HHS – Service Area Competition Forecast (2020)

By NLADA on February 28, 2020

To be posted: May 14, 2020

This is a forecasted grant opportunity. The purpose of this grant program is to improve the health those who are medically underserved by providing primary health care services. This is the primary funding source for health centers. Health centers, using “enabling services” language can fund legal services through medical legal partnerships to address the social determinants of health.

Helpful resources

NLADA hosted a webinar with the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership about funding and service delivery models. Access the webinar here.
To learn more about MLPs, the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership is the central source for research and information on the need for and impact of MLPs, as well as resources on how to establish them.
HRSA’s webinar, From Zero to 60: Medical-Legal Partnership Fundamentals and Strategies

Grant information

Funding Title: Service Area Competition

Agency Name: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-21-002

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. HRSA Section 330 funding for Community Health Centers is the funding from which community health centers use to fund “enabling services,” which includes legal services through the practice of medical-legal partnership.

Service Descriptors for Form 5A mentions legal aid: “Eligibility assistance services are support to health center patients to establish eligibility for and gain access to appropriate federal, state and local programs that provide or financially support the provision of medical, social, educational, housing, or other related services (e.g., Medicaid, Veteran’s benefits, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Legal Aid).”

Additionally, legal aid is mentioned as an additional enabling/supportive service: “Additional enabling/supportive services are beyond any required case management services and support a health center patient’s access to non-medical, social, educational or other related services (e.g., child care, food banks/meals, employment and education counseling, legal services/legal aid).”

You can access the document stating this either through the link above or going here, clicking on Form 5A: Services Provided, and then clicking on the link “Service Descriptors for Form 5A: Services Provided.”

Target Population: Medically underserved populations, defined as “the population of an urban or rural area designated by the Secretary as an area with a shortage of personal health services or a population group designated by the Secretary as having a shortage of such services.”

Expected Number of Awards: 66

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

How to Apply: Legal aid can subgrant or enter in an agreement with a HRSA-funded health center. Only health centers are eligible to receive this funding. See if there is a health center in your area here.

Eligible Applicants: Health centers.

For more information

Link to Full Announcement: Link

Contact Information: Contact Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration BPHCSAC@hrsa.gov or at 301-594-4300