The Indian Health Service (IHS) aims to elevate the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level. Its mission encompasses a commitment to improving health management capabilities and services within Tribal communities, emphasizing public health functions and resilience building.
The grant program is specifically designed to support applicants in assessing their ability to develop a Public Health program. It emphasizes evaluating the feasibility of providing the 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS), a framework aimed at ensuring equitable access to health services and promoting optimal health and well-being in communities. The program supports setting up goals and performance measures, determining management capacity, and enhancing access to EPHS in Indian Country, aligning with the revised EPHS framework of 2020 which focuses on equity.