Skills Training and Health Workforce Development of Paraprofessionals Grant Program

The objectives of the Skills Training and Health Workforce Development of Paraprofessionals Grant Program are to: 1) assist individuals from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to develop the skills needed to compete for, enter, and graduate from a paraprofessional training program; 2) meet the employment needs of the community, particularly in rural and underserved areas; with a particular focus on primary care and team-based care; and 3) promote employment and a career ladder for those trained through career coaching and placement partnerships in the community

Eligible applicants include accredited schools of medicine, allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, public health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied health, chiropractic, podiatric medicine, public and nonprofit private schools that offer graduate programs in behavioral and mental health, programs for the training of physician assistants, two-year community colleges, technical colleges, tribal colleges, and other public or private nonprofit health or educational entities. Each applicant must specifically state its eligibility information in the project abstract. Applicants that are not community colleges must partner with community colleges. Eligible entities must be located within the fifty (50) states, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government and Native American Organizations may apply if they are otherwise eligible. Applicants are required to recruit educationally or economically disadvantaged students who express an interest in a) pursuing a health related paraprofessional certificate in an existing program, or b) individuals who are already practicing but want additional credentials to advance their employability. Eligible paraprofessional training programs are those that exist, can be successfully completed in 12 months or less, and assist in job placement.

Beneficiaries include individuals who a) meet the definition of either educationally or economically disadvantaged, b) express an interest in pursuing a health degree program c) have completed at a minimum a high school diploma or GED, or d) individuals who are already practicing in a health-related paraprofessional field and who want additional credentials to advance their employability.

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted with an application package.

Funds shall be used to recruit, train and retain individuals from underrepresented, disadvantaged, or rural backgrounds into health-related para-professions to work in primary care and other health care services settings. Restricted Uses: Indirect costs under training awards to organizations other than State, local or American Indian tribal governments will be budgeted and reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement, and are not subject to upward or downward adjustment.

This funding opportunity provides support for a 3-year project period. Recipients draw down funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.

HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov. All eligible, qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions. Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Award.

Procedures for assessing the technical merit of grant applications have been instituted to provide for an objective review of applications and to assist the applicant in understanding the standards against which each application will be judged. Critical indicators have been developed for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation. Competing applications are reviewed by non-Federal expert consultant(s) for technical merit recommendations. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria: (1) Purpose and Need; (2) Response to Program Purpose; (3) Impact; (4) Organizational Information, Resources and Capabilities; and (5) Support Requested. See the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed review criteria.

Notification of award is made in writing (electronic) through a Notice of Award.

Approximately 120 - 180 days after receipt of applications.

Depending on Agency priorities and availability of funding, during the final budget year of the approved project period competing continuation applications may be solicited from interested applicants.