The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is offering a grant opportunity through its Healthcare Education and Life-Skills Program (HELP) under RFA #20529. This initiative, managed by the Office of Healthcare Workforce Innovation, aims to increase the number of students and trainees pursuing careers in healthcare by providing support services. The primary goal of this funding is to address regional healthcare workforce shortages and boost the completion rates of healthcare training programs. It focuses on identifying workforce needs in specific regions and providing the necessary supports to students or trainees to overcome barriers to program completion.

The total funding available for this opportunity is $97.5 million, with contracts anticipated to last 60 months. The application submission deadline is December 20, 2024, at 4:00 PM ET, and all applications must be submitted via the New York State Statewide Financial System (SFS) portal. Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit questions related to the application by November 12, 2024, to Carrie Roseamelia at HELP.Services.Grant@health.ny.gov. Responses to questions will be posted by December 3, 2024. Applications should focus on offering wraparound services that help students overcome barriers such as financial challenges, access to resources, or other factors that might prevent them from completing their healthcare education.

Eligible applicants for this funding are limited to not-for-profit organizations, with an emphasis on ensuring that these entities are prequalified within the SFS system before applying. The application process also includes Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) requirements, and questions related to these can also be submitted through the same email contact. This initiative will prioritize addressing workforce gaps by region and improving healthcare education pipelines, particularly by focusing on the barriers that limit student success, thereby increasing overall workforce capacity in underserved areas.

Applicants should refer to the detailed solicitation profile and ensure that they follow all instructions related to the SFS system, including proper file naming and submission roles. The award decisions are expected to be made by August 1, 2025. Organizations interested in this funding opportunity should prepare to engage with the application process early, as the system will require technical steps such as global error checks before final submission.

This program is part of a broader effort by NYSDOH to develop the healthcare workforce and improve healthcare access and outcomes across New York State, particularly in regions facing significant workforce shortages.