[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66410-66412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27680]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


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) 2003.

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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) 
2003.
    The IHS announces the availability of approximately $3,750,000 to 
fund scholarships for the Health Professions Preparatory, and 
Pregraduate Scholarship Programs for FY 2003 awards. These programs are 
authorized by section 103 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act 
(IHCIA), Public Law 94-437, as amended by Public Law 100-713, Public 
Law 102-573, and Public Law 104-313.
    The Indian Health Scholarship (Professions), authorized by section 
104 of the IHCIA, Public Law 94-437, as amended by Public Law 100-713, 
by Public Law 102-573, and by Public Law 104-313 has approximately 
$8,215,500 available for FY 2003 awards.
    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, D.C. 20402-9325 (Telephone 202-783-3238).

DATES: The application deadline for both new and continuing applicants 
is February 28, 2003. If February 28 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 accepted 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 12/31/2004)).

 
 
 
IHS Area office and States/locality  Scholarship coordinator/address:
 served:
    Aberdeen Area IHS: Iowa,            Ms. Alice LaFontaine,
     Nebraska, North Dakota, South       Scholarship Coordinator,
     Dakota.                             Aberdeen Area IHS, Federal
                                         Building, Room 309, 115 4th
                                         Avenue, SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401,
                                         Tele: (605) 226-7553.
    Alaska Area Native Health           Ms. Rea Bavilla, Scholarship
     Service: Alaska.                    Coordinator, Alaska Area IHS,
                                         4141 Ambassador Drive, Rm. 349,
                                         Anchorage, Alaska 99508, Tele:
                                         (907) 729-1332.
    Albuquerque Area IHS: Colorado,     Ms. Alvina Waseta, Scholarship
     New Mexico.                         Coordinator, Albuquerque Area
                                         IHS, 5300 Homestead Road, NE,
                                         Albuquerque, NM 87110, Tele:
                                         (505) 248-4513.
    Bemidji Area IHS: Illinois,         Mr. Tony Buckanaga, Scholarship
     Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,       Coordinator, Bemidji Area IHS,
     Wisconsin.                          522 Minnesota Avenue, NW,
                                         Bemidji, MN 56601, Tele: (218)
                                         759-3415.
    Billings Area IHS: Montana,         Mr. Sandy Macdonald, Scholarship
     Wyoming.                            Coordinator, Billings Area IHS,
                                         Area Personnel Office, PO Box
                                         36600, 2900 4th Avenue, North,
                                         Billings, MT 59103, Tele: (406)
                                         247-7210.
    California Area IHS:                Ms. Mona Celli, Scholarship
     California, Hawaii.                 Coordinator, California Area
                                         IHS, 650 Capitol Mall, 3rd
                                         Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814,
                                         Tele: (916) 930-3981.
    Nashville Area IHS: Alabama,        Ms. Alvina Waseta, Scholarship
     Arkansas, Connecticut,              Coordinator, Nashville Area
     Delaware, Florida, Georgia,         IHS, 5300 Homestead Road, NE,
     Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,         Albuquerque, NM 87110, Tele:
     Maryland, Massachusetts,            (505) 248-4513.
     Mississippi, New Hampshire,
     New Jersey, New York, North
     Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
     Rhode Island, South Carolina,
     Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia,
     West Virginia, District of
     Columbia.
    Navajo Area IHS: Arizona, New       Ms. Roselinda Allison,
     Mexico, Utah.                       Scholarship Coordinator, Navajo
                                         Area IHS, P.O. Box 9020, Window
                                         Rock, AZ 86515, Tele: (520) 871-
                                         1358.
    Oklahoma City Area IHS: Kansas,     Mr. Jim Ingram, Scholarship
     Missouri, Oklahoma.                 Coordinator, Oklahoma City Area
                                         IHS, HC 67, Box 132, Marietta,
                                         OK 73448, Tele: (580) 276-5983.
    Phoenix Area IHS: Arizona,          Lena Fasthorse, Scholarship
     Nevada, Utah.                       Coordinator, Phoenix Area IHS,
                                         Two Renaissance Square, 40
                                         North Central Avenue, Suite
                                          600, Phoenix, AZ
                                         85004, Tele: (602) 364-5220.

[[Page 66411]]

 
    Portland Area IHS: Idaho,           Ms. Janelle Langland,
     Oregon, Washington.                 Scholarship Coordinator,
                                         Portland Area IHS, 1220 SW
                                         Third Avenue, Rm. 440,
                                         Portland, OR 97204-2892, Tele:
                                         (503) 326-2625.
    Tucson Area IHS: Arizona, Texas     Ms. Malinda Paul, Scholarship
                                         Coordinator, Tucson Area IHS,
                                         7900 South ``J.'' Stock Rd.,
                                         Tucson, AZ 85746, Tele: (520)
                                         295-2441.
 


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please address application inquiries 
to the appropriate Indian Health Service Area Scholarship Coordinator. 
Other programmatic inquiries may be addressed to Capt. Patricia Yee-
Spencer, Acting Chief, Scholarship Branch, Indian Health Service, 801 
Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone (301) 
443-6197. (This is not a toll free number.) For grants information, 
contact Mr. Bernard Covers Up, Grants Scholarship Coordinator, Grants 
Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and Grants Operations, 
Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, 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 
professionals 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:
    (i) 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 2003, 
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 $23,000. In FY 2003, approximately $3,410,000 is 
available for continuation awards, and $4,485,000 is available for new 
awards.
    No more than 5% 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-time 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

[[Page 66412]]

asked to provide a personal judgment 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 employers 
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 part 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 (Jr and Sr undergraduate years).
    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: Baccalaureate and Masters level.
    C. Clinical Psychology: Ph.D. only
    D. Coding Specialist: Certificate
    E. Counseling Psychology: Ph.D. only
    F. Dental Hygiene: B.S.
    G. Dentistry: B.S, and M.S.
    H. Diagnostic Radiology Technology: Certificate, Associate, and 
B.S.
    I. Dietitian: B.S.
    J. Engineering (Civil and Environmental): B.S.
    K. Environmental Health (Sanitarian): B.S.
    L. Health Care Administration: B.S. and M.S.
    M. Health Education: Masters level only.
    N. Health Records: R.H.I.T and R.H.I.A.
    O. Injury Prevention Specialist
    P. Medical Social Work: Masters level only.
    Q. Medical Technology: B.S.
    R. Medicine: Allopathic and Osteopathic
    S. Nurse: B.S.*
    T. Nurse: M.S.*
    U. 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).
    V. Optometry.
    W. Pharmacy: B.S., Pharm D.
    X. Physician Assistant.
    Y. Physical Therapy: M.S. and D.P.T.
    Z. Podiatry: D.P.M.
    AA. 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).
    BB. Public Health Nutrition: Masters level only.
    CC. Respiratory Therapy: Associate
    DD. Ultrasonography (Prerequisite: Diagnostic Radiology Technology)
    Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible 
health and allied health professions is effective for applicants for 
the 2003-2004 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.

    Dated: October 24, 2002.
Charles W. Grim,
Assistant Surgeon General, Interim director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27680 Filed 10-30-02; 8:45 am]
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