Community Health Center Workforce Pipeline Program

(a) Grants To recruit, train, and retain a community-Based health center workforce (1) In general Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is amended— (A) by redesignating subsection (r) as subsection (u); and (B) by inserting after subsection (q) the following new subsection: (r) Recruiting, training, and retaining a community-Based workforce The Secretary may award grants to health centers for the purpose of assisting such centers in— (1) recruiting and hiring staff with the skills and experience necessary to effectively serve health center patient populations in rural and underserved areas; and (2) supporting career advancement and workforce development opportunities for such staff.. (b) FQHCs deemed eligible To register as apprenticeship program Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall revise the regulations under part 29 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, so that Federally qualified health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa))) are eligible to register as apprenticeship programs under such part. (c) Health centers career opportunities Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by inserting after subsection (r) the following: (s) Health centers career opportunities (1) In general The Secretary may award grants to institutions of higher education, including community colleges and minority-serving institutions, to establish partnerships with one or more health centers funded under this section for training students in health professions. (2) Use of funds (A) Costs An institution of higher education receiving a grant under this subsection may use the grant to pay the costs of training, including the salary of the clinicians or other educators who provide the training. (B) Training supported The training supported pursuant to a grant under this subsection may include formal training and mentorships. (C) Types of training The types of training supported pursuant to a grant under this subsection may include clinical, information technology, operations, finance, or other training for students of health professions, as determined by the institution of higher education receiving the grant in partnership with the health center involved. (3) Definitions In this subsection: (A) The term institution of higher education means an institution of higher education described in subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. (B) The term minority-serving institution means an institution of higher education described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.. (d) Behavioral health specialists Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), as amended by subsection (c), is further amended by inserting after subsection (s) the following: (t) Behavioral health specialists (1) In general The Secretary may award grants to health centers to establish, operate, or expand training programs for behavioral health specialists. (2) Use of funds The training programs for behavioral health specialists supported pursuant to a grant under this subsection may include— (A) stipends for personnel to operate the training programs; (B) apprenticeship programs; and (C) other recruitment and retention activities for behavioral health specialists..