Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways (LEAP) Training Program

The MCH Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways Training Program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of MCH Workforce Development. This program is designed to strengthen the maternal and child health workforce by creating structured educational pathways for undergraduate students. It reflects a long-standing federal investment in building a diverse, interdisciplinary workforce capable of addressing healthcare access gaps, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The program builds upon prior LEAP initiatives established in 2006 and expanded over time, demonstrating measurable success in training students and advancing them into MCH careers. The primary purpose of the program is to expose undergraduate students from various academic disciplines to maternal and child health training, careers, and graduate education opportunities. Funded recipients are expected to design and implement comprehensive training programs that include curriculum development, mentorship models, internships, and experiential learning opportunities. Programs must recruit and support at least 30 undergraduate trainees annually, including a subset engaged in more intensive medium- and long-term training. Activities must align with broader goals of improving healthcare access and outcomes for maternal and child populations, especially in underserved regions. Funding under this opportunity supports programmatic costs related to curriculum delivery, trainee support, mentorship, and partnership development. Recipients may provide stipends, tuition assistance, and travel support to eligible trainees, particularly those in advanced training tiers. However, funds are subject to federal cost principles and restrictions, including an 8 percent cap on indirect costs for training awards. There is no cost-sharing requirement, although voluntary contributions may be made but are not considered in application review. The total anticipated funding for the program is $775,000 for fiscal year 2026, with up to five awards of up to $155,000 annually per recipient over a five-year project period. Eligibility is limited to domestic public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education, including tribal colleges and universities. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Trainees supported by the program must meet citizenship or residency requirements, and program leadership must include a designated Project Director who is a faculty member committing at least 20 percent effort to the program. Applicants may submit only one application and must meet all eligibility and submission requirements to be considered for funding. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as a project narrative, budget and budget narrative, training curriculum, partnership agreements, advisory committee roster, and other supporting documents. Applications are evaluated through a competitive merit review process based on criteria including need, program design, performance management, impact, organizational capacity, and budget justification. Applications that fail to meet eligibility, exceed funding limits, or are submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is June 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to begin on June 1, 2026, with a five-year period of performance extending through May 31, 2031. Recipients must comply with ongoing reporting requirements, including annual performance reports and data submission through HRSA systems. Program contacts are available through HRSA for both programmatic and financial questions, including a dedicated email inbox and support phone numbers. This funding opportunity is expected to recur annually based on historical patterns and federal funding cycles.

Align curriculum with MCH competencies; demonstrate strong partnerships; provide measurable outcomes and tracking; ensure mentorship model is clearly structured; address underserved populations explicitly