Nursing Home Staffing Campaign

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to improving safety and quality of care in the nation�s nursing homes. Nursing home staffing is a critical factor for improving care for nursing home residents. However, some nursing homes struggle to hire enough nursing staff to meet each resident�s needs. Additionally, state survey agencies, which are responsible for inspecting nursing homes for compliance with federal regulations, have also had challenges hiring nurses to conduct these inspections. The Nursing Home Staffing Campaign (NHSC) is aimed at increasing the availability of nurses to work in the nursing home environment, such as in qualifying nursing homes or in an oversight capacity for a state inspection agency. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is focused on helping to recruit registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses (LPNs) to work in nursing homes by offering financial incentives. Through this NOFO, CMS is accepting applications for cooperative agreements to entities that will administer financial incentives, such as tuition reimbursement and stipends to RNs and LPNs, to work for three years in a qualifying nursing home or in an oversight role with a state agency.

Only these types of organizations may apply: Education organizations � Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. � Private (non-profit) institutions of higher education. Nonprofit nursing and educational organizations � National associations for nursing schools. � National associations for nurses. � National associations for nursing students. Nonprofit organizations � Nonprofits that have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education. � Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education. � Community and consumer-focused nonprofit groups. Other organizations � Small nonprofit businesses. Faith-based organizations that meet the organizational eligibility requirements above are welcome to apply.

Experience and competency (25 Points): The organization�s experience (the organization applying and/or the key personnel) operating programs with similar components and objectives, such as existing relationships with nursing schools (2-year and/or 4-year RN degree and LPN schools) or nursing students that will support the ability to recruit RNs/LPNs in all states (Program Requirements and Expectations). Operational proposal (25 Points) : How the organization proposes to implement the components of the program (Program Requirements and Expectations). Timeline and milestones (20 Points): The timeline with specific milestones across all components of the program that will be met to support a successful program. Communications plan (10 Points): How he expectations for reporting and meetings will be met. Budget narrative and administrative costs (20 Points): All costs in the budget narrative are reasonable and consistent with the project�s purpose and activities.

Match: none required (federal program listing). This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details