The Building the Healthcare Workforce Grant program (BHW) was created in direct response to healthcare workforce research conducted by the University of California, San Francisco and supported by the CMSP Governing Board and Rural County Representatives of California. Research findings are detailed here: The Healthcare Workforce Landscape in County Medical Services Program (CMSP) & Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) counties
The CMSP Governing Board created the BHW grant program to support future healthcare workforce pipelines and to expand the number of qualified healthcare providers in CMSP counties. Ultimately, this program will ease the shared burden of CMSP county healthcare workforces and reduce barriers to healthcare services for CMSP county residents.
Awards were granted across two funding tracks.
Track 1 – Coalition Planning Grants
Award amounts ranged up to $60,000 per Coalition Planning project (up to $85,000 if the project served more than one CMSP county).
Coalition Planning grants were awarded to local healthcare system stakeholders to establish or support healthcare workforce coalitions consisting of local healthcare, county, public education and non-profit partners. These coalitions assessed and documented local healthcare workforce needs then created plans to address identified needs.
CMSP awarded three Coalition Planning project grants a collective award total of $180,000. These Coalition Planning projects served three CMSP counties.
Track 2 – Initiative Grants
Award amounts ranged up to $450,000 per project (up to $750,000 if the project served more than one CMSP county).
Initiative grants were awarded to local healthcare system stakeholders and educational institutions who are addressing the chronic shortage of healthcare providers in CMSP counties; expanding the number of available healthcare providers in CMSP counties; and/or supporting future healthcare workforce pipelines in CMSP counties.
Awarded projects are achieving these aims by:
- Establishing and expanding educational pathways for healthcare professions and para-professions development in high schools and universities;
- Establishing and expanding clinical training for health professions education;
- Expanding educational opportunities for enrollment of residents in CMSP counties in medical school, nursing school and professional dental programs;
- Expanding opportunities for expedited medical education in primary care and psychiatry for physicians;
- Expanding the footprint of medical school education in CMSP counties;
- Creating new or expanded stipend or other programs for licensed healthcare providers to take on clinical training responsibilities in CMSP counties; and,
- Facilitating and supporting efforts of healthcare providers in CMSP counties, to obtain H-1B visa healthcare employees to address workforce shortages.
CMSP awarded four Initiative projects a collective award total of $2,685,978. These awarded projects are serving seven CMSP counties.
For additional information regarding this program, email grants@cmspcounties.org.
