Advancing the health and well-being of rural people and communities | |
Rural Matters August 2024 | |
A Message from our Executive Director | |
Welcome to the August issue of Rural Matters. While Fall seems like a time of things ending (summer vacation, annual flowers and crops), to me it is also a time of new beginnings! New school years and semesters at college will begin. Here at Rural Health Network, we have many new beginnings as well. We will be welcoming new AmeriCorps and VISTA members, new MSW interns and new classes of students at our participating schools with Farm to School initiatives.
I have been busy meeting with agencies and programs from Broome, Chenango, Tioga, Cortland, Cayuga, Madison, Tompkins, and Delaware counties. I am amazed and excited to learn about the ways our agencies and programs collaborate and network to bring needed services to so many counties and communities in New York. It is an exciting time!
This Fall the Rural Health Network staff and Board is busy planning and preparing to host our 2nd Annual Rural Health Network Showcase. This is our annual fundraising event that will celebrate our Rural Health Awardees. Our honorees in each category will be announced soon. It would be a pleasure to have you join us on October 21st to help celebrate these awardees. This fundraising event is also a way you can show your support in helping us pursue our mission of “Advancing the health and well-being of rural people and communities.” I look forward to seeing you there.
Demetra Alberti
Executive Director
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Save the Date - October 21st | |
A team of Board and staff members have been working on plans for our fall event and we hope you will be able to join us. For the first time, we will present our Rural Health Awards in person. We look forward to announcing the recipients and opening ticket sales in early September. View our 2020- 2023 recipients.
Thank you to the sponsors who have already committed support for the event: Davidson Fox, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Russell Farms, and Tioga County Public Health Department. We are still accepting sponsors. Details available here.
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We are pleased to welcome three Binghamton University Master's of Social Work interns who will be supporting Community Health and Northern Broome CARES during this academic year. This partnership provides students with valuable training in the field as they work with clients to meet social needs in a rural setting. In return, Rural Health Network benefits from increased capacity for activities like counseling, one-on-one health coaching, and home visits. | |
Emily Gold moved to the Binghamton area in 2022 and is happy to call it her forever home. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016 with her BA in Political Science and International Affairs and from Suffolk University Law School in 2021 with her Juris Doctor degree. Emily has a background in community engagement and is passionate about empowering others to take a leading role in their healthcare. In her free time, Emily likes to go on long walks with her dog, Luna, or enjoy a cup of coffee and a cruffin at Sole City Coffee. | |
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Emma Schockner (on the left above) said, "I have an undergraduate degree in ABA Psychology from Binghamton University and am returning for my Masters degree as an older student. I have one child, aged six, who corrects me regularly on dinosaur pronunciation. My hobbies are varied, but I love hiking National Forests with my dog and foraging, painting and exploring antique markets. I am looking forward to interacting with the older generations at Northern Broome CARES and learning from them while we explore services and local cultural events." | | |
Shane King (on the right above) said, "I’m a nontraditional student with over 20 years of social work experience from the 14 states I have lived in.
I just moved back to New York in 2021, after living on the island of Maui for 7 years. Previous to Hawai’i, I worked in Alaska for 4 1/2 years.
I’m very happy to have this opportunity to work in such a fantastic environment.
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AmeriCorps VISTA member Natalie Lowin has completed the first in a series of four videos focused on Getthere services. Natalie said, "I have had a great time putting together multiple video series highlighting our programs. In this four-part series, I will be breaking down the different Getthere services so our mission is more lucid to the public. In this part, learn the general facts about Getthere and get an inside look at how our call center works! In future videos, watch Stan explain Transportation to Employment & meet our partners at Express Employment, learn about Travel Training with Julie, and get to know one of our volunteer drivers! | | |
Rural Health Network was proud to spend the past several months developing and implementing a new community education program entitled Ready for Weather, designed to inform community members on how to prepare for and respond safely to extreme weather events. Developed by Public Health AmeriCorps member Brianna Wynne and co-led by Community Health Educator Julianne Lee, 5 sessions were held in July at our offices in Binghamton. Attendees included members of the local community along with representatives from environmental science agencies, community-based organizations, and Broome County Public Health. The design of the educational sessions, the content, and the accessibility of the information was informed by 2 focus groups held in June.
Session topics included the ways that extreme weather affects mental health and sleep, the different ways to respond to extreme weather and the resources available in rural vs. urban communities, interactive activities that allowed participants to practice navigating climate scenarios together, and so much more. All participants received new materials and information each week that they were able to take along to share with members of their own communities, and freebies like warm weather gear, hand crank radio/flashlights, first aid kits, and other survival tools.
At the end of each session, surveys were distributed to gauge participants' understanding of the content and and satisfaction with the program. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we have been so thrilled with the results. Mary Maruscak, Director of Community Health, said: "It's been a pleasure to watch Brianna and Jules bring this project idea to a reality. This is a new topic area for us and we were concerned that we may have low attendance. It was exciting to see the same people coming back each week to learn the information and to talk about how they would share it with their own communities."
