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Register for RHA of TN's 28th Annual Conference!
The Rural Health Association of Tennessee's 28th Annual Conference, "Collective Impact: A Call to Action," will be held November 16-18, 2022 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Register now here to get the early bird special price! Early-bird ends September 30th.

The draft agenda has been posted! Find out who you will be able to hear from this year at conference here.

Also, don't forget the virtual research poster competition! It is a low-cost way for students, residents and faculty to share their research.
Find out more about contest divisions, rules, and submission instruction here.
Webinar: State of Maternal Health in Tennessee

Join RHA of TN and the March of Dimes for an free, online webinar on "The State of Maternal Health in Tennessee: A Call to Action" on October 12th at 11:00am CST with guest speakers Dr. Kate Fouquier and Kebera Leach as this presentation will provide the overall landscape of maternal health in Tennessee, barriers leading to disparities, and roles of maternal health professionals. Register here.
Free Virtual Lunch and Learn: Value-Based Payments

Join the Rural Health Association of Tennessee and Charles James with North American HMS to learn more about Value-Based Payments on Friday, August 26th at 11:00am CST. Learn about what "value-based" care is and how "quality" initiatives impact RHCs and FQHCs. Register for this free webinar here, and view our other upcoming events on the calendar here.
Events

  • Lunch and Learn Join RHA of TN on August 26th from 11am to 12pm CT for a presentation on Value-Based Payments in the series which will be with special guest, Charles James, North American, HMS. See our calendar for registration information and specific dates.

  • Domestic Violence Webinar Join TDH for Virtual Danger Assessment Training for Healthcare Providers. This training is designed to improve knowledge of identifying and addressing domestic violence. This training will explore what behaviors and circumstances increase a victim’s, how to assess a victim’s risk, and strategies to help clients seeks safety. This training will take place virtually on August 25th at 10:00am CST and is in partnership with the Office of Family Safety. Register here

  • Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Certificate Training Two Day Event This two-day course uses a thorough, evidence-based curriculum designed for psychiatrists, nurses, physicians, social workers, mental health providers, childbirth professionals, social support providers, and anyone interested in building skills for assessment and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. Registration includes training manual, handouts, and certification of continuing education credits. Register for this in-person August 24-25, Franklin, Tennessee event here.

  • Health Equity Book Series TDH is excited to welcome Dr. Beverly Tatum, author of "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?," as the fourth featured speaker for the Health Equity Book Series. Register for this August 25th event here.

  • African American and Clinical Trials The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center will host a special event August 25 from 7pm to 8pm CST on the importance of African-Americans participating in clinical trials. During the session, they will also discuss how negative experiences in the past have impacted how clinical trails are conducted today. Join the conversation on Zoom here on August 25.  

  • Project ECHO Distance Training for Providers of Pediatric Dentistry Community providers will receive expert knowledge in a virtual learning network with the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry. The online meetings are held on the 4th Friday of each month. Some upcoming topics: caries risk assessment, vaping, and dental treatment for patients with special health care needs. Register for the August 26th meeting here.



  • Rural Health Clinic Conference Join clinic and CAH stakeholders from across the country for NRHA’s Rural Health Clinic on Sep. 20-21, 2022 in Kansas City, MO, and Critical Access Hospital Conferences Sept. 20-23rd. Take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities designed for clinic and hospital professionals and board members serving rural America. Find out more and register here.

  • TPCA Annual Conference The Tennessee Primary Care Association’s Annual Conference will meet in-person October 5-7, 2022 at the Embassy Suites in Franklin, TN and will be focused on increasing community health centers’ ability to thrive in today’s dynamic health care environment. The sessions will showcase future directions, best practices, stories of successful collaborations, lessons learned and solutions to community health center issues. Don't miss this opportunity for face-to-face fellowship and peer networking. To view the agenda, click here. To learn more and register, click here.
Resources
  • MPX (Monkeypox) Update in Tennessee During this week’s TDH Task Force meeting, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program epidemiologists provided an update on MPX (monkeypox) in Tennessee. To view the PowerPoint presentation, click here. To learn more about MPX in Tennessee, including guidance and infographics, click here.

  • Reimagining and Reinvesting in Rural Hospital Markets This source examines the hospital infrastructure needed in rural areas and how rural hospitals can be financed. It discusses current issues related to rural hospital services and how public health policy and infrastructure can impact the health of rural citizens. Find the research here.

  • Understanding long COVID in Rural Communities The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) circulated a rural-focused research report on long COVID as part of a multi-agency effort to understand long COVID. The average demographic makeup of rural America leaves the rural residents more susceptible to long COVID. Find the research here.

  • In the News: Medical deserts strand millions without access to care The federal government has designated nearly 80 percent of rural communities as medically underserved. Those areas are home to 20 percent of the U.S. population but house fewer than 10 percent of its doctors. Read more about this issue here.


  • Association of Methamphetamine and Opioid Use With Nonfatal Overdose in Rural Communities This study examines the incidence of nonfatal overdoses for people using methamphetamine and opioids alone and together, drawing data from National Rural Opioid Initiative surveys of people who use drugs in rural areas of 10 states. It presents findings related to prevalence of methamphetamine and opioid use, rates of use by race and ethnicity, and implications of the findings for harm reduction programs and treatment programs. Find the research here.


  • Safe TN APP Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security invite Tennesseans to get ready for the new school year by downloading the SafeTN app. The SafeTN app gives every Tennessean a direct line for confidentially reporting suspicious or concerning activity within schools. Concerns and tips are vetted by law enforcement 24/7 to address circumstances like: Violence or assault, Threats of violence or a planned attack, and/or Physical injury or harm to self or others. To learn more, click here.

  • The Vaccines for Children Program The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention oversee the purchase and distribution for all children under age 19 who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or are American Indian or Alaska Natives. This guide from the National Academy for State Health Policy explains current gaps in vaccine access for children and how states are addressing barriers to enrollment and cost burdens for providers. Find the guide here.

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline Beginning July 16th, 988 will become the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline will provide compassionate, accessible care and support via phone, text, or online chat to anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. Anyone can use 988 if they have thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crises, or any other kind of emotional distress. Find out more about the new lifeline here.

  • COVID-19 Tests by Mail Every household in the U.S. can now order an additional set of eight COVID-19 tests from www.covidtests.gov. The tests are free with free shipping. If you need assistance placing an order, call 1-800-232-0233.
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Funding Opportunities
The below grants have been hand picked to offer new funding opportunities to our members.
Welcome to our New and Returning Members!
The below organizations have recently joined or renewed their memberships. Members can search our member directory to connect with other members when logging into the RHA of TN's website. While you're searching, update your profile!

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors
for making this communication and our annual conference possible.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 656,
Decaturville, TN 38329
This service was supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, under GR-21-73441.The contents of this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.