Public Health Nursing

Public Health Nursing (PHN) patient care coordination activities aim to serve the patient and family in the home and in the community. Preventative health care informs populations, promotes healthy lifestyles, and provides early treatment for illnesses. The PHN’s expertise in communicable disease assessment, outreach, investigation, and surveillance aids in the management and prevention of the spread of communicable diseases. PHNs conduct nurse home visiting services via referral for communicable disease investigation and treatment, which includes such services as health education/behavioral counseling for health promotion, risk reduction, and immunizations to prevent illnesses with a goal to detect and treat problems in their early stages.

Federally recognized Indian Tribes as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(14). The term “Indian Tribe” means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or group, or regional or village corporation, as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
Tribal organizations as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(26). The term “Tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(1)): “Tribal organization” means the recognized governing body of any Indian Tribe; any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities: provided that, in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian Tribe, the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract or grant. Applicant shall submit letters of support and/or Tribal Resolutions from the Tribes to be served.
Urban Indian organizations, as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(29). The term “Urban Indian organization” means a nonprofit corporate body situated in an urban center, governed by an urban Indian controlled board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested Indian groups and individuals, which body is capable of legally cooperating with other public and private entities for the purpose of performing the activities described in 25 U.S.C. 1653(a). Applicants must provide proof of nonprofit status with the application, e.g., 501(c)(3).

The Public Health Nursing program will help nurses improve overall health in American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal communities by raising awareness among families and individuals of preventative health practices, supporting disease prevention, and controlling activities of comorbid conditions.

You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to Indian Health Service.

After review by an objective committee, and selection by the program office, a Notice of Award is prepared and processed, along with appropriate notification to the public.