Area Health Education Centers
Stored: Area Health Education Centers
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Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) is a federally funded program established by Congress in 1971 under the Health Resources and Services Administration to address healthcare workforce shortages by developing education and training networks that connect academic institutions with underserved communities across the United States.
Mission
The Area Health Education Centers program works to improve healthcare delivery in rural and underserved regions by recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse health workforce, with a focus on primary care providers. Through its network of over 300 program offices and centers in 48 states and Washington, D.C., AHEC supports students and professionals via community-based education, continuing education, and youth pipeline programs, aiming to reduce disparities in healthcare access and quality.[1]
Parent organization
The Area Health Education Centers operates under the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that oversees workforce development and healthcare access initiatives nationwide.[2]
Legislation
The AHEC program was authorized by the Public Health Service Act, specifically under Title VII, Section 751, as amended, with initial implementation spurred by the 1970 Carnegie Commission report and enacted in 1971.[3]
Partners
- Academic institutions like medical and nursing schools for training programs
- Community-based organizations for local healthcare delivery[4]
- State and regional AHEC centers for program implementation
Number of employees
The exact number of employees is not centrally reported, as AHEC operates through a decentralized network of over 300 program offices and centers, with staffing varying by region and reliant on federal, state, and local contributions.[5]
Organization structure
The AHEC program is a national network coordinated by HRSA with regional autonomy:
Leader
The Area Health Education Centers program is overseen by a Director within HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce.[6]
Divisions
The divisions include:
- Program Offices for national coordination and grant management.[7]
- Regional Centers for state-specific training and education initiatives.
- Community Partnerships for local implementation and outreach.
List of programs
- AHEC Scholars Program for health professions students[8]
- Continuing Education for Health Professionals
- Health Careers Pipeline Programs for youth
Last total enacted budget
The last enacted budget for the AHEC program was $44.3 million for FY 2024, as allocated through HRSA’s appropriations.[9]
Staff
The AHEC program’s staff includes administrators, educators, and coordinators spread across its network, with no centralized count; regional centers employ directors, support staff, and educators tailored to local needs, totaling thousands indirectly supported by AHEC funding.[10]
Funding
Since its inception in 1971, AHEC has been funded through annual HRSA appropriations, with FY 2024 at $44.3 million, supplemented by state matching funds and local resources to sustain its network of over 300 centers.[11]
Services provided
The AHEC program provides health workforce training through community-based education, supports continuing education for practicing professionals, develops youth pipeline programs to encourage health careers, and fosters partnerships to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.[12]
Regulations overseen
The AHEC program does not directly oversee regulations but operates under HRSA guidelines to ensure compliance with federal health workforce training standards.[13]
Headquarters address
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857
History
The Area Health Education Centers program was established in 1971 following recommendations from the 1970 Carnegie Commission report, “Higher Education and the Nation’s Health,” enacted under the Public Health Service Act to address shortages of healthcare professionals in underserved areas, growing into a network of over 300 centers by leveraging federal and state partnerships.[14]
Related
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- National Health Service Corps
- Bureau of Health Workforce
External links
References
- ↑ "AHEC Program". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/area-health-education-centers-ahec.
- ↑ "About HRSA". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://www.hrsa.gov/about.
- ↑ "AHEC Program". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/area-health-education-centers-ahec.
- ↑ "Mission & History". National AHEC Organization. https://www.nationalahec.org/mission-history.
- ↑ "Mission & History". National AHEC Organization. https://www.nationalahec.org/mission-history.
- ↑ "About BHW". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/about.
- ↑ "AHEC Program". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/area-health-education-centers-ahec.
- ↑ "AHEC Scholars". National AHEC Organization. https://www.nationalahec.org/ahec-scholars.
- ↑ "HRSA Budget". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://www.hrsa.gov/about/budget.
- ↑ "Mission & History". National AHEC Organization. https://www.nationalahec.org/mission-history.
- ↑ "AHEC Program". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/area-health-education-centers-ahec.
- ↑ "AHEC Program". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/area-health-education-centers-ahec.
- ↑ "About BHW". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/about.
- ↑ "Mission & History". National AHEC Organization. https://www.nationalahec.org/mission-history.