ICN Receives HRSA Funding for Innovative Work to Help Nursing Build a Healthier Indiana

Indiana Center for Nursing is among 24 organizations throughout the nation that will receive significant federal funding for programming that addresses nursing’s role in building a Culture of Health and promoting health equity. The HRSA Diversity in Nursing grantees were selected based on submissions of replicable strategies that help nurses build a Culture of Health and promote health equity and well-being while highlighting the importance of collaboration with diverse stakeholders. In June 2021, the Indiana Center for Nursing (ICN) will receive $2,189,646 over the next four years to support the Nursing Education and Engagement in Diversity Statewide 2B (NEEDS2B) Program.

The NEEDS2B Program includes sub-awards to eight schools of nursing in Indiana that are participating in the program: Anderson University, Goshen College, Indiana University East, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marian University, Purdue University, University of Saint Francis-Crown Point, and the University of Southern Indiana. In addition, Community Health Network will be joining the Program.

Through the grant, each school will work collaboratively to achieve the following Program goals:

• Increase diversity and inclusion in the Indiana nursing workforce by implementing the objectives that include: scholarships and stipends for students accepted into the program; holistic review and admissions to the school of nursing, mentoring programs; faculty recruitment and retention of diverse faculty; increased percentage of enrollment; retention and graduation of diverse students; and inclusion of cultural intelligence education.
• Expand implementation of the current mentoring programs of the schools.
• Address social determinants of health and education through a collaborative partnership representing academia, practice, and the community at large.

“We are honored to be selected for this prestigious grant and look forward to building on our work to create replicable strategies that help nurses build a Culture of Health and promote health equity and well-being,” said Kimberly Harper, MS, RN, FAAN, CEO, Indiana Center for Nursing. “The work we are doing to transform the diversity, inclusion, and equity within the Indiana nursing workforce will improve health and health care for everyone. We are grateful to HRSA for selecting the ICN and our statewide partners for this grant opportunity.”

The goal for this four-year award is to assist in the creation of replicable programs that diversify the nursing workforce and improve healthcare equity across all sectors while highlighting the importance of collaboration with diverse stakeholders of all types.

About Indiana Center for Nursing

The Indiana Center for Nursing (ICN) unites statewide nursing education and practice leaders to affect change, through one voice, to ensure a highly qualified nursing workforce that meets the needs of Indiana’s healthcare consumers. With approximately 75 statewide organizational members, the ICN serves as the voice of nursing for the state of Indiana.

Contact Kimberly J. Harper or Jessica Reynolds for more information.