25 U.S.C. § 1616

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 1616 - Community Health Representative Program

(a) Under the authority of section 13 of this title, the Secretary shall maintain a Community Health Representative Program under which the Service-

(1) provides for the training of Indians as health paraprofessionals, and

(2) uses such paraprofessionals in the provision of health care, health promotion, and disease prevention services to Indian communities.

(b) The Secretary, acting through the Community Health Representative Program of the Service, shall-

(1) provide a high standard of training for paraprofessionals to Community Health Representatives to ensure that the Community Health Representatives provide quality health care, health promotion, and disease prevention services to the Indian communities served by such Program,

(2) in order to provide such training, develop and maintain a curriculum that-

(A) combines education in the theory of health care with supervised practical experience in the provision of health care, and

(B) provides instruction and practical experience in health promotion and disease prevention activities, with appropriate consideration given to lifestyle factors that have an impact on Indian health status, such as alcoholism, family dysfunction, and poverty,

(3) maintain a system which identifies the needs of Community Health Representatives for continuing education in health care, health promotion, and disease prevention and maintain programs that meet the needs for such continuing education,

(4) maintain a system that provides close supervision of Community Health Representatives,

(5) maintain a system under which the work of Community Health Representatives is reviewed and evaluated, and

(6) promote traditional health care practices of the Indian tribes served consistent with the Service standards for the provision of health care, health promotion, and disease prevention.

25 U.S.C. § 1616

Pub. L. 94-437, title I, §107, as added Pub. L. 100-713, title I, §107, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4788; amended Pub. L. 102-573, title I, §105, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4535.

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS1992-Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 102-573, §105(1), inserted "and maintain" in introductory provisions.Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 102-573, §105(2), inserted at end "with appropriate consideration given to lifestyle factors that have an impact on Indian health status, such as alcoholism, family dysfunction, and poverty,".Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 102-573, §105(3), substituted "maintain" for "develop" in two places.Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102-573, §105(4), struck out "develop and" before "maintain".Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 102-573, §105(3), substituted "maintain" for "develop".

Service

The term "Service" means the Indian Health Service.

health promotion

The term "health promotion" means any activity for-(A) fostering social, economic, environmental, and personal factors conducive to health, including raising public awareness regarding health matters and enabling individuals to cope with health problems by increasing knowledge and providing valid information;(B) encouraging adequate and appropriate diet, exercise, and sleep;(C) promoting education and work in accordance with physical and mental capacity;(D) making available safe water and sanitary facilities;(E) improving the physical, economic, cultural, psychological, and social environment;(F) promoting culturally competent care; and(G) providing adequate and appropriate programs, including programs for-(i) abuse prevention (mental and physical);(ii) community health;(iii) community safety;(iv) consumer health education;(v) diet and nutrition;(vi) immunization and other methods of prevention of communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS;(vii) environmental health;(viii) exercise and physical fitness;(ix) avoidance of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders;(x) first aid and CPR education;(xi) human growth and development;(xii) injury prevention and personal safety;(xiii) behavioral health;(xiv) monitoring of disease indicators between health care provider visits through appropriate means, including Internet-based health care management systems;(xv) personal health and wellness practices;(xvi) personal capacity building;(xvii) prenatal, pregnancy, and infant care;(xviii) psychological well-being;(xix) reproductive health and family planning;(xx) safe and adequate water;(xxi) healthy work environments;(xxii) elimination, reduction, and prevention of contaminants that create unhealthy household conditions (including mold and other allergens);(xxiii) stress control;(xxiv) substance abuse;(xxv) sanitary facilities;(xxvi) sudden infant death syndrome prevention;(xxvii) tobacco use cessation and reduction;(xxviii) violence prevention; and(xxix) such other activities identified by the Service, a tribal health program, or an urban Indian organization to promote achievement of any of the objectives referred to in section 1602(2) of this title.