Sec. 215. Rural health workforce grant program

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Part D of title VII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 294 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section: The terms career and technical education , career guidance and academic counseling , and program of study have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. The terms elementary school , local educational agency , and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The terms direct care professional and direct care professional workforce have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act. The terms career pathway , industry or sector partnership , and local board have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to develop career exploration programs aligned to career and technical education programs of study to bring awareness to elementary school and secondary school students in underserved rural communities about health care professions careers and provide children and youth underserved rural community health care experiences related to such careers.

Each grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount that is not more than $250,000 per year. Each grant awarded under this section shall be for a period not to exceed 5 years. To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall meet the following requirements: Be a consortium consisting of a local educational agency and at least 2 of the following: An institution of higher education that provides a recognized postsecondary credential in health care. A health care practice, facility, or provider organization.

A State, Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, or a local governmental entity. A local board. An industry or sector partnership. A nonprofit organization representing the interests of underserved rural communities and rural health care. An area health education center. A rural health clinic. Any other entity as determined appropriate by the Secretary. Submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information that the Secretary may require, including a plan for the long-term tracking of participants supported by the grant under this section.

In order to ensure the institutional commitment of an entity to a program supported by a grant under this section, to be eligible to receive such a grant, the Secretary may require the entity seeking such grant to agree to make available (directly or through contributions from State, county or municipal governments, or the public or private sector) recurring non-Federal contributions in cash or in kind (including plant, equipment, or services) towards the costs of operating the program in an amount that is equal to not less than 50 percent of the total costs of operating such program.

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that— include in its consortium— an entity that has demonstrated alignment with a State plan or local application developed under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006; a high-need local educational agency, as defined in section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, or a local educational agency eligible to receive assistance under part B of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; an institution of higher education at which at least 30 percent of the enrolled students are Federal Pell Grant recipients; a minority-serving institution of higher education described in any of paragraphs

(1)through

(7)of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965; or a local educational agency that serves the greatest number of students; and provide a plan to sustain the program funded under the grant beyond the period of the grant. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to establish, improve, or expand an underserved rural community training program for elementary school students and secondary school students that meets the following requirements: Carrying out program planning, including— development and support of a coordinating body to organize, administer, and oversee the activities of the consortium; conducting a needs analysis using data, including community demographics, workforce estimates, and capacity of training programs to direct work of the consortium; and developing a regional articulation plan that benefits students with respect to reducing barriers to program entry, reducing time to graduation, and lower cost training options. Carrying out age-appropriate education activities and promotion of the program that align with section 135(b)(1) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, including— engaging students in underserved rural communities in elementary school for exposure to health career workforce opportunities, and including direct care professionals in educational opportunities as practicable; exposing secondary school students in underserved rural communities to health career workforce opportunities available in their communities, including by providing career guidance and academic counseling on such opportunities; developing strategies to address resiliency and mental health among elementary school and secondary school students in underserved rural communities interested in health care professions careers in such communities; providing age-appropriate mentoring, academic enrichment, or support for elementary school and secondary school students in underserved rural communities, carried out by health care professionals or peers; enrolling secondary school students (including those in underserved rural communities) in health care career and technical education programs of study or career pathways in underserved rural communities; developing and enrolling of secondary school students in pre- and youth-apprenticeships or summer programs that provide clinical or other health care professions focused experiences in underserved rural communities; providing financial supplemental support for student transportation to, and housing at, the program site, as appropriate; and such other activities as the Secretary determines appropriate. Each such program shall be carried out for a term of not less than 5 years. The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall, directly or indirectly, provide technical assistance to grant recipients for purposes of carrying out the programs described in subsection (e). An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary on the progress of the program supported by such grant, based on criteria the Secretary determines appropriate, including the program selection of students who participated in the program. Each report required under subparagraph

(A)shall include any data requested by the Secretary, which may include, as appropriate, the number of participants and the demographics of such participants served by the program supported by the grant, including the number of participants who enrolled in the program and withdrew prior to completion of the program. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter until all programs supported through a grant under this section are completed, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that includes the progress of each program supported by a grant under this section and the challenges experienced by grantees with respect to such programs. Not later than September 30, 2030, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall submit a report to Congress on the lessons learned through the programs supported by grants under this section and that based on such lessons identifies best practices for career exploration programs with a focus on underserved rural communities and the direct care professional workforce. The Secretary shall, by regulation, define the term underserved rural community for purposes of this section. Any eligible entity receiving funds under this section shall use such funds to supplement, not supplant, any other Federal, State, and local funds that would otherwise be expended by such entity to carry out the activities described in this section. The Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this section on the recruitment of secondary school students residing in underserved rural communities entering professions of direct care professionals. The Secretary shall conduct the evaluation under paragraph

(1)through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience with evaluation related to workforce development and people with disabilities and older individuals. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029. .

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42 USC 294

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Sec. 215

Rural health workforce grant program

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