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News Release

HHS AWARDS NEARLY $3.5 MILLION TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY
IN THE NURSING WORKFORCE

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the release of 16 grants totaling nearly $3.5 million to support nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The grants will fund scholarships or stipends and pre-entry preparation and retention activities for disadvantaged students, including students from racial and ethnic minority groups that are underrepresented among registered nurses. Minority enrollment in the nursing schools receiving grants averages 38 percent, about double the national average of 19 percent.

"These schools and programs have proven their ability to enroll and graduate competent, skilled health care workers, which is important in expanding access to health care for all Americans," Secretary Thompson said. "Today's grants will encourage minority students to enter the field of nursing and help alleviate the critical shortage at this time."

Members of minority groups account for about 30 percent of the total U.S. population, but they represent just over 12 percent of the nursing workforce.

Nursing Workforce Diversity grants are funded through HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and its Bureau of Health Professions. This year's grantees are all nursing schools or non-profit organizations. Nursing centers, academic health centers, state and local governments and faith-based organizations are also eligible to apply for the grants.

"These programs help ensure that a competent health professions workforce is prepared and available in areas where care is needed most," HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke said.

Secretary Thompson identified the nation's nursing shortage as a national priority early in his tenure. HHS funding for nursing programs will reach $113 million in fiscal year 2003, $20 million more than last year's total. The Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002, which President Bush signed in August, authorized six new grant programs to further increase the number of nurses and improve the quality of nursing services. More information is available at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/reinvestmentact.htm.

A list of Nursing Workforce Diversity grant awards follows.

Nursing Workforce Diversity Program
Organization	City	State	Amount
Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	Little Rock	Ark.	$166,418
Calif. St. Univ. Bakersfield Foundation	Bakersfield	Calif.	$174,298
Catholic University of America	Washington	D.C.	$266,760
Albany State University	Albany	Ga./p>	$277,757
Chicago State University	Chicago	Ill.	$219,403
University of Massachusetts Boston	Boston	Mass.	$240,088
Wayne State University	Detroit	Mich.	$96,988
Curators, University of Missouri	Kansas City	Mo.	$192,425
North Carolina Central University	Durham	N.C.	$170,690
University of Cincinnati	Cincinnati	Ohio	$205,379
Seminole State College	Seminole	Okla.	$243,000
Inter American Univ. of Puerto Rico	San Juan	P.R.	$241,447
Capital Idea	Austin	Texas	$268,377
Hampton University	Hampton	Va.	$346,191
University of the Virgin Islands	Saint Thomas	V.I.	$164,872
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	Oshkosh	Wis.	$186,279
TOTAL:			$3,460,372

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: June 2, 2003