Disadvantaged Health Professions Faculty Loan Repayment
(FLRP) and Minority Faculty Fellowship
The applicant school shall demonstrate its ability to: (1) identify, recruit, and select under-represented minority
FLRP - Awards were made to encourage individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to go into teaching.
MFFP - The purpose of the Minority Faculty Fellowship Program (MFFP) is to assist eligible entities in increasing the number of underrepresented minority faculty at health professional schools.
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Telephone: (301) 443-5644.
Program Accomplishments
There were 2 non-competing continuation awards made in FY 07. There will be 1 competing award issued in FY 08.
Uses and Use Restrictions
FLRP - Funds will be used to repay qualifying health professions educational loans consisting of principal and interest on loans incurred by the applicant while enrolled in a school in return for serving a minimum of least 2 years as a full-time or part-time faculty member at one of the following accredited health profession schools: medicine, nursing, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, public health, or a school that offers a graduate program in clinical psychology, and certain allied health programs.
MFFP - To be able to receive an MFFP grant under section 738 (b) of the Public Health Service Act, an entity should provide an assurance in the application that: (1) Amounts received under the grant will be used to award a fellowship to the individual only if the individual meets the requirements outlined in the Fellow Eligibility Criteria.
(2) Each fellowship award will include a stipend in an amount not exceeding 50 percent of the regular salary of a faculty member not to exceed 3 years of training; an allowance for other expenses such as travel to professional meetings and costs related to specialized training.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
FLRP - Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who (1) have a degree in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, nursing, graduate public health, selected allied health or graduate behavioral and mental health; (2) are enrolled in an approved graduate training program in one of the health professions listed above; (3) are enrolled as full-time students in accredited institutions described above and in the final course of study or program leading to a degree from the institution.
MFFP - Eligible applicants are accredited health profession schools of allopathic and osteopathic medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, allied health, public health, podiatric medicine, pharmacy, and schools offering graduate programs in behavioral and mental health.
To be eligible to receive the grant the applicant shall: (1) Provide assurance that such applicant will make available (directly through cash donations) $1 for every $1l of Federal funds received under section 738 of the Public Health Service Act.
(2) provide an assurance that institutional support will be provided for the individual for the second and third year at a level that is equal to the total amount of institutional funds provided in the year in which the grant or contract was awarded.
(3) provide an assurance that the individual that will receive the fellowship will be a member of the faculty of the applicant school.
(4) provide an assurance that the individual that will receive the fellowship will have, at a minimum, appropriate advanced preparation (such as a master's or doctor degree) and special skills necessary to enable such individuals to teach and practice.
Beneficiary Eligibility
FLRP - Individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. MFFP - Fellowship recipients must meet the following conditions: (1) Must fall under the definition of underrepresented minority individuals' (URM). URM is defined as racial and ethnic populations who are under-represented in the designated health profession discipline relative to the number of individuals who are members of the population involved. This definition would include Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino, and any Asian other than Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Asian Indian or Thai. (2) the fellow must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or foreign national who possesses a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States, except in the case of programs specifically designed for support of foreign nationals. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to receive PHS fellowship or training grant support.
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.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded for coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. Please visit the Grants.gov Web site at www.grants.gov to both find and apply for all Federal grant opportunities. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee which will make funding recommendations to the Associate Administrator for the Bureau of Health Professions. The Associate Administrator has the authority to make final selections for awards.
Award Procedures
FLRP - FLRP awards are based on a percentage of the eligible applicant's total debt. Payments are made to individuals via electronic direct deposit. MFFP - Based upon the availability of funds, notice of awards are issued to the eligible schools which in turn distribute the awards to the fellow(s).
Deadlines
www.hrsa.gov .
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Title VII, Section 738(b), 42 U.S.C. 293, as amended; Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Two to three months after application due date.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Applicants must: (1) provide assurance that such applicant will make available (directly through cash donations) $1 for every $1 of Federal funds received under section 738 of the Public Health Service Act; (2) provide an assurance that institutional support will be provided for the individual for the second and third year at a level that is equal to the total amount of institutional funds provided in the year in which the grant or contract was awarded; (3) provide an assurance that the individual who will receive the fellowship will be a member of the faculty of the applicant school; and (4) provide an assurance that the individual who will receive the fellowship will have, at a minimum, appropriate advanced preparation (such as a master's or doctoral degree) and special skills necessary to enable such individuals to teach and practice.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
FLRP - Assistance is availabe during the time specified in the contract. MFFP support is limited to a 3-year project period.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
FLRP recipients are required to annually provide documentation demonstrating that funds were used to repay educational loans.
The employing health professions school must complete and submit a semi- annual certification that the participating faculty has engaged in a position at the institution.
The certification includes an endorsement by an appropriate official of the facility.
MFFP applicants are required to submit a Uniformed Progress Report annually to the Division of Health Careers Diversity and Development.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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
All records must be maintained until expiration of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions remain following the 3-uear period, such as those raised as a result of an audit or an on-going enforcement action, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
Appropriation 7580350. CAN 08-3765518.
Obigations
FY 07 $108,786; FY 08 $54,477; and FY 09 est $200,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY 07, the range was $53,313 to $55,473, with an average award of $54,393. In FY 08, there will be 1 competing award issued, for $54,477. In FY 09, the estimated average for 4 awards will be $50,000.
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.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Stuart Weiss, Acting Chief, Diversity Branch, Division of Diversity and Interdisciplinary Education, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 9-36, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-5644.
Headquarters Office
Grants Management Office: Rick Goodman, Director, Division of Grants Management Operations, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-16. Health Services Branch: (301) 443-2385; Research and Training Branch: (301) 443-3099; Government and Special Focus Branch: (301) 443-3288.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Overview: The health professions school should provide information that adequately documents the need and data relative to the school's experience and ability to identify, recruit, select and train underrepresented minority faculty. In addition to teaching, acquiring administrative skills and conducting research, the fellow must also provide health care services, especially as a means of meeting community needs for reducing barriers to health care services to rural or under-served populations. The application should also include a discussion of how the development of underrepresented minority faculty, through use of the fellowship program, will enhance the participant's academic career potential and community service abilities. Review Criteria are used to review and rank applications. The Minority Faculty Fellowship Program has 6 review criteria: Need: This includes the extent to which the application describes the problem (e.g., lack of Minority Faculty) and associated factors contributing to this problem. Faculty Recruitment: This includes the extent to which the school demonstrates that it has the commitment and ability to identify, recruit, and select underrepresented minority individuals who have the potential for teaching, administration, and/or conducting research at a health professions institution. Faculty Development: This includes the extent to which the school's faculty training program will provide the fellow with the preparation, training, and skills needed to secure a tenured faculty position. The Faculty Development Plan should include the provision of counselors and protected time for research and faculty development. Training may include: pedagogical skills, including teaching experience; program administration; grant writing; research methods and design; and preparation of articles suitable for publication in peer reviewed journals. Impact: Faculty Training in Providing Health Service: This includes the extent to which the Fellow is available to provide health services to rural or medically underserved populations. Resources/Capabilities: This includes the extent to which project personnel are qualified by training and/or experience to implement and carry out projects. This includes the capabilities of the applicant organization; and the quality and availability of facilities and personnel to fulfill the needs and requirements of the proposed project. Support Requested: This includes the extent to which the overall budget, including non-trainee expenses, is cost effective, reasonable, and consistent with the stated objectives and proposed activities. Expenditures are well justified and in-kind contributions are documented. Evaluative Measures: Describe the methodology that will be used to monitor and evaluate the project results. Evaluative measures must be able to assess the extent to which the program objectives have been met.
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