The United Health Foundation is giving the American Indian College Fund a $430,000 grant to improve access to dental and other health services in Native American communities, according to a June 11 news release.
The United Health Foundation increased its support for the program by $70,000 this year. The grant will provide 13 scholarships for American Indians and Alaska Natives studying in the health and dental fields.
American Indian and Alaska Native people have a life expectancy 5.5 years shorter than the rest of the U.S. population, according to HHS' Office of Minority Health. A key factor driving health disparities in Native communities is the insufficient number of providers.
The American Indian College Fund's United Health Foundation Tribal Scholars Program aims to develop the next generation of Native healthcare providers to serve their communities with personalized, culturally competent care.