PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To assist schools to improve the distribution, supply and quality of health personnel in the health services delivery system by encouraging the regionalization of health professions schools. Emphasis is placed on community-based training of primary care oriented students, residents, and providers. The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program assists schools in planning, developing and operation of AHECs to initiate education system incentives to attract and retain health care personnel in scarcity areas. By linking the academic resources of the university health sciences center with local planning, educational and clinical resources, the AHEC program establishes a network of community-based training sites to provide educational services to students, faculty and practitioners in underserved areas and ultimately, to improve the delivery of health care in the service area. The program embraces the goal of increasing the number of health professions graduates who ultimately will practice in underserved areas.

 ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT;
- Planning and Research;
2. EDUCATION;
- Health Education and Training;
- Higher Education - General;
- Medical Education and Training;
- Nursing Education;
- Resource Development and Support - General and Special Interest Organizations;
- Resource Development and Support - Higher Education;
- Vocational Development;
3. HEALTH;
- Education and Training;
- Program Development;
- Specialized Health Research and Training;
4. INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES;
- Training Assistance;

 WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- State;
- Local;
- Public nonprofit institution/organization;
- Private non-profit institution/organization;
- Anyone/general public;
- Health Professional;
- Education Professional;
- Student/Trainee;
- Graduate Student;
- Scientist/Researcher;
- Major Metropolis (over 250,000);
- Other Urban;
- Education (9-12);
- Education (13+);

 WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);