To be considered for funding, organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Alignment with the Foundation’s cornerstones that advance our efforts to bring health in reach for all Coloradans

• Focus on recruiting people of color and/or people who are committed to working in rural Colorado. People of color is defined as Arab/Middle Eastern, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenous/Native American and multiracial communities.
• Serving at least 40% Coloradans living on low-income.
• Focus on training the following types of positions within the health care workforce who are committed to working in an integrated primary care setting:
  • Community health workers
  • Medical assistants
  • Physician assistants*
  • Nurses including licensed practical nurses and advance practice registered nurses/nurse practitioners*
  • Behavioral health providers including behavioral health assistants, behavioral health advocates and others
  • Dental hygienists
  • Dental assistants
  • Positions that are a springboard into one of the above positions such as a medical assistant
• Demonstrate established partnership and/or a commitment to building relationships with Colorado’s safety net clinics, including for-profit primary care clinics that serve at least 30% of patients living on low income. This can be demonstrated through Medicaid caseload, the number of patients who are uninsured, and/or the number of patients covered through Child Health Plan Plus or the Colorado Indigent Care Program.
• Demonstrated commitment to recruiting participants from local communities who have a desire to serve their community after completing their training.

* For applicants focused on training physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses/nurse practitioners, preference will be given to organizations who focus on recruitment of people of color into these positions.

• Community-based organizations:
  • Operating workforce programs with demonstrated experience in running health care training programs; or
  • Community-based organizations with demonstrated experience partnering with or supporting health care training programs
• Area Health Education Centers (AHECs)
• Community colleges, universities or other accredited educational institutions
• Partnerships between employers and schools/training programs
• Safety net clinics including:
  • Federally qualified health centers
  • Rural health clinics
  • Community-based clinics
  • School-based health centers
  • Tribally-run or Indian Health Service clinics
  • Community mental health centers with integrated primary care services
  • Dental programs with integrated primary care services

These activities may be implemented through partnerships with other organizations that are experienced in providing these services.

• Outreach and recruitment of participants
• Training and placement
• Culturally inclusive coaching and mentorship
• Wrap-around supports for students that may include but are not limited to:
  • Resource and referral to services
  • Support for child care such as subsidies or to build partnerships with local child care providers
  • Transportation
  • Stipends toward securing housing
• Training for employers to support a diverse primary care workforce

• Dedicated staffing to support proposed program
• Small capital expenditures such as equipment or technology to enhance the training program
• Marketing outreach for recruitment
• Paid internships
• Subsidies for child care, housing or transportation costs
• Funds can be used to provide incentives for individuals completing training programs with priority going to lower paying positions
• Scholarships or tuition

Comprehensive primary care: The Foundation has adopted the Institute of Medicine’s definition which is “primary care is the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community.” Furthermore, integrated refers to physical, behavioral and oral health. The Foundation’s definition also encompasses reproductive health services provided within the integrated setting.

Team-based care: Defined by the National Academy of Medicine as “the provision of health services to individuals, families, and/or their communities by at least two health providers who work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers – to the extent preferred by each patient – to accomplish shared goals within and across settings to achieve, coordinated, high-quality care.” There are five core principles: shared goals, clear roles, mutual trust, effective communication and measurable processes and outcomes.