June 25, 2026

A Grateful Goodbye

As I prepare to leave the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health after four years and begin a new career, I want to thank you for letting me share stories, highlights, and opportunities through this newsletter. My last day with WORH is July 2, making this my final issue of Rural Health Radar.

Before moving into the communications role, I assisted with the Flex Program and SHIP grants, which gave me the opportunity to visit rural hospitals and communities across Wisconsin. Having grown up in the Northwoods, it was especially meaningful to meet many of the dedicated and skilled people who sustain rural healthcare. Your work reaches far beyond facility walls, helping people and small towns remain resilient. I'm grateful I had the chance to meet many of you and to visit corners of my home state that were new to me.

The newsletter will pause briefly while our new Communications Manager gets settled, and I’m excited for all that lies ahead, knowing it will be in great hands. Thank you for your partnership, your passion, and the work you do every day to keep rural Wisconsin healthy and thriving!

Take good care,

Megan Polster

CAH Quality Corner

Q1 2026 HCAHPS data due via HQR on July 8, 2026.

Did you get a calendar invite for MBQIP due dates?

If not, email Samantha to get on the list to receive MBQIP reporting events linked to your calendar!

• Be sure to let us know who submits each MBQIP measure to be added to the specific measure's invite.
• Another opportunity to express this will be included in the SHIP Final Report form coming soon.

Upland Hills Health photographed by Tami Graf.

Celebrate!

Ten Quality Improvement Leaders Complete Wisconsin Quality Residency Program

From Wisconsin Hospital Association

Quality improvement specialists from 10 Wisconsin hospitals were recognized June 17 for completing the 10-month Wisconsin Quality Residency Program. Transitioning into a new role as a health care quality leader involves mastering numerous core concepts...read more.

Learn

Conflict Resolution for Emergency Responders - Resolution Center, Inc.

Monday, July 27, 8 a.m.—4:15 p.m. or Tuesday, August 18, 8 a.m.—4:15 p.m.

• Learn how to support your well-being by effectively responding to interpersonal conflict, both at work and at home, through this highly interactive 1-day training.
• Location: Chippewa Falls (July 27) and Waupaca (August 18).
• Cost: $25 per person, with lunch provided.

Rural Health University - NOSORH

• Explore on-demand and live courses geared toward rural health professionals.
• Courses available: Financial Literacy for Nonprofit & Government Organizations, Fundamentals of Rural Grant Writing, Developing Competitive Grant Proposals.
• Cost varies per course.

4th of July parade in Mineral Point photographed by Lois Federman.

Grants

Community Connect Broadband Grant - USDA

• Amount: $100,000 - $5 million (15% non-federal cash match required).
• Application due date: June 29.
• Who can apply: Local and Tribal governments, for and non-profit organizations. 
• Description: Grants for communities without broadband access to provide residential and business broadband service and connect police and fire stations, healthcare, libraries, and schools. Eligible expenses include constructing/acquiring facilities and providing free internet access to critical service providers.

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Planning & Implementation Grants - Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

• Amount: Up to $100,000/year x 2 years (Planning) and up to $750,000/year x 4 years (Implementation)
• Application due date: July 8.
• Who can apply: Local and Tribal governments, school districts, for profit businesses, and non-profit organizations.
• Description: Funding for communities to plan or implement substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services. 

NEW! Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program - DOJ Office on Violence Against Women

• Amount: Up to $600,000 for 48 months.
• Application due date: July 14.
• Who can apply: Local and Tribal governments, non-profit organizations
• Description: Multi-year grants for services for those who are homeless or in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance as a result of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

NEW! Strategic Prevention Framework - Partnerships for Success for Communities and Tribes - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

• Amount: Up to $250,000/year x 5 years.
• Application due date: July 15.
• Only the first 60 complete, successfully submitted, and high-quality applications will be reviewed. After that, the submission portal will close, and no further applications will be considered.
• Who can apply: Public and private, nonprofit entities, including community- and faith-based organizations and local and Tribal governments.
• Description: Funding to build substance abuse prevention capacity and to strengthen the capacity of local community prevention providers.

Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program Grants - DOJ Office of Violence Against Women

• Amount: $500,000 - $950,000 for 36 months.
• Application due date: July 24.
• Who can apply: Local and Tribal governments and public and private non-profit organizations. 
• Description: Grants for projects designed to address and prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in rural communities, as well as rural sexual assault nurse examiners. Funds can be used to establish, expand, create, or implement strategies to increase awareness and prevent violence, among others.

NEW! Caring for Communities Grants - American Osteopathic Foundation

• Amount: $5,000 - $25,000.
• Application due date: Letter of Intent due August 3.
• Who can apply: Osteopathically centric 501(c)(3) health centers.
• Description: Funds for projects that address a critical need, serve a significant number of disadvantaged people and/or people in serious need of healthcare, and seek to provide measurable improvements to patient health and quality of life.

Rheumatology Grant Opportunity – Orion Initiative

• Amount: Amount varies based on factors such as the number of PCPs participating and whether equipment is purchased.
• Application due date: Spring/Summer 2026 for Fall 2026 start; Fall/Winter 2026 for Spring 2027 start.
• Who can apply: Rural hospitals.
• Description: Through the Specialty Training at Rural Sites-Rheumatology (STARS-R) grant opportunity, rural PCPs gain hands-on rheumatology and musculoskeletal training at no cost. Much of the training can occur without leaving the clinic, and participating hospitals are reimbursed for the time PCPs spend in training.

Seeds for Stewardship Grants - CHS

• Amount: $1,000-$10,000.
• Application due date: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis; can apply for and receive two grants/year.
• Who can apply: Any member-cooperative, such as Cenex, or CHS ag retail location is eligible to apply. Grant requests must be submitted by a cooperative on behalf of a local organization.
• Description: Grants for projects that strengthen communities. Project examples include health and safety education programs students, equipment for emergency responders, and grain bin safety equipment and training.

Please contact Kevin Jacobson, WORH Loan Assistance Program Manager, for help identifying grant opportunities to support your important work or go to the WORH website.

Apply for Awards

Ron Nelson Award - National Association of Rural Health Clinics

• Application Deadline: Jun 30.
• Recognizes and honors an outstanding leader and champion for Rural Health Clinics.
• Geographic coverage: Nationwide.

Photo Features

Send us your pictures of rural Wisconsin life to be featured in Rural Health Radar!

Email pictures to info@worh.org and include a brief description, where the photo was taken, and the name of the photographer.

Photo by Caitlin Rublee in Mayville.

Looking for past issues of Rural Health Radar? Perhaps you saw something important, and need a reminder of the registration or application deadline? We've got your back. See past issues on our website near the newsletter sign-up section.

Your feedback on this newsletter and our overall communication efforts are always welcome, too.