The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program. The purpose of the AHEC Program is to develop and enhance education and training networks within communities, academic institutions, and community-based organizations. In turn, these networks seek to increase diversity among health professionals, broaden the distribution of the health workforce, enhance health care quality, and improve health care delivery to rural and underserved areas and populations.
The Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) seeks to improve the health of underserved and vulnerable populations by strengthening the health workforce and connecting skilled professionals to communities in need. The AHEC Program supports the following three (3) overarching goals:
1. Diversity: Preparing a diverse, culturally competent primary care workforce that can address the needs of the communities we serve;
2. Distribution: Improving workforce distribution throughout the nation, particularly among rural and underserved areas and populations; and
3. Practice Transformation: Developing and maintaining a health care workforce that is prepared to deliver high quality care in a transforming health care delivery system with an emphasis on rural and underserved areas and communities.
NOTE: Multiple applications from an organization are not allowable. For the purposes of this NOFO, an organization means a campus or a division of a university that has its own grounds, buildings, and faculty. Therefore, one application per campus is allowed. Interested applicants from within Duke should contact dukeiln@duke.edu as early as possible.
Application Due Date: April 6, 2022
Entities eligible to apply are public or nonprofit private accredited schools of allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine, an incorporated consortia made up of such schools, or the parent institution(s) of such schools. In states and territories in which no AHEC Program is in operation, an accredited school of nursing is an eligible applicant.
HRSA estimates approximately $43,250,000 to be available annually to fund up to 55 recipients. Current estimates of the funding level are $148,000 per center per year in the AHEC POSME phase. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $250,000 per year per center for the AHEC ID phase (includes both direct and indirect, facilities and administrative costs). AHEC awards are made to the AHEC Program Office who then contracts with the AHEC centers to conduct the required activities based on the phase of that center. This total cost includes both direct and indirect, facilities and administrative costs per year. The actual amount available will not be determined until enactment of the final FY 2022 federal appropriation, and will vary as a function of the number of centers supported.This program notice is subject to the appropriation of funds, and is a contingency action taken to ensure that, should funds become available for this purpose, HRSA can process applications and award funds appropriately. The period of performance is September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2027 (5 years).