We are grateful to NYRenews and their re-grant program for the funding to develop and implement Ready for Weather. Now that this first round of the program has concluded, we are seeking funding to continue holding the education sessions in different locations with a greater focus on rural communities, and even modifying the presentation to be held with virtual groups.
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Enjoying Local Foods All Season Long | Harvest season is well underway and it's the perfect time to eat local. Our Produce Rx team has provided a chart of what you can expect to find at farmer's markets, in your CSA Share, or at a nearby roadside stand in August. Peaches are in season now through September. We encourage you to try the recipe for Peach Salsa. The salsa would be great with chips, tossed into a salad, or served over grilled chicken or fish. | |
Public Health AmeriCorps Spotlight:
Community Health Educators for Cortland County
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Our partners at Seven Valleys Health Coalition are looking for two individuals to fill their Community Health Educator positions in Cortland, NY. These Public Health AmeriCorps positions will provide support to SVHC on the community health education efforts addressing Cortland County’s priority areas of preventing chronic disease; promoting well-being and preventing mental and substance use disorders; and preventing communicable diseases. There will also be an opportunity for the AmeriCorps member to support efforts in the maternal health and food systems programs.
SVHC envisions a community in which all individuals are empowered to lead healthy and fulfilling lives and a local food system where all community members have access to healthy, affordable, equitable and sustainable food sources. SVHC collaborates with community members and partners to advocate for and support policies and actions that promote a healthy population, social equity, economic revitalization, and environmental stewardship.
Public Health AmeriCorps members at SVHC will serve an average of 30 hours per week for one year. Members will receive a $15,500.00 living allowance, to be paid in bi-weekly increments throughout the service term, and an education award of $5,176.50 once their service has been completed.
For more information about these or other AmeriCorps positions available with Rural Health Service Corps, please visit our website or reach out to Haley Desilet or Alexis Sankofa to find out more.
These positions require a personal vehicle, driver's license, and a 4-year college degree.
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Living Healthy Self-Management Series |
Our next Living Healthy Self-Management workshop series will be held at the Northern Broome Senior Center beginning on Wednesday, September 11th. The program will run for 7 weeks and is open to adults of any age with symptoms related to long-term health or chronic pain conditions. Caregivers are welcome, too! Everyone who completes the program will receive their choice of a $20 gas or grocery gift card!
Northern Broome CARES Program Coordinator Megan Arenas-Cardoso will be co-facilitating these sessions. Megan said, "I am excited to be able to offer this workshop to the community. As a former participant, I have used the skills I learned in Living Healthy in my personal day to day life while living with a chronic condition. I feel I have my condition more under control after taking the workshop."
To register, contact Megan by email or call 607-352-4681.
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Rural Health Symposium - September 19-20 | |
This year's NYSARH Symposium will be held September 19-20 at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Binghamton. The conference is open to both members and non-members of NYSARH. Thursday will feature a Rural Aging Innovation Fair; keynote speaker Alana Knudson, PhD., the director of the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis; breakout sessions; and a policy panel on the 1115 Waiver. Friday's agenda includes round table conversations, plenary speaker Dr. Brian Justice, breakout sessions, and the NYSARH Annual Meeting. Learn More | |
News, Articles of Interest, and Resources | |
Binghamton 2 Degrees - Live at Confluence Park - August 24
“Live at Confluence Park” is an all-inclusive participatory festival that brings the community together through music, theatre, family-oriented activities, and, of course, the fantastic food from local food vendors/trucks in Binghamton. Amidst all the fun activities, the event seeks to create awareness and educate attendees about the impact of climate change on our community. Learn More
BCSAFE Hosting 5th Annual Chalk the Walk
In observance of World Suicide Prevention Month, BC SAFE is hosting their 5th Annual Chalk the Walk art contest. Learn More.
SUNY Office of Mental Health Scholarship Pipeline Program
The Office of Mental Health, in partnership with the SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and SUNY schools, have created the SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship Pipeline Program, a seamless pipeline that will attract, retain, and graduate students trained in the various mental health professions. Applications are due September 16th. Learn More.
Article - The Vital Role of Sports and Recreation in Health Aging
The American Society on Aging shared this article in their July-August issue of Generations Today. Learn more about the physical, emotional and social benefits of engaging in sports and recreation activities as we age.
Oral Health Needs Assessment for New York State, 2024
A new report, released by the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) at the University at Albany’s School of Public Health, in partnership with Schuyler Center, indicates that improving access to oral health services in New York State requires a broader understanding of oral health needs and the challenges that underserved populations face. The research team identified 31 high-need areas with significant oral health needs, primarily located in rural regions such as the Mohawk Valley, North Country and Southern Tier, where more than two-thirds of the population live in high-need areas.
Save the Date - National Rural Health Day
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and rural-focused organizations throughout the United States set aside the third Thursday of November to celebrate the “Power of Rural” and honor the individuals and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of nearly 61 million people living in rural America. Learn More
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