25 U.S.C. § 1616h — Health training programs of community colleges

(a) Grants. (1) Through the Service, the Secretary must give community colleges grants to establish programs that educate people in a health profession and lead to a related degree or diploma for people who want to practice on an Indian reservation or in a tribal clinic. (2) A first-year grant may not exceed $100,000. (b) Eligibility. (1) The Secretary must also give grants to community colleges that already have such a program, to maintain it and recruit students. (2) A grant may go only to a college that (A) is accredited; (B) can use a hospital, Service facility, or other hospital for nurse or health-professional training; (C) has an agreement with an accredited college, university, or medical school that provides a path into advanced bachelor’s or graduate health-professional programs and states the certifications needed to approve internships and field placements at Service units or tribal facilities; (D) has properly certified qualified staff; and (E) can obtain State or regional accreditation for the program. (c) Agreements and technical help. The Secretary must encourage eligible colleges to establish and maintain programs by (1) agreeing to provide qualified Service personnel to teach in them and (2) providing technical assistance and support. (d) Advanced training. Any assisted program for a health profession must also offer advanced training to a health professional who already has that profession’s degree or diploma and provides clinical services on a reservation, at a Service facility, or at a tribal clinic. The college may provide this training with its partner college or university. (e) Definitions. “Community college” means (A) a junior or community college that is tribally controlled or (B) a junior or community college. “Tribally controlled college or university” has the meaning in 25 U.S.C. § 1801(a)(4). “Junior or community college” has the meaning in 20 U.S.C. § 1058(e).