IHS Announces Alzheimer's Program Training and Education Contract Award

The Indian Health Service is pleased to announce the award of the Alzheimer’s Program Training and Education contract to the University of Washington. The contract aims to:

• Improve IHS, tribal, and urban Indian program staff knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to dementia care and management for people living with dementia and their caregivers by creating discipline-specific competency-based training opportunities
• Establish new and manage existing pilot training programs, such as the Indian Health GeriScholars and Geriatric Nurse Fellowship
• Identify, train, and support a network of clinical and community dementia care champions within the Indian health system

Six American Indian and Alaska Native core faculty, staff, and consultants will support this work. The highly anticipated contract is a major step toward a culturally relevant, comprehensive, competency-based training and workforce development program to enhance dementia care and services across IHS, tribal, and urban Indian facilities.

This effort demonstrates our continued commitment to providing person-centered care and linkages to community services and support for our patients, caregivers, families, and communities affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Health care workforce training and education were among the four major priorities established for IHS as a result of tribal consultation and urban confer.

The University of Washington team is enhanced by experts from Washington State University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Western Carolina University, several other partner organizations, and two Native-owned small businesses.

To learn more about the activities and accomplishments of the IHS Alzheimer’s Program, established in 2022, read our blog from earlier this year.