This newsletter is brought to you by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) along with the Community Health Systems Development Team at the Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC). | | |
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Network Development Grantee
GHPC recently spoke to Leonardo Ghio, project director at the Northwest Hills Council
of Governments, about building partnerships to increase capacity
for adolescent behavioral health services.
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Network Planning Grantee
GHPC recently spoke to Anne Dunn, network director for Rural Health Connect, and Tyler Smith, director
of community health for Mercy Health St. Rita’s, about how the network is breaking down siloes
to improve regional health.
| | | Rural Health Network Development (RHND) | | |
Hi RHND,
Happy summer and a big CONGRATS for making it through the third year of the grant! We have a busy summer ahead of us with programmatic deliverables, and I certainly recognize how much I am asking of you in July and August. That being said, if we must prioritize one deliverable, please let it be the Performance Improvement and Measurement System (PIMS) deliverable, which ensures that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has the most accurate programmatic information on file. I am happy to offer flexibility and extensions for the Data Dashboard and Business Plan.
We hope you’ve enjoyed the “Pacing the Plan” series and that it has helped you slowly chip away at the Business Plan deliverable. Do let us know if you’d like to see more opportunities like the “Pacing the Plan” series.
As always, do let your project officer/technical assistance (TA) team know if there is anything more we can do to further support your goals and objectives. My door is also open for any questions or concerns!
| | Maribel Nunez, FORHP, RHND Program Coordinator | | | |
Data Dashboard – Due July 13, 2026
All grantees will be expected to submit an updated Data Dashboard of key project measures and resulting outcomes from year 3.
Business Plan – Due August 28, 2026
All grantees are required to submit a Sustainability and Business Model Plan in the Electronic Handbooks (EHB) for their grant project.
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PIMS Deliverable – Due July 31, 2026
The reporting period for PIMS should reflect data from the most recent grant year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026). PIMS will be made available in Salesforce on July 1, 2026, and will be completed and submitted in that system. During June and July calls, project officers will confirm access to Salesforce. For those who require access, please let your project officer know during that time, and we will work swiftly to ensure access.
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Hi Network Planning Grantees,
As we approach the final stretch of the Rural Health Network Development Planning program, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible progress you’ve made. Over the past year, your commitment to strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure has been inspiring. We know that building a cohesive network takes patience, collaboration, and a lot of hard work.
As you finalize your Strategic Plans, remember that this document isn't just a requirement— it is the roadmap for your network’s future. We are so proud of the foundations you have built and look forward to seeing how these plans translate into lasting impact on your communities.
Keep up the fantastic momentum!
Best regards,
Your Co-Program Coordinators,
Nkem and Claire
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Nkem Osian, FORHP, RHND Planning
Co-Program Coordinator
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Claire Darnell, FORHP, RHND Planning
Co-Program Coordinator
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DELIVERABLES
Please keep the following deadlines on your radar as we close out the grant cycle.
Strategic Plan – Due June 12, 2026
Your Network Strategic Plan is the culminating product from your year of work. This plan pulls together the deliverables that you have submitted over the course of your Planning year and documents the strategic choices that will guide your work beyond the Network Planning grant cycle. The template is posted to your grantee portal under the Resources tab. You will submit the Strategic Plan via EHB.
Final Programmatic Reporting
Data Collection Platform Performance Report: Reporting period is July 1-31, and you will report in Salesforce. The Final Programmatic Report is due into EHB 120 days following the end of your contract year. Please note that if you are submitting a No-Cost Extension, the final programmatic report is due 120 days after the No-Cost Extension period ends. Please see the materials and recording from the April 8th webinar on final programmatic reporting in the grantee portal under the webinars tab.
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Below is a list of opportunities that may be useful for your project.
Attendance is not required.
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Rural Health Resources
July 8, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. ET
Virtual
The class explores websites from the National Library of Medicine, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and the Rural Health Information Hub. Each website has consumer-level information and offers data downloads.
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2026 Annual NACCHO Conference
July 14-17, 2026
Louisville, KY and Virtual
This is the largest convening of local health department leaders and public health professionals in the United States, offering the opportunity to learn, network, and share experiences and best practices across local health departments.
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51st National Rural Social Work Conference
July 15-18, 2026
Hopkinsville, KY
This gathering brings together social service professionals, educators, practitioners and community leaders to share solution-focused approaches. The topics cover pragmatic, practice-based, and collaborative efforts from community agency staff, practitioners, academics and especially rural community practitioners.
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September 27-29, 2026
Santa Fe, NM
This event features speakers and workshops focused on rural policy, clinical practice and effective leadership. Attendees will also hear about the resilient strategies and innovative solutions that have been implemented in their communities over the last several years.
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