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Basic/Core Area Health Education Centers
The AHEC Program awardees link the academic resources of medical schools and participating health professions schools with local educational and clinical sites, and thereby establish a network of community-based training sites to provide educational services to health professions students, faculty-preceptors and health care providers in underserved areas, and ultimately, to improve the delivery of health care in an underserved region or in an entire state.
Emphasis is placed on community-based training of health professions students, primary care-oriented medical residents, local providers, and also 9-12 grade students.
The BAHEC program assists schools in the initial planning, development and implementation of community-based Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) which assist schools and organize the training of at least three health professions disciplines at training-service delivery sites in rural and underserved areas, of a region or an entire state.
Schools which complete Basic AHEC Program development, then compete for Model AHEC Program awards in partnership with affiliated (contracted) AHEC Centers to maintain and enhance/expand training programs and training sites responsive to local, State and Federal needs and priorities.
The BAHEC and MAHEC programs embrace the goal of increasing the number of health professions graduates who ultimately practice in underserved areas.
Both AHEC programs carry out health careers recruitment and enhancement activities to attract high school students from underserved areas into health careers.
All projects are funded to meet the objectives as stated above.
Community-based primary care training is provided at three levels: (1) Undergraduate medical students plus at least two associated health professions, e.g., nursing dentistry, mental health, pharmacy, allied health; (2) graduate-primary care residents, e.g., family medicine, general internal medicine or general pediatrics; and (3) continuing education- to full range of local providers, including NHSC personnel.
Health career training experiences to be provided to elementary or secondary students from medically underserved areas.
Funded programs are listed at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/ahec/basic.htm .
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Telephone: (301) 443-6950.
Program Accomplishments
In FY 07, seven competing and seven non-competing applications for a total of 14 Basic AHEC Program awards were made. It is expected that 13 awards will be made in FY 08.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Cooperative Agreements may not be used for construction, patient services, nor student tuition or stipends.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program cooperative agreements under Section 751(a)(1) include public or private nonprofit accredited schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine and incorporated consortia made up of such schools, or the parent institutions of such schools.
Also, in States in which no AHEC program is in operation, an accredited school of nursing is an eligible applicant.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Accredited public or nonprofit schools of allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine, the parent institution on behalf of such schools, and also, accredited schools of nursing in States in which no AHEC program is in operation.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. Please visit the Grants.gov Web site at www.grants.gov to both find and apply for all Federal grant opportunities. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee which will make funding recommendations to the Associate Administrator for the Bureau of Health Professions. The Associate Administrator has the authority to make final selections for awards.
Award Procedures
Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award issued from the Headquarters Office.
Deadlines
www.hrsa.gov .
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Title VII, Section 751(a)(l), as amended; Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 4 to 6 months from receipt of application.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Competitive continuations may be submitted during the final budget year of the approved project.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Awardees shall make available (directly through contributions from State, county or municipal government, or the private sector) non-Federal contributions in cash in an amount not less than 50 percent of the operating costs of the AHEC Program, except that the Secretary may grant a waiver for up to 75 percent of the amount required in the first 3 years in which an awardee receives funds under this section: Section 751 (a)(1) of the PHS Act as amended.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds are available for expenditure during appropriate budget period.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
A Uniform Progress Report must be submitted annually.
A financial status report must be submitted within 90 days after the end of each budget period.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
All records must be maintained until expiration of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions remain following the 3-uear period, such as those raised as a result of an audit or an on-going enforcement action, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550.
Obigations
(Grants-Cooperative Agreements) FY 07 $12,262,320; FY 08 est. $13,200,000; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$285,321 to $2,652,203; $1,158,546.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
David Hanny, Ph.D., M.P.H, or CAPT Norma Hatot, Program Officers, AHEC Branch, Division of Diversity and Interdisciplinary Education, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-36, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-6950.
Headquarters Office
Grants Management Office: Rick Goodman, Director, Division of Grants Management Operations, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-16. Health Services Branch: 301-443-2385; Research and Training Branch: (301) 443-3099; Government and Special Focus Branch: (301) 443-3288.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
In determining the funding of applications, consideration is given to: (1) NEED Demonstrates an understanding of the purpose of the AHEC program, and demonstrates an understanding of the identified need(s) as evidenced by the applicant's description of target population(s) and geographic areas validated with supporting data, demographics, health status of the target population(s), and associated contributing factors which the proposed AHEC project intends to address in the area(s) to be served by the area health education center(s); (2) RESPONSE The degree to which the proposed project responds to the program requirements as set forth in Sections 751(a)(l) and 751(a)(2) of the PHS Act, as amended; degree to which project activities address the AHEC Project and Center requirements; clarity of the project objectives and their relationship to the identified need(s); extent to which project objectives are measurable and attainable within the stated timeframe; clarity of the proposed work plan and mechanisms to assure that satisfactory progress is attained; extent to which the project fulfills the cost sharing/matching requirements; degree to which project challenges and plans to overcome barriers are addressed; and degree to which the project meets the Medical School 10 Percent Requirement; (3) EVALUATIVE MEASURES The adequacy of the evaluation strategy to monitor and evaluate project results: potential of evaluative measures to assess the extent to which project objectives are met and to what extent these can be attributed to the project; clarity of methods and techniques that will be used to measure, analyze, and report the outcomes of each objective; and the extent to which the proposed project adequately responds to AHEC Program performance measures and outcome indicators; the points will be allocated across the performance measures of Distribution, Diversity, and Quality; (4) IMPACT The potential of the proposed AHEC program and participating center(s) to continue on a self-sustaining basis; identification of plans for effective, efficient dissemination of project results; potential of project results to be of national significance; and potential for replication of project activities; (5) RESOURCES/CAPABILITIES Evidence of qualifications in key personnel bio-sketches; evidence of adequate staffing plan for proposed project; evidence of ability to implement complex programs with similar requirements; evidence of institutional support, e.g., resources and letters of support; and evidence of successful partnerships and linkages with academic and community-based organizations; (6) SUPPORT REQUESTED Evidence of a reasonable detailed budget and budget rationale to accomplish the project objectives; evidence of fiscal capability to successfully manage cooperative agreements and contracts; and evidence of efforts to become self-sufficient, e.g., other sources of income, income generation plans, and future funding strategies.
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