The IHS mission is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of AI/AN to the highest level. However, IHS has had devastating cases of health care providers abusing patients, including children, under facility care. IHS is committed to a culture of quality that is free from sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination and has acted on this commitment in several ways. In response to these cases and to address and prevent further abuse, IHS strengthened its policies for protecting children from sexual abuse, requires all IHS employees, contractors, and volunteers to complete training, and has taken steps to emphasize the responsibility to report suspected abuse and to lessen the barriers to do so. IHS also, in partnership with OIG, established a website and hotline, 1-855-SAFE-IHS, dedicated to receiving reports of suspected sexual abuse in IHS. This video shares the views of and guidance from IHS on their commitment, policies, training, and reporting mechanisms.
Find additional compliance and quality of care trainings at oig.hhs.gov/aian.