ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds

SUMMARY: The core of health care’s infrastructure is not "bricks and mortar." It is people--the registered nurses (RN), physicians, pharmacists, laboratory and radiologic technologist, respiratory care professionals and others who personally deliver healthcare services to patients.

Historically, workforce shortages have occurred in cycles, with the demand for health workers roughly corresponding to the overall strength of the state and U.S. economy. This shortage, however, is different. Fewer young people are choosing health care as a career and the current healthcare workforce is aging - more than one-third of working RNs are over age 50. This shortage also will not resolve itself with economic changes because the demand for healthcare services soon will increase to unprecedented heights. As the baby boomer generation retires over the next 20 years, the need for skilled healthcare workers will skyrocket.

Rural and urban Tennessee hospitals already have begun to experience critical workforce shortages. The number of full-time equivalent hospital workers per capita declined by 4 percent from 1992-1998 in Tennessee, while the number in the country as a whole remained unchanged. In addition, enrollments in all registered nurse initial licensure programs in Tennessee decreased by 25 percent from 1996 to 1999, further exacerbating the problem. It also has been projected that the population in Tennessee over the age of 65 will grow 65 percent by 2020. These critical issues are expected to increase the demand for healthcare services.

In an effort to help hospitals meet the needs of their patients with the most qualified professional staff, the Tennessee Hospital Education and Research Foundation (THERF) has launched the Center for Health Workforce Development in Tennessee (Center). The Center's mission is to work with hospitals and others to achieve an abundant, competent and motivated healthcare workforce through statewide collaboration, strategies and solutions. The Center will also work to increase communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals, educators, students, regulators, and employers.

Through a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Center is announcing the development of the Workforce Development Grant Program. The Center anticipates awarding approximately $500,000 statewide for a period of 12 months to address workforce needs and issues. Awards will be distributed on a regional or hospital district basis and multiple applications may be received from each district. However, the intent of this grant program is to implement model programs that can be replicated and are not duplicative. Therefore, not every district may receive funding. Applications will be accepted by any organization, but must receive the approval of the Tennessee Hospital Association's hospital district council/organization in the particular region of the state and the Center for Health Workforce Development Advisory Committee. Applicants must receive an official letter of support from the hospital district council. It is strongly recommended that proposals be presented at regularly scheduled council meetings for discussion. A list of hospitals by district and THA staff contacts is included as Attachment A.

DATES: Applicants must submit a letter of intent outlining the program purpose, scope, and proposed budget to Bill Jolley at bjolley@tha.com or to the address below by Friday, September 6, 2002. It is not necessary for the hospital district council to approve the letter of intent prior to submission. The letter of intent should not exceed (2) pages. The Center will notify potential applicants by Friday, September 20, if the proposed initiative is acceptable and whether a full proposal should be developed and presented to the district hospital council for discussion. This step is required to hopefully avoid any duplication of effort and to allow for the coordination of efforts on a statewide basis.

The closing date for receipt of final applications for funding is Monday, October 14, 2002. Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. (Central Daylight Time). NO exceptions to the mailing and hand-delivery conditions set forth in this notice will be granted. Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will NOT be considered. Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be honored.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed or hand delivered to:

Bill Jolley

Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development

500 Interstate Blvd. South

Nashville, TN 37210

REFERENCE TO: Workforce Development Grant

Hand-delivered Proposals: Proposals should be mailed at least five days prior to the closing date. However, if proposals are hand delivered, they must be received at the above-designated address by 4:00 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) on October 14, 2002. All overnight mail will be considered to be hand delivered and must be received at the designated place by the specified closing date and time. Telegraphed, e-mailed, and/or faxed, proposals will NOT be considered. Failure to adhere to the above instructions will be a basis for a determination of non-response by the Center for Health Workforce Development.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: Fax questions to Bill Jolley, Center for Health Workforce Development, (615) 242-4803 or e-mail to bjolley@tha.com.

This announcement consist of the following sections, which support the overall goals of this program:

· Statement of Program Purpose

· Scope of Services

· Proposed Budget

· Performance Outcomes

· Format for Proposal

· Monitoring and Follow-up Reviews

NOTIFICATION OF AWARD: There is no specific date set for announcing the awarding of funding for these projects. However, the funding will be awarded in a timely manner allowing for the expenditure of the funds by May 31, 2003.

