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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Clinical & Community Services (DCCS)

National Health Coach Pilot Project

Native American people wearing medical masks

To better the health of American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people, The IHS Division of Clinical and Community Services (DCCS) launched the first ever National Health Coach Pilot Project (NHCPP) in 2021, to provide health coach training for health professionals. The training will allow health care providers to improve communication and to support patients/clients in their personal and community healthcare journeys.

The NHCPP consists of two cohorts of 50 participants each. All participants will attend a 6-month health coach training program with the opportunity to go for board certification as a Health and Wellness coach (HWC). Those eligible to participate include health professionals working as home-based educator, and health care professionals providing direct patient care. The pilot training will integrate health coaching concepts into programmatic priorities (SDPI grantees, health education, community health, behavioral health, mental health, substance abuse), while increasing clinical staff proficiency and knowledge.

Adding health and wellness coaches to the team-based healthcare model offers benefits, many of which align with the IHS IHS Strategic Plan FY 2019-2023 goals and objectives, to both the Indian Health Service and to the AI/AN population it serves.

Goal 1: To ensure that comprehensive, culturally appropriate personal and public health services are available and accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native people.

  • Objective 1.1: To ensure that comprehensive, culturally appropriate personal and public health services are available and accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native people.
  • Objective 1.3: Increase access to quality health care services.

Goal 2: To promote excellence and quality through innovation of the Indian health system into an optimally performing organization.

  • Objective 2.2: Provide care to better meet the health care needs of American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

For more information about the project, please download the National Health Coach Pilot Project brochure. [PDF - 3.8 MB]