Healthcare
Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce Program (PATH)
Purpose:
To create, support, and expand the opportunities of individuals in the nursing pathway and select healthcare pathways to obtain credentials and degrees that allow them to enter and/or advance their careers in the healthcare industry. Additionally, this grant aims to address the shortage of workers in the healthcare industry that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. During its first two years of implementation, beginning July 1, 2022, fifty (50) million dollars were awarded to Illinois Community Colleges. For the grant period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, fifteen (15) million dollars were awarded. Funds are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.
FY2025 Application
Districts must complete an Implementation Plan, Uniform Application Cover Page, and Uniform Budget to receive funding in FY2025. Templates are linked below.
Allocations and Funding Deadlines
Allocations of PATH funding are calculated with a base amount and an additional amount based on program completions in eligible healthcare programs. Priority programs are weighted higher within the allocations. Each college district receives a $100,000 base allocation. This year, the additional amount was calculated based on the new PATH rules, which are effective July 1, and there were a few changes. First, the additional funding amount was calculated by taking an average of healthcare completers for eligible programs for the three (3) most recent academic years (2021, 2022, and 2023). Next, non-credit completers in programs associated with PATH-approved CIP codes were counted in this year’s allocations. The additional amount was derived by a formula utilizing:
- A three-year average of completers of high need prioritized programs, which are weighted at a higher amount (Again AY2021, 2022, and 2023 data)
- A three-year average of the number of completers of other programs in the healthcare pathway, weighted at approximately 2/3 the amount compared to the high need prioritized programs (Again AY2021, 2022, and 2023 data)
- Including non-credit completers of programs associated with PATH-approved CIP codes.
Funding Deadlines
- Grant funds must be obligated by June 30, 2025
- Good/products must be ordered by June 30, 2025/received by August 30, 2025
- Services must be rendered by June 30, 2025
- Grant funds must be expended by August 30, 2025
- Final budget modifications are due by May 30, 2025
Data and Accountability
To assess the extent to which programs are successful in preparing more individuals for employment in the healthcare field, districts will be held to a performance target for completions. Data will be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, whether a student is a new entrant or incumbent worker, and income (Pell status) for the purposes of identifying opportunities to address equity gaps. Additionally, Districts will carry out activities as described in their approved Implementation Plan to meet the goals of the PATH program. Districts are also required to implement an exit survey to assist in the process of gathering post-completion education and employment data.
Reporting
Grantees are required to submit quarterly reports 30 days after the end of each quarter ends (2 CFR 200.328) detailing progress on program activities. All programmatic reports should be submitted to: ann.l.storey@illinois.gov and Bright.AkuamoahBoateng@Illinois.gov.
- Financial Reporting
Learning Communities
As a part of the PATH project, the ICCB facilitates learning communities that support innovative evidenced-based practices for program implementation. Participation in a learning community is required, and colleges must select an Innovative Strategy that the institution is interested in exploring, developing, or expanding for PATH eligible programs.
- Apprenticeship I: For colleges that are interested in learning more about apprenticeships in healthcare but aren’t ready to develop them at an institutional level.
- Apprenticeship II: For colleges that are interested in developing an apprenticeship for one of their healthcare programs (namely nursing).
- Competency-based Education: For colleges that are interested in learning more about CBE in healthcare. C-BEN will be assisting with this work in the spring semester.