Food and Health Network of SCNY and VINES: Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments are pleased to present a half-day workshop with Wholesome Wave and their work with Fruit and Veggie Prescription Programs.

Thursday, November 17

8:30 AM - 12 PM

DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Grand Riverside Room

225 Water Street, Binghamton, NY

The workshop is intended for healthcare providers, registered dietitians, hospital systems. insurance companies, community-based organizations, and people engaged in DSRIP Medicaid reform projects. There is a $15 registration fee and  pre-registration is required. For additional details, contact Erin Summerlee, FaHN Director.  

We asked and you answered! In last month's issue of the Rural Health Network SCNY newsletter, we asked our readership to weigh-in on the development of a formal Advocacy Plan for the 2017 calendar year through a Survey Monkey questionnaire. Thank you for your participation!

The survey received input from staff, board members and newsletter readership. Respondents selected Transportation, Behavioral Health, and Access to Nutritious Foods to be the focal points of RHN's Advocacy Plan in 2017. 

Over the next few months, RHNSCNY will be working to develop an action plan for 2017 which addresses these three advocacy priorities. If you're interested in becoming more involved in this process, contact Mary Maruscak [email protected] or Emily Hotchkiss [email protected].

Many years ago I learned some basics about rural housing from Richard L'Hommedieu, who at the time, was Director of the Chenango County Planning Department. Richard was retired military and brought much of what he learned in his military career to his work at the Planning Department. He had a "can do" attitude and was focused on a strategy of making investments and improvements to address housing needs in Chenango County. I can remember Mr. L'Hommedieu explaining how each rural home requires its own infrastructure which makes rural housing, from construction to maintenance to renovation, an expensive proposition. While urban, and many village and suburban homes are connected to municipal water and sewer systems which share costs, rural homes generally require their own systems, resulting in significant initial and maintenance costs.

So how does this impact the health of rural home owners? When you travel the countryside and see houses in disrepair, think beyond the peeling paint. Does the home have safe drinking water? Is there a septic system, and if yes, is it working properly? Is the wiring safe? Is there a heating system, and if so, is it safe? Are there carbon monoxide and smoke detectors? This is not an extensive list but does suggest some of the ways substandard rural homes can impact health and safety.  With the economic challenges of our region and a significant and growing number of older residents living on fixed incomes, the age, quality, and safety of our rural housing stock is both an individual and community concern.  

The Rural Broome Counts Housing Supplement provides information on the state of housing in rural Broome County. Equally important, the RBC Housing Resource Guide for Rural Municipalities provides information on local housing agencies as well as New York State and Federal Housing programs.

Read the complete article here.  

	Vu Le, Julie Pitts and Erin Summerlee

Erin Summerlee, Director of Food and Health Network, and Julie Pitts, Director of Rural Health Service Corps, attended Camp Finance, a co nference sponsored by NYCON - New York Council on Non-Profits held at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. The conference agenda included a keynote presentation by Vu Le, Executive Director of Rainier Valley Corps and Nonprofit Humorist at nonprofitwithballs.com.  

Julie Pitts commented, "Attending Camp Finance allowed us to get fresh ideas from experts in non-profit management and finance.  Especially memorable was Vu Le's keynote address and the opportunity to speak with him directly. After learning that I oversee an AmeriCorps program, he shared with us that his background includes an AmeriCorps term of service."

Have you ever wondered about the distribution of resources in rural versus urban Broome County? Then take a look at our Rural Broome Counts Household Budgets Report! Released in conjunction with the Rural Broome Counts Housing Supplement, it assesses the differences in spending, costs, and resources across the five components of the household budget. The report aims to help inform policy and better allocation of resources in Rural Broome County. Check out the Household Budgets Report, along with the rest of our resources at our webpage.

Help us direct the future of Rural Broome Counts and provide your input with this brief survey.

2015 Impact Report	Community Health Services
Food and Health Network	Rural Health Service Corps
Mobility Management of SCNY	How You Can Help