipients of the Indian Health Scholarship (Professions) are reminded that recipients of this scholarship incur a service obligation. Moreover, this obligation shall be served at a facility determined by the Director, IHS, consistent with IHCIA, Pub. L. 94-437, as amended by Pub. L. 100-713, and Pub. L. 102-573.

C. Fund Availability: Both part-time and full-time scholarship awards will be made in accordance with regulations at 42 CFR Part 36.320, incorporated in the application materials, for Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program for Indians and 42 CFR Part 36.370, incorporated in the application materials, for Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarship Program for Indians. Approximately 238 awards, 100 of which are continuing, will be made under the Health Professions Preparatory and Pregraduate Scholarship Programs for Indians. The awards are for 10 months in duration and the average award to a full-time student is approximately $18,000. In FY 2001, approximately $1,500,000 is available for continuation awards and approximately $2,250,000 is available for new awards.

Approximately 393 awards, 179 of which are continuing, will be made under the Indian Health Scholarship (Professions) Program. Awards will be made to both full-time and part-time students. The awards are for 12 months in duration and the average award to a full-time student is for approximately $19,000. In FY 2001, approximately $3,410,000 is available for continuation awards, and $4,485,000 is available for new awards.

No more than 20% of available funds will be used for part-time scholarships this fiscal year. Students are considered part-time if they are enrolled for a minimum of 6 hours of instruction and are not considered in full-times status by their college/university. Documentation must be received from part-time applicants that their school and course curriculum allows less than full-time status.

D. Criteria for Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:

1. Needs of the IHS. Applicants are considered for scholarship awards based on their desired career goals and how these goals relate to current Indian health manpower needs. Applications for each health career category are reviewed and ranked separately.

2. Academic Performance. Applicants are rated according to their academic performance as evidenced by transcripts and faculty evaluations. In cases where a particular applicant's school has a policy not to rank students academically, faculty members are asked to provide a personal judgement of the applicant's achievement. Health Professions applicants with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 are not eligible to apply.

3. Faculty/Employer Recommendations. Applicants are rated according to evaluations by faculty members and current and/or former employees regarding the applicant's potential in the chosen health related professions.

4. Stated Reasons for Asking for the Scholarship and Stated Career Goals. Applicants must provide a brief written explanation of reasons for asking for the scholarship and of career goals. The applicant's narrative will be judged on how well it is written and content.

5. Applicants who are closest to graduation or completion are awarded first. For example, senior and junior applicants under the Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarship receive funding before freshmen and sophomores.

E. Priority Categories: Regulations at 42 CFR 36.304 provide that the IHS shall, from time to time, publish a list of health professions eligible for consideration for the award of Indian Health Professions Preparatory and Pregraduate Scholarships and Indian Health Scholarships (Professions). Section 104(b)(1) of the IHCIA, as amended by the Indian Health Care Amendment of 1988, Pub. L. 100-713, authorizes the IHS to determine specific health professions for which Indian Health Scholarships will be awarded. The list of priority health professions that follow, by scholarship program, and based upon the needs of the IHS as well as upon the needs of the American Indians and Alaska Natives for additional service by specific health profession.

1. Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Scholarships. Below is the list of disciplines to be supported and priority is based on academic level:

A. Pre-Dietetics.

B. Pre-Engineering.

C. Pre-Medical Technology.

D. Pre-Nursing.

E. Pre-Pharmacy.

F. Pre-Physical Therapy.

G. Pre-Social Work (Jr and Sr undergraduate years).

2. Health Professions Pregraduate Scholarships. Below is the list of disciplines to be supported and priority is based on academic level: Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman:

A. Pre-Dentistry.

B. Pre-Medicine.

3. Indian Health Scholarships (Professions). Below is a list of disciplines to be supported and priority is based on academic level, unless specified: Graduate, Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman:

A. Associate Degree Nurse.

B. Chemical Dependency Counseling.

C. Civil Engineering: B.S.

D. Clinical Psychology: Ph.D. only

E. Coding Specialist: Certificate

F. Dentistry

G. Dietician: B.S.

H. Environmental Engineering: B.S.

I. Health Education: Masters level only.

J. Health Records: R.H.I.T. and R.H.I.A.

K. Injury Prevention Specialist

L. Medical Social Work: Masters level only.

M. Medical Technology: B.S.

N. Medicine: Allopathic and Osteopathic.

O. Nurse: B.S.*

P. Nurse: M.S.*

Q. Nurse: R.N.A.

* (Priority consideration will be given to Registered Nurses employed by the Indian Health Service; in a program assisted under a contract entered into under the Indian Self-Determination Act; or in a program assisted under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.)

R. Optometry.

S. Para-Optometric.

T. Pharmacy: B.S., Pharm D.

U. Physician Assistant.

V. Physical Therapy.

W. Podiatry: D.P.M.

X. Public Health: M.P.H. only (Applicants must be enrolled or accepted in a school of public health in specialty areas such as Dietetics and Community Development in health).

Y. Public Health Nutrition: Masters level only.

Z. Radiologic Technology: Certificate, Associate, and B.S.

AA. Respiratory Therapy: Associate

BB. X-Ray Ultrasonography.

Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible health and allied health professions is effective for applicants for the 2001-2002 academic year. These priorities will remain in effect until superseded. Applicants for health and allied health professions not on the above priority list will be considered pending the availability of funds and dependent upon the availability of qualified applicants in the priority areas.