HHS announces $51M in new grants.
HHS Announces “Health Profession Opportunity Grants”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children & Families (ACF) has just announced the availability of $51 million in grant funding under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Health Care Reform”) to support demonstration projects that provide TANF recipients and other low-income individuals with education and training leading to occupations in the health care sector.
Projects receiving grants under this announcement are expected to target the skills and competencies demanded by health care employers, support the development of career pathways, provide participants with an industry- or employer-recognized degree or credential, provide supportive services to help participants overcome barriers to employment, and provide services at times and locations that are convenient for target populations.
Eligible applicants include states, local workforce boards, community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and other entities. Applicants must demonstrate that the program will be carried out in coordination with a state TANF agency, the local workforce investment board for the area in which the project will be conducted, the state workforce investment board, and the state apprenticeship agency. In addition to these required partners, applicants are strongly encouraged to form strategic partnerships with other entities that can provide resources or expertise to support program activities, including employers, labor organizations, social services agencies, and representatives of the education and training community.
Applicants are permitted to propose a broad range of training and related activities that support the grant objectives, but the agency encourages applicants to use proven models such as on-the-job training, registered apprenticeship, and programs that integrate academic instruction and occupational skills training. Applicants are required to provide supportive services to participants where appropriate, including financial aid, child care support, and case management services.
The agency has indicated that it is particularly interested in projects that prepare target populations for careers in the allied health, long-term care, health information technology, nursing, and child care health advocate fields, but will consider applications for other subsectors with well-paying jobs.
It is estimated that ACF will award approximately seventeen five-year grants under this announcement, with awards ranging from a minimum of $1 million to a maximum of $5 million. Applications are due by August 5, 2010.
