Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
Community Health Worker Training Program - Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA 22 124 Community Health Worker Training Program CFDA(s): 93.516 Applicant Name: University of Kentucky Research Foundation on behalf of the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UKCERH) Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health ELEVATE CHWs Training Site Address: 500 South Limestone, 109 Kinkead Hall, Lexington, KY 40526-0001 Project Director (PI) Name: Frances Feltner, DNP Contact Phone Number: 606-439-3557 Email Address: frances.feltner@uky.edu Website Address: https://medicine.uky.edu/centers/ruralhealth/ Grant Program Funds Requested: $2,575,901 Kentucky faces many challenges, but Kentuckians are resilient and with the right resources and support can make improvements in the health disparities many faces, especially our underserved populations. The funding from this grant will be used to ELEVATE CHWs (Educate, Lead, Empower, Value, Access, Train, and Equity). The Kentucky Homeplace CHW program has shown the value of CHWs in addressing barriers to care in rural Appalachian counties. Building off of what has been learned over the program’s 25-plus years UK CERH and partners across the State will work collaboratively to increase the number of CHWs and ensure they are equipped with the skills needed to be successful. This proposal is designed to increase the number of CHWs and ensure that they have the knowledge and skills needed to increase access to care, strengthen the public health workforce, reduce health disparities and help underserved populations to achieve health equity. Health disparities and workforce shortages have long been issues Kentuckians have dealt with, especially in underserved populations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how vulnerable rural populations are in public health emergency situations due to these and other health issues. The pandemic has also brought to light the important role CHWs have and can play in conducting community outreach, prevention education, and connecting individuals to care and support services. The target population for expansion and upskilling includes high school students, new CHWs and current CHWs across rural Kentucky. The project proposes to increase the CHW workforce by 180 new CHWs, with 45 of those having an apprenticeship opportunity, by the end of year three. Up to 100 CHWs, with at least 60 of these receiving stipends, will receive upskilling and specialized training by the end of year three. The program goals will be accomplished over the three years of the grant with successful outcomes leading to a sustainable CHW workforce. Expanding the CHW workforce and having them fill in critical gaps in health and behavioral health care will help to address the challenges related to the SDOH- food insecurities, those living in poverty, high chronic disease rates, etc. – as this workforce will have more available time and extensive knowledge of resources to help each individual client. An enhanced, strengthen, and expanded CHW workforce will help to reduce health disparities and help underserved populations achieve health equity
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).