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Comprehensive Geriatric Education Program (CGEP) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Comprehensive Geriatric Education Program (CGEP)?

The Comprehensive Geriatric Education Program (CGEP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It is designed to strengthen the nursing workforce's ability to care for older adults by supporting education and training activities focused on geriatrics.

2) What is the main goal of the CGEP grant?

The central goal is to improve geriatric care by investing in education and training for nursing personnel. The program places particular emphasis on building high-quality instructional content and expanding access to geriatric expertise.

3) What kinds of activities does CGEP support?

CGEP supports activities that improve geriatric education capacity, including training individuals, developing and sharing geriatric-focused curricula, preparing and strengthening faculty who teach geriatrics, and providing continuing education for professionals already delivering geriatric care.

4) What topics should the curricula and training address?

The opportunity emphasizes geriatric-focused curricula that address the health problems commonly affecting elderly individuals, along with content and training approaches that strengthen geriatric nursing education and practice.

5) Does the program focus only on students, or also on working professionals?

Based on the description, CGEP supports both: (1) education and training activities that prepare individuals and faculty, and (2) continuing education for professionals already delivering geriatric care.

6) How does CGEP encourage real-world clinical training?

Eligibility includes schools of nursing, health care facilities, CNA certification programs, and partnerships among these entities. This structure reflects an expectation that applicants can connect classroom learning to clinical environments and move geriatric education into hands-on training, faculty development, and workforce upskilling.

7) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include schools of nursing, health care facilities, programs that lead to certification as a certified nurse assistant (CNA), and partnerships that combine these entities (for example, a school of nursing partnered with a health care facility, or a CNA certification program partnered with a facility).

8) Are partnerships allowed or encouraged?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly allows partnerships that combine eligible entities, such as collaborations between a school of nursing and a health care facility, or a CNA certification program and a facility.

9) What is meant by "discretionary grant" in this context?

The CGEP is described as a discretionary HRSA grant opportunity, meaning it is a competitively awarded program supported through agency grantmaking rather than an entitlement or formula-based funding stream.

10) What federal authority or initiatives should funded activities align with?

Funded activities are expected to align and coordinate with related federal initiatives authorized under section 753 of the Public Health Service Act, which emphasizes broader health professions education and workforce development.

11) What types of costs can grant funds be used for?

Allowable uses include salaries for personnel hired specifically to carry out the project, consultant fees, supplies, equipment necessary to conduct the project, travel expenses for essential project personnel, and other costs clearly tied to running the program and meeting its training and curriculum objectives.

12) Can the grant pay for salaries?

Yes. Salaries are an allowable cost when they are for personnel hired specifically to carry out the project.

13) Are consultant fees an allowable expense?

Yes. Consultant fees are listed as an allowable use of grant funds when they support project implementation.

14) Can funds be used for supplies and equipment?

Yes. Supplies and equipment necessary to conduct the project are allowable costs.

15) Can the grant cover travel costs?

Yes. Travel expenses for essential project personnel are an allowable use of funds, as long as the travel is necessary for the project.

16) Are there restrictions on using funds to support trainees?

Yes. Trainee expenses are not allowed. The description indicates funds generally cannot be used to pay stipends, tuition, or similar direct support to individuals as trainees.

17) Are indirect (overhead) costs allowed?

Indirect costs are permitted only for administrative costs attributable to the project, but they are capped at 8 percent of direct costs.

18) What is the indirect cost cap for this opportunity?

The indirect cost rate is capped at 8 percent of direct costs, limiting the amount of overhead an organization may charge.

19) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and CFDA number referenced?

The referenced announcement lists Funding Opportunity Number HRSA-09-104 and CFDA 93.265.

20) How many awards and how much total funding were anticipated for the referenced announcement?

HRSA anticipated making 19 awards with an estimated total funding level of $2,883,200 for the referenced announcement.

21) When was the referenced opportunity posted, and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on October 24, 2008, and had a closing date of December 19, 2008.

22) Is this specific grant posting still active?

No. The listing was archived on February 17, 2009, indicating the referenced posting is historical.

23) If the posting is historical, what is still useful about the summary?

The summary still reflects the program's core intent: expanding and improving geriatric nursing education capacity through curriculum development and dissemination, faculty preparation, and continuing education, implemented by eligible nursing and clinical organizations and their partnerships.

24) Where could applicants get help or request access to the full announcement?

HRSA provided support through the HRSA Call Center at CallCenter@HRSA.GOV and by phone at 877-464-4772 and 301-998-7373. The archived listing also referenced an additional information link hosted on HRSA's grants site.

25) What kinds of organizations is HRSA trying to reach through CGEP eligibility rules?

The eligible applicant list suggests HRSA is targeting nursing education and care delivery settings that can connect training and curriculum to real clinical environments, including schools of nursing, health care facilities, CNA certification programs, and partnerships among them.