Community Health Worker Specialized Certificate Grant Program

The Rural Health Transformation Funding Opportunity to Develop Community Health Worker Specialized Certificates is administered by the Kentucky Department for Public Health as part of the Commonwealth’s broader Rural Health Transformation initiative. This initiative is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Rural Health Transformation Fund, which provides substantial federal investment to strengthen rural health systems. The overall program is designed to improve access to care and health outcomes for rural populations by expanding workforce capacity, integrating technology, and building sustainable infrastructure. The funding spans multiple years aligned with federal fiscal cycles, and disbursement is tied to performance metrics and milestone achievements. The specific purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the development of specialized training certificates for Community Health Workers. These certificates are intended to enhance the capabilities of certified CHWs by providing advanced, topic specific training in key priority areas such as healthy lifestyle management, perinatal and infant health, mental and behavioral health, and oral and dental health. The goal is to expand the number of CHWs with specialized competencies who can effectively address the complex health and social needs of rural populations across Kentucky. Training programs must align with statewide certification standards and incorporate the eight core competencies established by the Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers. Funding supports the design, development, and delivery of specialized certificate curricula that meet strict program requirements. Allowable uses of funds include personnel costs, curriculum development, subject matter expertise, training technology, marketing and recruitment, and evaluation activities. Indirect costs are capped at ten percent, and administrative costs must also remain within defined limits. Programs must be delivered through the state’s designated training platform and offered free of charge to participants. Funding is distributed through milestone based payments, requiring awardees to meet enrollment, delivery, and completion targets in order to receive full funding. Eligibility is limited to Kentucky based nonprofit training organizations that demonstrate the capacity to deliver public health education programs. Eligible entities include colleges and universities, community and technical colleges, local health departments, workforce organizations, healthcare associations, and approved training organizations. Applicants must be in good standing with the state, demonstrate experience in curriculum development or training delivery, and commit to involving Community Health Workers in the design process. Organizations must also demonstrate how their proposed programs will serve rural communities and meet identified workforce needs. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive proposal via email, including a cover sheet, a detailed narrative, and supporting documentation such as a budget. The narrative must describe the proposed certificate program, curriculum design, alignment with required competencies, evaluation plan, and implementation timeline. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including program readiness, curriculum quality, rural impact, partnerships, and budget justification. Applicants may submit proposals for one or more certificate areas, but each must include a complete and separate proposal. The timeline for this opportunity includes a release date in mid July, followed by informational sessions, office hours, and a final application deadline in early August. Awards are expected to be announced later in August, with the funding period beginning in October. Awardees must complete and obtain approval for their specialized certificate programs by the end of June of the following year. During the funding period, recipients are required to submit regular progress reports, participate in monthly meetings, and maintain detailed records of training activities and outcomes. This funding opportunity does not require a cost sharing or matching contribution from applicants. However, it is competitive and subject to modification or termination based on performance, funding availability, or compliance with federal and state requirements. All awarded programs must adhere to applicable regulations and reporting standards, including federally mandated disclosures. The program emphasizes accountability, measurable outcomes, and alignment with broader rural health transformation goals across the Commonwealth.

Align curriculum clearly to CHW core competencies; demonstrate rural impact and partnerships; ensure detailed and feasible implementation timeline; provide strong evidence of curriculum development capacity