Saturday, April 19, 2025
4/19/2025
Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program - 1500 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19102 Project Director Name: Kristine Gonnella Contact Phone Number: 415-608-5571 (cell) Email Address: kgonnella@phmc.org Website Address: https://www.phmc.org/site Requesting $2.4 million for HR-24-016 Requesting funding priority Over the proposed four-year performance period, PHMC respectfully requests $600,000 annually ($2.4 million total) of HRSA-24-016 OIFSP funding to deliver a specialized Behavioral Health learning and experience track as an enhancement to its existing accredited, regional training program, CHW CORE (Certification, Opportunities, and Readiness for Employment). The enhanced behavioral health program, named CHW CORE-BH, aims to train and prepare 116 behavioral health CHWs across Pennsylvania and Delaware, through didactic and experiential training, followed by at least 35% participation in a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). At all stages of the program, PHMC will strive to reduce potential barriers to trainee participation. To promote diversity and inclusion, PHMC recruitment will include partnership with community based and rural health organizations, identified through the statewide PA CHW Collaborative and DE Association of CHWs, which PHMC is a member of. PHMC’s Research & Evaluation Group (REG) will conduct all data and evaluation for the program, ensuring any instruments and data collection methods (e.g., via focus groups, trainee surveys, etc.) promote inclusivity, equity, and literacy. To support trainees’ full participation in the program, PHMC will offer stipends based on HRSA guidance to support living expenses. This project will be guided by a Behavioral Health Workforce Advisory Committee (BHWAC), who will inform on the activities of each component through monthly meetings. The BHWAC will be comprised of 15 key community partners, CHWs and employer stakeholders. Consultation on the program will be informed from a Year 1 needs assessment, ongoing survey feedback loops, evaluation of ongoing educational training, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach to ensure the integrity of the program. As CHWs are central to this program, opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and mentorship will supplement didactic and experimental learning and ensure that CHWs have an active part in the ongoing Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement (RCQI) process and the skills and support necessary to serve their communities. PHMC and state association partners, PPHA and DPHA, are committed to a model that identifies, engages, recruits, trains, retains, and employs CHWs to effectively reach as many underserved and rural communities as possible. PHMC and its organizational partners are committed to three primary goals for the proposed project: 1) Expansion of CHWs into the behavioral health workforce through didactic and experiential learning, 2) Increased CHW employment readiness through apprenticeships, and 3) Promotion of health equity throughout communities served by the CHW workforce. PHMC requests funding priority in accordance with its program’s ability to teach trainees about the role of family and lived experiences of the consumer and family-paraprofessional partnership.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).