The University of Arizona’s College of Nursing received a $1.6M grant for the INCATS program, which supports Indigenous nursing students.

Indigenous students at the University of Arizona College of Nursing will receive enhanced financial support through a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service.

This grant will extend funding for the Indians in Nursing: Career Advancement and Transition Scholars (INCATS) program for another five years. The funding also allocates resources to collaborate with tribal communities in Arizona, promoting outreach to encourage nursing careers among young Indigenous individuals.

“This grant provides critical resources that not only support our Indigenous nursing scholars but also help us connect with tribal communities in Arizona to strengthen the tribal nursing workforce,” said Timian Godfrey, INCATS director and associate clinical professor.

About INCATS

INCATS offers financial support for tuition, fees, and stipends to Indigenous nursing students at U of A. It aims to bolster the number of skilled Native American nurses in tribal health care and create new career pathways. So far, the program has supported 13 Native American students, with 10 graduates advancing their nursing careers.

“This grant provides a valuable opportunity to educate, train, mentor and graduate more Indigenous nurses from the University of Arizona who will then go on to work with Indigenous peoples and support the health of those respective communities,” Godfrey said. “The goal of this work is to advance health equity for Indigenous peoples, and education is a key component of health for a community.”

According to Godfrey, the grant will support four to six Indigenous students each year for the next five years, equipping them with essential tools and education.

“This additional funding from the Indian Health Service is a vote of confidence in our program and, more importantly, our Native American students,” said Brian Ahn, dean of the College of Nursing. “The INCATS program has a successful record of increasing the number of Indigenous nurses in Arizona, and we look forward to expanding that impact over the next five years.”

Ultimately, U of A hopes to become a national model for diversifying the nursing workforce and educating Indigenous students.

A version of this article originally appeared on the U of A Health Sciences website.