Rural Health Link: The Rural Health Services Quarterly Digest

Welcome to the Rural Health Link: Rural Health Services Quarterly Digest. This newsletter will share program updates, the TA schedule of events, as well as a variety

of resources focused on rural health services. Each issue will also feature two grantee spotlight articles. We welcome your feedback. If you have any comments or recommendations for future content, please reach out to us at chsdteam@gsu.edu.

This newsletter is brought to you by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and the technical assistance (TA) providers from the Community Health Systems Development team at the Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC).

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHTS

The Georgia Health Policy Center recently spoke to Julie McKee, the community health supervisor at Le Bonheur Community Outreach, about how the Delta States program grant is fostering expansion of partnerships and outreach in western Tennessee.

The Georgia Health Policy Center recently spoke to Amy Kohanski, the project director for the Chronic Disease Care Coordination Network at North Country Healthy Heart Network, and Katy Margison, the director of partner engagement and communications for Adirondack Health Institute, about launching a new referral network.

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC UPDATES

Delta Region Maternal Care Coortination Program

(Delta MCC)

Peer Group Call

January 9, 2025

2:00-3:30pm ET

Please join us for our first Delta MCC grantee peer group call. This is an opportunity to network with peers who are implementing similar projects.

Participants will share an overview of their project and have the opportunity to share their asks and offers for the group.

The call information is in the calendar invitation. Please reach out to your TA provider if you have not received it.

Grantee Directory

Thank you all for submitting your entries to be included in the grant program directory! This resource provides a snapshot of each grantee and provides information for learning about and connecting with your peers in the program. Be on the lookout for it early in the new year.

Learning Opportunities

Community Asset Mapping

February 11, 2025 |1:00-2:00pm ET

During this session, you will learn the process for developing and utilizing a community asset map with accompanying worksheets and resources.

This session aims to assist you in working with rural stakeholders to maximize resources, identify and address gaps in services, and leverage community assets to build stronger rural communities. The webinar information will be included in the calendar invitation. Please reach out to your TA provider if you have not received it.

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Expanding the Maternal Care Team: Rural Strategies for Improving

Health Outcomes

March 11, 2025 | 2:00-3:00 pm ET

A comprehensive and collaborative approach to maternal health care is crucial to improving outcomes and equity. Efforts to invest in a more diverse maternal care workforce and expand access to doulas and midwives play a vital role in achieving these goals. Join us as we hear from rural communities leading the way in transforming maternal care teams.

Panelists will share their innovative approaches to expanding the maternal health workforce, including the integration of community health workers, doulas, midwives, and other essential clinical and non-clinical roles. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in a discussion with the panelists and learn from their experiences.

Rural Health Services Outreach Program

(Outreach)

Sustainability Plan Deliverable

Thank you for your recent submission of the Sustainability Plan deliverable. Your TA provider and project officer will review it with you during your monthly calls.

Fund Development Quick Course

For additional support on your sustainability efforts, please check out the Fund Development Quick Course. This short, online course walks you through the steps of creating a fund development plan.

Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program

(RMOMS)

Peer Call

January 16, 2025 | 2pm ET

Mark your calendars for the first RMOMS peer call of 2025. Peer calls offer an opportunity to share advice, ask questions and learn with and from your peers. If you have specific topics you want to discuss, please share your ideas with your TA provider.

The FY2024 RMOMS cohort will join for the first time on this call.

Learning Opportunity

Expanding the Maternal Care Team: Rural Strategies for Improving Health Outcomes

March 11, 2025 | 2:00-3:00pm ET

Join us as we hear from rural communities leading the way in transforming maternal care teams. Panelists will share their innovative approaches to expanding the maternal health workforce, including the integration of community health workers, doulas, midwives, and other essential clinical and non-clinical roles. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in a discussion with the panelists and learn from their experiences.

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RMOMS 2021 and 2022 Cohorts

Thank you for submitting your patient-level data, network-level measures, and Data Reporting Plan! Your evaluation lead will reach out to schedule a data quality review meeting.

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RMOMS 2023 Cohort

Federal Financial Report (FFR)
Due no later than December 28, 2024, in the Payment Management System.
Carryover requests (if applicable)
Due no later than January 27, 2025, or within 30 days after FFR submission in electronic handbook (EHB)
Data Submission
Due January 17, 2025
Aggregate data due to Data Support Provider (Mission Analytics)
Data Reporting Plan due to HRSA via EHB

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RMOMS 2024 Cohort

Thank you for submitting your program directory and updated work plan! We will review the updated work plan together during our January 2025 monthly TA calls.

FORHP Grantee Meeting (Reverse Site Visit)

"Innovate, Inspire, Impact: Connecting to Improve Rural Health"

Atlanta, GA

March 26-27, 2025

This meeting will bring together grantees from across FORHP’s Care Coordination, Delta States, Northern Border and Quality programs. Two people from each funded initiative are invited to attend. Registration is available via the original announcement email or here. The registration deadline is February 21, 2025.

Additional information on the meeting, hotel and travel are available on the meeting web site. If you have any questions at this time, please reach out to your TA provider or HRSA project officer.

Delta States Rural Development Network Program

(Delta States)

Cost Savings Estimation: Modeling and Data Collection Webinar

Please join us on January 28, 2025, at 2pm ET for our first Cost Savings Estimation webinar focused on modeling cost savings and data collection. During this session you will explore how cost savings can effectively demonstrate the value of your program. This aims to support you in selecting your cost savings model, using existing data effectively, and creating a plan to identify and collect additional measures. No registration is required. Click here to join.

Upcoming Deliverables

Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report
Due in electronic handbook (EHB): May 2, 2025
Cost Savings Estimation Plan Deliverable
Due in EHB: May 30, 2025
Template can be found here.
Cost Savings Estimation Toolkit can be found here.

Rural Health Care Coordination Program

(Care Coordination)

A note from your project coordinator, Alitasha Younger:

Thank you for sharing your input for workshop topics and peer engagement opportunities during the 2025 grantee meeting (reverse site visit). I look forward to seeing you all in March!

Please remember the most recent deliverable schedule for this program can be accessed on ruralhealthlink.org. As you continue to navigate the remainder of Year 2, do not hesitate to reach out with any concerns or questions.

I hope you all have a restful holiday break!

Small Health Care Provider

Quality Improvement Program

(Quality)

Sustainability Strategy Check-In Webinar

Thank you to those that were able to join us live for the sustainability check-in webinar on December 10. Remember that this discussion will continue with office hours in the new year as well as some time for peer sharing at the 2025 reverse site visit. For those that were unable to join us live or would like to review the information, you may find the recording here.

Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program

(Northern Border)

Grantee Directory

Thank you all for submitting your entries to be included in the grant program directory! This resource provides a snapshot of each grantee and an opprtunity to learn about and connect with other Northern Border grantees.

It’s anticipated to be ready for distribution to the cohort by January 2025. Stay tuned, and be on the lookout for it early in the new year.

Webinar

Building a Strong Assessment Plan:

Key Components, Strategies & Tips

January 16, 2025 | 3:00-4:00 pm ET

Join us for our first TA webinar on January 16, 2025, at 3:00 pm ET focused on the assessment plan for your Northern Border grant program, a key deliverable of your grant. (Due date: May 2, 2025.)

The purpose of this plan is to provide guidance for how project activities will be assessed and monitored, as well as how project results will be used to make program improvements and demonstrate impact. On this webinar, we will review the template and provide guidance, best practices, and tips to support you in your plan development.

Please register via the original announcement or here.