Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program | HRSA 22 117

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 22 117

The Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program (RPHWTN) is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), designed to strengthen the rural and tribal public health workforce. The core idea is to expand public health capacity by funding job development, training, and placement efforts that directly help rural health care systems respond to ongoing community health needs worsened by COVID-19, including the continuing burden of long COVID. By focusing on practical workforce gaps inside rural hospitals, clinics, and related community providers, the program aims to boost both clinical capacity (hands-on services and patient support) and operational capacity (the staffing and systems that keep care accessible and coordinated).

A defining feature of RPHWTN is its emphasis on building and formalizing local and regional training networks, not just individual training programs. Applicants are expected to create stronger, lasting connections between the organizations that train workers (such as educational institutions and training providers) and the organizations that will employ them or rely on their skills (such as rural hospitals, clinics, and social service partners). This linkage is meant to ensure that training leads to real jobs and real improvements in how rural health systems function, particularly around care coordination, case management, and population health activities that also support broader shifts toward value-based care.

The program funds training and certification development across four workforce tracks that were selected because they can deliver immediate, tangible benefits to rural providers. Track 1, Community Health Support, centers on roles that help communities navigate services, improve outreach, and support prevention and population health work. Track 2, Health IT and/or Telehealth Technical Support, targets the technical workforce needed to maintain and expand telehealth and health information systems that are especially important in remote areas. Track 3, Community Para-Medicine, focuses on expanding the ability of paramedicine-related roles to support community-based care and reduce avoidable emergency and hospital utilization. Track 4, Case Management Staff and/or Respiratory Therapists, addresses critical staffing needs tied to care coordination and respiratory care, both of which have been under heavy strain during and after the pandemic.

In terms of goals, the RPHWTN program is structured around five main outcomes. First, it seeks to establish strong local networks that bring together health care providers, social service organizations, and educational institutions to create training programs aligned with rural workforce needs across the four tracks. Second, it pushes for innovative workforce strategies that expand capacity in response to COVID-19 impacts, including cross-training new and existing staff, strengthening business operations support, and preparing workers to contribute effectively to population health efforts. Third, it prioritizes building formal, sustainable pipelines into employment so that people who complete RPHWTN-supported training can move into high-quality, good-paying jobs with rural health facilities and partners. Fourth, it requires attention to culturally and linguistically appropriate training, recognizing that rural and tribal communities have diverse needs and that workforce competency is tied to better care and better patient experiences. Fifth, it supports approaches that help train and upskill current staff to operate at the top of their roles, improving both service delivery and day-to-day operational resilience.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA 22 117; CFDA 93.912) and is open to a wide range of eligible applicants, including state, county, and local governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), along with other entities as described in the official eligibility language. HRSA anticipated making 31 awards for this competition cycle. The notice was originally posted December 17, 2021, with an original application deadline of March 18, 2022.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.912.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 17, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 18, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 31 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HRSA 22 117

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