Nursing Workforce Diversity (93.178)
Program
93.178 Nursing Workforce Diversity
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Health Resources and Services Administration
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Title VIII, Section 821, 42 U.S.C. 296m, as amended; Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392.
Program Number
93.178
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To increase nursing education opportunities for individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic minorities under-represented among registered nurses) by providing student stipends and scholarships, pre-entry preparation and retention activities. To support projects focused on creating registered nurses.
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used for salaries of personnel specifically employed for the project; consultant fees; supplies and equipment necessary to conduct the project; essential travel expenses and student stipends or scholarships; and other expenses related to the project. Restricted Uses: Indirect costs are allowed for administrative costs incurred as a result of the project, limited to 8 percent of direct costs exclusive of equipment and tuition and fees. Stipends are $250 per month to eligible full-time project students. The maximum annual (12-month) amount for stipends is $3000 per student. Scholarships are limited to a maximum of $7,000 per student per year for upper division nursing students. The maximum amount that can be requested for scholarships in a grant is $40,000 per year.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants are schools of nursing, health care facilities, or a partnership of such a school and a health care facility, nursing centers, academic health centers, State or local governments, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, other public or private non-profit entities including faith-based and community organizations, and for-profit entities capable of carrying out the legislative purpose. Schools of nursing must be accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or one of the State Agencies deem appropriate by the U.S. Department of Education to be eligible applicants.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Accredited public and nonprofit private schools of nursing and other public or nonprofit private entities.
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. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.
All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.
Award Procedure
Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 6 months after receipt of applications.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Competing continuation applications may be submitted for continuance of a grant beyond the initial project period. A competing continuation application shall be submitted during the beginning of the third year of the initial project period. The submission date is the same for new applications and competing continuation applications. These applications are reviewed in the same manner and at the same time as new competing applications.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Competing and competing continuation grant applications are submitted for three (3) years of support. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grantee drawdown funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. A Financial Status Report (FSR) must be submitted within 90 days after the end of each budget period. Final progress and financial reports must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the project period. No expenditure reports are required. A performance report must be submitted annually into the Bureau of Health Professions Performance Management System (BPMS).
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 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
Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the date they submit the FSR. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: Projects have assisted nursing schools and other organizations to meet the costs of recruitment and retention of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and facilitated their completion of nursing education programs. In FY08, 41 non-competing continuations and 10 new awards were issued. Fiscal Year 2009: It is estimated that 33 non-competing continuations and 15 new awards will be issues in FY09. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $15,210,512; FY 09 est $15,189,108; FY 10 est $14,689,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$99,536 to $564,103; $337,536.
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, as applicable.
Related Programs
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. LCDR Aisha K. Mix, MPH, MSN, RN, CCM, Project Officer, Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 8C-26, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-6193.
Headquarters Office
Aisha K. Mix 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-C26, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: (301) 443-6193
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: The Nursing Workforce Diversity program supports projects focused on creating registered nurses. The program has three major purposes that applicants must address in their project: 1) retention activities (nursing students), 2) pre-entry preparation, and 3) student scholarships and/or stipends. Expected outcomes of these projects include increasing nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve the diversity of the nursing workforce, meet the increasing need for culturally sensitive and quality health care. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The purpose of the project must be consistent with and promote the activities identified in the law. Need must be documented, and the capability for achieving project goals must be described. In making awards of grants under this section, preference will be given to any qualified applicant with a project that will substantially benefit rural or underserved populations, or help meet public health nursing needs in State in local health departments. This preference will only be applied to applications that rank above the 20th percentile of applications recommended for approval.