FORMAT: The proposal shall demonstrate the applicant’s capabilities and plans to meet the project(s) Statement of Program Purpose, Scope of Services, and Performance Outcomes. The technical proposal must be limited to 10 double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 inch x 11-inch pages with 1-inch margins and Times New Roman 12-point font size. An Executive Summary, not to exceed two pages, must be included and will be counted within the 10-page limit. Attachments and Letters of Support will not be counted against the 10-page limit.

The goal of this grant program is to develop and implement a coordinated, systemic plan to reverse the negative outcomes of the declining workforce in healthcare in each region of the state.

Collaboration within the prospective district or region of the state must be the primary goal of this project. Collaboration offers opportunities to:

• Share knowledge.
• Learn from each other's experiences.
• Be stimulated by others’ ideas.
• Produce a coordinated, comprehensive and consensual response to the workforce shortage challenge.

All participating organizations should become beneficiaries of the project. However, the primary focus should be on collaborative groups of hospitals.

Types of organizations that should be included are public schools, technical and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, healthcare providers, insurance providers, business organizations, and professional advocacy organizations. Organizations may contribute resources of many types, including people, time and money to support the effort. The applicant should also briefly describe their qualifications and other related operational and organizational expertise for guiding this project or reason for serving as the grantee.

Applications will be accepted for projects that focus on developing an abundant, competent and motivated healthcare workforce through statewide or regional collaboration, strategies and solutions. Projects should ultimately focus on collective strategies for developing best practices and other model programs and initiatives among hospitals, healthcare professionals, educators, students, regulators, and employers.

This should be accomplished by developing shared strategies that focus on the following areas:

2. Promote and support efforts to recruit and retain healthcare education faculty.

3. Collaborate with educational institutions providing health professions training:

• Develop comprehensive linkages (K-12, community college, and university) to promote and prepare for health careers.
• Promote health science education programs for 9^th through 12^th grades.
• Assist in developing internship programs and clinical sites – 9^th through 12^th grades.

4. Promote total articulation/seamless education between nursing programs in the state.

• Training sites
• Financial support for schools
• Job opportunities

6. Encourage working healthcare professionals to interact with educators and their students.

Each strategy should be supported by action plans that lay out the steps to be followed to accomplish the strategy. "Who, What, Where, When, How, and How Well" questions should be answered by the group that completes the action plan.

The proposed budget shall include a budget detail on how the cost was determined. The following are suggested budget categories, but not limited to Personnel, Equipment, Supplies, Travel, and Contractual Costs. In addition, the proposal should also quantify or outline any in-kind contributions and other non-quantifiable value the applicant organization and other partners bring to the project. This information may be incorporated into a budget narrative. Any indirect or overhead expenses should be limited to 8 percent. Applicants are encouraged to identify other sources of revenue to support proposed initiatives.

The performance outcomes on this project depend, and will be based, on the region's/district's ability to address the strategies that are listed in the Scope of Services (Section II). The following requirement should be addressed in the application.

• The applicant should propose appropriate output and outcome measures for the goals, objectives, and activities described in the proposal.

• The applicant should describe the process by which data for these performance measures will be collected and analyzed, including an approach for evaluating the region's progress against its proposed outputs and outcomes.

• The applicant should describe a continuous self-evaluation plan that would measure, monitor and improve the region's execution to ensure progress toward identified goals and objectives.

The proposal must follow the format outlined in the following paragraph. The Executive Summary, preceding the technical proposal, will be counted in the 10-page limit and should not exceed two pages.

The proposal needs to include basic information about this project. The proposal must include the following information: 1) the name of the organization applying for the grant and any partners that may collaborate in this grant project; 2) the area in which the project will be implemented; 3) the overall time frame in which services will be delivered; 4) the methods, strategies and/or approaches to be used; 5) the reason(s) for implementing this project within your area; 6) budget justification; and 7) evaluation plan.

The Center for Health Workforce Development will be responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the grant. The monitoring review will focus on the project's performance in meeting the application's proposed goals. Follow-up reviews will include reports documenting monthly/quarterly progress, and an evaluation of the outcomes, impacts, and benefits of the project.