Public Health Training Centers Program

The Regional Public Health Training Center program improves the Nation's public health system by strengthening the technical, scientific, managerial and leadership competencies of the current and future public health workforce through the provision o

The Regional Public Health Training Center program improves the Nation's public health system by strengthening the technical, scientific, managerial and leadership competencies of the current and future public health workforce through the provision of education, training and consultation services. The Regional PHTC Programs together comprise a national program that serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the six U.S. Pacific Jurisdictions. Ten regions are funded to ensure that the U.S. and its jurisdictions all have access to public health workforce education and training. The work of the Regional PHTCs will be accomplished through the provision of tailored training and technical assistance (TA) through collaborative community-based projects. Training curricula will provide skill-based, interactive instruction and quality education using multiple modalities (e.g., synchronous, asynchronous, distance-based, bi-directional video, and in-person), underscoring the current eight cross-cutting core public health competency domains. Each Regional PHTC will develop training in at least three primary areas listed above and may develop trainings in the sub competencies and beyond based on local health needs assessments. Regional PHTCs seek to develop current and future public health leaders though Leadership Institutes. Moreover, the program aims to establish and enhance collaborative partnerships among state and local health departments, primary care providers, and related organizations (to include non-traditional partners) as they work together to address critical local public health needs. The Community Health Woker Training Program (CHWTP) expands the public health workforce through the training of new Community Health Workers (CHWs) and health support workers and to extend the knowledge and skills of current CHWs and other health support workers. Through this program, HRSA plans to train 13,000 new and current CHWs and other health support workers to support essential public health services and to focus on experiential training and employment through registered apprenticeships and job placements. The CHWTP aims to increase access to care, improve public health emergency response, and address the public health needs of underserved communities. Individuals trained through the program will acquire knowledge, skills, and expertise to respond to public health needs and public health emergencies in underserved communities through a network of partnerships. The Public Health Scholarship Program (PHSP) to strengthens the public health workforce by providing support to organizations to develop scholarship programs that incentivize individuals to pursue training and careers in public health. Through the PHSP, scholarship recipients will gain the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, prepare for, and respond to recovery activities related to public health emergencies. This program will provide funds to State or local governments, including state, local, territorial or tribal public health departments, health professions schools, academic health centers, and public or private nonprofit entities with a public health focus. Award recipients will provide scholarships to individuals, including grant recipient employees, receiving public health training in professional, graduate, degree, and/or certificate programs.

Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments, Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Native American Organizations (includes lndian groups, cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, associations) PHTC: Accredited school of public health, or another public or nonprofit private institution accredited for the provision of graduate or specialized training in public health. This program also includes a statutory funding preference for accredited schools of public health. Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government and Native American Organizations may apply if they are otherwise eligible. Community Health Worker Training Program: Health professions schools, including accredited schools or programs of public health, health administration, preventive medicine, or dental public health or schools providing health management programs; Academic health centers; State or local governments including state, local and territorial public health departments; or Any other appropriate public or private non-profit entity such as, but not limited to: community colleges, community health centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and community-based organizations, and tribal entities that train public and allied health workers. Public Health Scholarship Program: State or local governments, including state, local, territorial or tribal public health departments; Health professions schools, including accredited schools or programs of public health, health administration, preventive medicine, or dental public health or schools providing health management programs; academic health centers; and any other appropriate public or private nonprofit entity that has a public health focus and is capable of carrying out the purpose of the program.

Each trainee receiving stipend support must be a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen U.S. national, or a foreign national having in his or her possession a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States. Public Health Training Center: Graduate and doctoral students pursuing a degree in a health profession (including public health, psychology, sociology and social work); Undergraduate juniors or seniors enrolled in a health profession degree program (e.g., public health, psychology, sociology, and social work); Preventive Medicine Resident (PMR) and College students in the U.S. Pacific Islands, and TCU enrolled in a health professional degree program (e.g., allied health, community health worker). Each trainee receiving scholarship funds must be a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen U.S. national, or a foreign national having in his or her possession a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States. CHWTP: Eligible trainees are individuals with a minimum of a high school diploma or GED certificate. Trainees receiving support from grant funds must be a citizen of the United States or a foreign national having in his/her possession a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States. Trainees supported by CHWTP receiving financial support must be enrolled full- or part-time in the school or program receiving the CHWTP grant funding. Public Health Scholarship Program: Award recipient employees and students, residents, and fellows of health professions schools, academic health centers, and public or private nonprofit entities with a public health focus. receiving public health training in professional, graduate, degree, and/or certificate programs. Each trainee receiving scholarship funds must be a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen U.S. national, or a foreign national having in his or her possession a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States.

Grant funds may support salaries, stipends, consultant costs, equipment, and travel as requested to develop and implement the program. Grant funds may support scholarships for costs of the public health training program's tuition, fees, and other educational costs in the form of a scholarship. A minimum amount of 90 percent of the total requested budget per year must be provided for trainee scholarships.

Grant funds may not be used for construction, patient services, student tuition or international activities unless associated with a recognized territorial awardee. Grant funds may not be used to supplant training and education activities which should be provided as part of the mission of the awardee or sub-awardee institution. In addition, grant funds are not intended to supplant funds for educational efforts which should be supported by nonprofit private industry or other public agencies. Applicants are expected to leverage their resources to create enhanced training opportunities through partnerships and collaboration. Stipends for trainees are not an allowable cost. Ten percent or less of the total requested budget per year may be provided for administrative costs including salaries, equipment, and travel as requested to develop and implement the program. Scholarships cannot be used to pay salaries for trainees who are employed nor can they be used for release time for trainees to attend training. Indirect costs under training awards 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.

PHTC: This funding opportunity provides support for a 4-year project period. CHWTP and Public Health Scholarship Programs - These funding opportunities provides support for a 3-year project period.

Procedures for assessing the technical merit of 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 selection criteria.

Notification of award is made in writing (electronic) by 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.