The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is encouraging Urban Indian Organization staff members to submit applications for Professional Development Scholarships centered around enhancing Infection, Prevention and Control:

• Rolling Deadline
• Reimbursement of up to $1100 per individual UIO staff-member
• Scholarships are based on eligibility, are limited to available funds, and are processed in the order in which applications are received
• Professional Development Scholarship awards do not cover fees for associate, bachelor/graduate or college coursework or degrees
• Training and coursework must be completed and scholarship funds must be disbursed by July 1, 2021

Funding Opportunity Announcement

Project Firstline is an initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is geared towards providing foundational and practical knowledge directly to more than 6 million frontline healthcare personnel across the United States in order to create a healthcare workforce skilled in core infection prevention and control (IPC) practices to help to protect the nation from infectious disease threats, such as COVID-19.

As a partner in this collaborative with the CDC, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is providing the opportunity for further professional development of frontline staff by awarding scholarships for conferences, training and or certification on IPD or related areas within their scope of work. Individual staff-members will be able to enhance their current job descriptions or pursue additional professional development to enhance IPC within their respective organizations.

Goal

Project Firstline Professional Development Scholarships will foster opportunities for UIO staff members to enhance infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and programs within their organization.

Objectives

• Obtain representation from the maximum number of UIOs by the 4 primary program types (full ambulatory, limited ambulatory, outreach and referral, treatment centers)
• Engage healthcare workers and other staff with direct patient contact in the pursuit of training or certification to enhance IPC programs and practices, quality improvement, teams-based training or systems-based approaches to improving healthcare practices within their UIO
• Track UIO staff participation in scholarship opportunities
• Provide a list of relevant training and certification opportunities in various fields relevant to all 4 UIO program types

Overview

• The Professional Development Scholarship will enhance accessibility to development opportunities for individual UIO staff members (no more than 2 per UIO)
• The aim is for UIOs to seek at least 1 staff-member certification or training in infection prevention control or a related certification or training content area
• The scholarships can be used to cover the cost of training/conferences, preparatory courses, certification exam fees as well as any other professional meeting attendance up to $1100 per individual
• IPC specific training or certification (ex. APIC’s prep course and CBIC exam) and or training options to improve internal processes (ex. LEAN, team-based performance improvement) will be prioritized
• Individuals are expected to provide a description of an identified opportunity that will enhance the current services in their scope of work and or improve IPC practices within their organization
• Selected participants will be expected to complete an evaluation of their opportunity and identify how this opportunity has enhanced infection prevention and control measures as well as their professional development

Eligibility

• Must be one of the 41 UIOs who are listed as active members on the NCUIH website that are currently funded by IHS under Title V
• Must submit a complete application package

Key Dates

• Pre-application information session - 10/13/2020 
  • Available to view online after the event date
• Deadline for application – Rolling                                                           
  • Must be received at least 30 days prior to start of training  or certification course/exam
• Applicant notification of status – Within three weeks of application receipt
• Reimbursements:
• All post-event requirements must be completed to be eligible for reimbursement
• Completed and signed reimbursement form along with accompanying receipts must be submitted within 14 days after the conclusion/completion of the event
• Reimbursement checks are typically processed within three weeks or receipt
• Training and coursework must be completed AND scholarship funds requested for disbursement by July 1, 2021

Application Package and Process

• Participate in an optional pre-application information session on Tuesday October 13, 2020 at 1:00PM Eastern Standard Time
• Complete the online application package:
   
  1. Online Application
  2. Participant Acknowledgement of Requirements (e-signature)
  3. Executive Director or Department Head Approval (attachment; see below)

Selection Criteria

• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed
• Up to 41 scholarships available based on funding level requests; no more than 2 staff-members per UIO
• Scholarships are not transferable
• Meet the eligibility requirements
• Preference will be given to opportunities geared towards enhancing professional development and enhancing IPC practices in their current role

Examples of potential opportunities:

Pre-Application Question & Answer Session

NCUIH will hold a pre-application meeting to answer any questions about this application process.

When: Oct 13, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcequrTorGNMs1pLFI07KR0hb5YrnizGK

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For any questions with this application contact ipc@ncuih.org.

Scholarship recipients are required to submit itemized receipts with their reimbursement requests for reimbursement along with training / course CEU/certificate or other documentation of proof of participation.

Certification exam fees are only reimbursed if the exam is passed.

Maximum request of $1,100. Indicate below the amount and brief description of all associated training/certification costs requested. Costs may include registration, online course fees, exam prep fees, training manuals, certification fees, travel, etc.  

NOTE: Scholarship approval is not guaranteed. We recommend not making any financial commitment(s) until receiving confirmation from NCUIH.

Participant Acknowledgement of Requirements (signature)

1.     The information provided in this application is accurate

2.     I must be a staff member at a UIO at the time of completion of my training or certification to receive reimbursement for expenses

3.     My organization supports the training or certification requested

4.     My organization is unable to completely underwrite the professional development activity for which I am requesting support

5.     I agree to abide by all the requirements including providing appropriate post-event documentation (reimbursement form, evaluation form, post-event summary report, and proof of course/training completion).

I understand and agree that any false information, misrepresentation, or willful or negligent failure to disclose any information pertinent to this application or my organization will constitute sufficient grounds for removal of my application from consideration, the return of funding by me to NCUIH if funding has been granted, and or my disqualification from future scholarship opportunities.

Attach (below): CEO's/Supervisor's Authorization for UIO Staff Members participation in Project Firstline’s Professional Development Scholarships. 

For any questions with this application contact ipc@ncuih.org.