Rural Network Allied Health Training Program Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)HRSA-15-068

Marcia Colburn, MSWUS Department of Health and Human ServicesHealth Resources and Services AdministrationOffice of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)Community Based Division

April 13, 2015

Allied Health Training Program

Purpose:

To support President Obama’s Rural Health Care and Job-Driven Training Initiatives by focusing on recruitment and retention activities in rural areas. The Rural Network Allied Health Training Program legislative purpose will be achieved through the:

• Recruitment, • Clinical training and• Retention of allied health professionals.

Allied Health Training Program

Program Goals:1. Recruitment and retention of allied health professionals

within the rural community;2. Provide students with culturally, competent community-

focused training opportunities and experiences;3. Establish a replicable approach to training of allied health

students in rural areas;4. Validation of credentials empowering job seekers and

reducing barriers to hiring;5. Establishing workforce-related partnerships between

network and community organizations

Summary of Funding

Number of Awards: 10 grantsAward Amount: $200,000 per year Project Period: 3 years

Eligible Applicants:The lead applicant organization must be a public or private non-profit entity located in a rural area. The network must be formal and composed of at least three (3) separate, existing health care providers.

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants:The lead applicant organization must be a public or private non-profit entity located in a rural area. The network must be formal and composed of at least three separate (having separate EIN numbers), existing health care providers.

Options: a) A network partner can apply on behalf of the network organizationb) There must be a relationship between the network organization

and a vocational or educational institution.

Eligibility Information

Network Organizations:• Mature Network – A network typically has been in

existence for more than five years, has skilled and experienced staff as well as a highly functioning network board, and offers integrated products and services (see definitions pages 33-35 in FOA).

• By Laws -due to page limitations, applicants were allowed to give partial By Laws with signatures. (A condition of the award will be that complete By Laws and signatures must be sent to HRSA.)

Non-Funded Activities• No support for participant housing and food;

• No more than 20 percent of the Federal share for each budget period may be spent on equipment;

• Grant funds may not be spent, either directly or through contract, to pay for the purchase, construction, major renovation or improvement of facilities or real property;

• Grant funds may not be used to pay for the direct provision of clinical health care services;

• Grant funds may not be used to purchase vehicles;

• Grant funds may not be used to directly pay for health care provider continuing education (CE) credits;

• Grant funds may not be used to provide health professions outreach, education or training to students in grades K-12.

Discipline Categories

CLINICIANS

• Dental Hygienists

TECHNOLOGISTS/TECNICIANS

• Diagnostic Imaging Technologists

• Medical/Clinical Laboratory Technicians

• Paramedics and Community Paramedics

• Pharmacy Technicians• Psychiatric/Mental/

Behavioral Health Technicians

OTHER ALLIED HEALTH

• Physical Therapy Assistants

• Occupational Therapy Assistants

Review CriteriaAPPLICATION SECTION CRITERION (Points)

Introduction Need (10 points)

Needs Assessment Need (10 points) and Impact (30 points)

Methodology Response (10 points)

Resolution of Challenges Response (10 points)

Work Plan Response (10 points) and Impact (10 points)

Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity

Evaluative Measures (15 points)

Organizational Information Impact (10 points) and Resources/Capabilities (25 points)

Budget Budget (10 points)

Thank you!