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....

The selection criteria are: Statement of problem(s) requiring solution; need for assistance; results or benefits expected from the project; approach or soundness of the applicant's plan for conducting the project; key personnel and their capability to carry out the project; and adequacy of management controls. Consideration will be given to the demonstrative aspects of the project and the compatibility of the project with the overall goals and objectives of the Indian Health Service.