ARRA: Nursing Workforce Diversity Program | Grant

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

Grant: $1,002,550 - Health Resources and Services Administration - Sep. 3, 2009

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Award Description: This is a grant focusing on Alaska Natives and other minority nursing students. When funding ended in 2001, RRANN successfully secured alternative federal resources through the legislative initiative process. Those sources ceased in 2006. The University of Alaska moved one full-time staff to state dollars at that time, sufficient to keep the program in name only. The School of Nursing proactively applied for and successfully secured a HRSA Nursing Workforce Development and a Department of Education grant at that time, to continue the program and expand it to beyond Alaska Natives. It now embraces Alaska's diversity supporting a spectrum of students entering into the nursing field. During its first six years of operation, and prior to NWD support, the RRANN program succeeded in doubling the proportion of Alaska Natives/American Indians in the nursing workforce from 1.1% to 2.4% or from 35 to 98 RN's (different denominators between the two years affect the percentage). This represented a significant increase over the 1 or 2 Alaska Native nurses graduating per year prior to the initiation of the program. Over the past 2.5 years, with resources from the Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) grant, the School of Nursing has graduated 76 additional AAS and BSN nurses of Alaska Native, or other minority backgrounds, or disadvantaged backgrounds. Data are not available from Alaska Occupational Licensing on the proportion of Alaska's registered nurses coming from disadvantaged backgrounds or who are underrepresented in the nursing workforce. Nevertheless, it is clear that the School of Nursing continues to have a profound impact on the demographics of Alaska's Nursing Workforce. Armed with this capacity and credibility, this application for a Nursing Workforce Diversity grant will expand on the experience and success of the past two and a half years, enhancing and focusing programmatic capacity. The proportion of other ethnic minorities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds is growing rapidly and needs support to pursue careers in nursing. Anchorage hosts 41% of the racial minorities in the state, and 63% of those are of Hispanic ethnicity. The largest number of foreign-born residents is found here, 42% of the state's total. This year, the Anchorage School District reports 84 different languages in their schools; ethnic minorities represent 50% of the student body, up from 40% in 2001. Rural and remote parts of Alaska share this population diversity trend. This application focuses new programming in the island communities of Unalaska and Kodiak, which are 55% and 40% non-white respectively. The State of Alaska recognizes this disparity and encourages the health workforce to better match the population's demographics. As stated in Healthy Alaskans 2010 Volume I, p. 15-3, to meet the goal of improving access to comprehensive, high-quality health care services, indicator #9 sets the following targets: Alaska Natives-18%, Asian/Pacific Islander-5%; African American - 5%, and Hispanic/Latino - 5%

Project Description: The University of Alaska Anchorage is required to obtain expenditure permission from the State of Alaska Legislative Budget and Audit Committee prior to commencement of grant activity. This permission was obtained on 9/28/2009. The dollar amount of reimbursement listed on this first quarterly report reflects this delay in expenditure authority based on State of Alaska requirements. The amount of funds requested/received by UAA have been impacted by this additional approval process. The project activities, therefore, reflect more activity than the zero dollar amount of reimbursement would demonstrate. Please also note that the University of Alaska's fiscal month-end posting is normally five to seven days after the previous month's last day. For example, September's month-end posting will occur October 7th, 2009. This disparity between calendar month-end and the actual date of month-end posting will be consistent throughout the course of the project. Given the program was funded previously with a HRSA Workforce Diversity Grant, most of the project infrastructure was already in place. For example, the Project Coordinator who is funded 50% by this grant and a full time Success Facilitator will be jobs retained since they had previously worked on the HRSA award. The new half-time position has been filled and that staff person has begun. Each of these individuals provides academic support to underrepresented, educationally or economically disadvantaged students. Fifty percent of the funds for this project will be allocated to students in the form of monthly stipends. Nine students already receiving funding are in their final semester and will graduate during this next quarter. Once they pass the NCLEX exam, all of them will enter the workforce as new nurses. While the grant does not directly create jobs other than those identified, it certainly makes it possible for students to complete programs and move into the workforce.

Jobs Summary: Jo Jo Duscharme is the new Nursing Workforce Diversity Coordinator. Fifty percent of her salary is paid by this grant The Job Form for Duscharme will begin 9/28/2009. This is the date that the State of Alaska Legislative Budget and Audit Committee approved expenditure of ARRA grant funds for this project. Marlene McCabe will be the full time Success Facilitator. Ms. McCabe is about to go on maternity leave. She is working half-time the week of September 28th. Carol Paredes will assume McCabe's position in a full-time capacity for the rest of the Fall semester until Marlene returns from FMLA. Edna Mathew, who has previously worked with the RRANN program is occupying the half-time success facilitator position. None of these positions have expenditures currently against the grant due to the expanded review period created by the LB&A Committee additional vetting of these awards for the State of Alaska. (Total jobs reported: 0)

Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed

This award's data was last updated on Sep. 3, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.