• January 18th: Affordable Housing and Recovery: Rural Resource Guide Launch at 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. EST. The Housing Assistance Council will launch its new Rural Resource Guide: Affordable Housing and Recovery in Rural Communities, Federally Assisted Housing Opportunities for Residents with Substance Use Disorders and Opioid Use Disorders. Register here for a discussion about the intersection of affordable housing and recovery and gain first access to the new rural resource guide.

• January 19th: Info Session-Community Health Worker Training Program The Tennessee Community Health Worker Training program (CSWTPT) will train individuals across the state to work in clinics, schools, social services agencies and other community organizations. Attend the session if: you are currently a CHW who wants to get more training, you want to learn more about becoming a CHW, your organization hires or intends to hire CHW's. Join Tonya Elkins, Nikayla Boyd, and Beth Keylon on January 19th 10 a.m.-12 p.m. CST. Register Here.

• January 20-21st: Facilitator Trainings: CIT connects community members to knowledge on how to safely, compassionately, and effectively help people in crisis. Register here for a hands-on, dynamic training focused on serving those with mental illness, substance abuse, or cognitive crisis. January 20th at 6 p.m.-9 p.m. & January 21st 9 a.m-12 p.m. EST at Citizens of Heaven Church (Chattanooga). 

• January 26th: County Strategies to Recruit and Retain a Strong Behavioral Health Workforce: EventHealth Counties are developing innovative solutions in response to behavioral health workforce shortages across the country. As qualified behavioral health workers seek employment in the private sector or different professions altogether, county providers are struggling to recruit and maintain the workforce necessary to meet the growing demand for services. Join NACo here for a panel discussion of innovative solutions to behavioral health workforce challenges 2 p.m.-3 p.m.

• February 7-9th: Rural Health Policy Institute NRHA’s 34th Rural Health Policy Institute is your chance to guide the future of rural health policy with NRHA leadership and advocate for issues you care about with new and returning members of Congress and the administration. Policy Institute will be held in Washington, D.C. You must be an NRHA member to attend. Find out more here.

• February 8-10th: Dare to Lead: School Health Leadership Academy Join us for RHA of TN's first school health-specific leadership academy. Spots are limited so make sure to sign up soon. Find out more information here.

• February 15th: Health System Support for Rural Value-Based Care: Event Details: 2 p.m. CST. This presentation follows the Value-Based Care webinar. In this webinar, Dr. MacKinney will provide a brief overview of healthcare affiliations today. He will then discuss findings from his recent health system interviews that explored the health systems' role in facilitating rural value-based care success. Finally, Dr. MacKinney will outline what rural value-based care support healthcare organizations should expect from health systems. Register here.

• March 7th: Rural Health Day on the Hill RHA's annual Day on the Hill will be March 7th. Mark your calendars to join us at Cordell Hull State Office Building. Click here to register.

Resources

• Certified Men's Health Educator Training: The Certified Men’s Health Educator (CMHE) training course is aimed at healthcare professionals and others who are passionate about helping boys, men, and their families achieve true health and wellness—and re-imagining the healthcare system in a welcoming, guy-friendly way. To learn more and register, click here.

• Medicare Covers Two Additional Provider Types in the RHC Setting Announces that Congress proposes to expand Medicare coverage to include Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors. These providers in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) can now generate a Medicare encounter, reimbursable at the RHC's All-Inclusive Rate, beginning January 1, 2024. 

• Comparing Enhancements to Well-Child Visits in the Prevention of Obesity: Encircle Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial Analyzes care delivery models aimed at preventing obesity in disadvantaged preschool children living in rural Pennsylvania. Reports on 2,025 parents and their preschool-aged children recruited in the ENCIRCLE (Patient-clinic-community integration to prevent obesity in rural preschool children) trial, which tests the effectiveness of enhanced well-child visits (WCVs) that include obesity prevention tools.

• Tennessee Rural Rotation Opportunities: Opportunities for medical residents in Tennessee to participate in rotations at a variety of rural practice sites across the state. Geographic coverage: Tennessee; Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

• The TN Center on Decision-Making Supports service was one of TN Council for Developmental Disabilities main priorities over the past couple of years and was again one of their top-clicked links in May. Their Executive Director Lauren Pearcy wrote about how departing Council member Lesley Guilaran had a huge impact on the Center's work. Read her story about supporting her son, Angel, with making choices here!

• Geographic Barriers Limit Access to Screening Mammography More in Rural vs. Urban Areas Highlights a study on geographic barriers to accessing breast cancer screening in rural areas. Discusses travel time for rural people to healthcare facilities that offer mammography. 

Funding Opportunities

The below grants have been hand picked to offer new funding opportunities to our members.

• Adult-Size Changing Tables In Tennessee
• Clinic Applications for ALAI UP - HIV Treatment for Underserved Populations – Deadline January 20
• Emergency Medicine Foundation Health Disparities Research Grant-Deadline January 20th
• Health Equity Research Network (HERN) on Improving Access to Care and other Health Inequities in Rural America-Letter of Intent Due January 26
• Education Department Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grants – Deadline January 27
• School-Based Interventions to Promote Equity and Improve Health, Academic Achievement, and Well-Being of Students-Deadline February 11
• Quality Payment Program Exceptions- Deadline March 3rd
• Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program- Deadline March 3rd
• Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome- Deadline March 8th
• Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F Dental Reimbursement Program- Deadline March 10th