Lake Okeechobee Rural Health Network 
Spring Newsletter 2019
April is Stress Awareness Month

Many of us experience some form of stress from various causes: managing chronic illness, being a caregiver, work, finances, family, etc. Explore healthy ways to seek relief, as stress can increase the risk of and/or worsen many chronic conditions. Click below to learn more about common symptoms of stress, the effects it has on your body, and tips for stress relief.

In This Issue
  • Our Services
  • Chronic Disease Self Management Workshop
  • Health Literacy Workshop
  • Diabetes Self-Management Workshop
  • Rural Health Conferences
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Continuing Education Providers
  • Community Meetings Around the Lake
Our Services
LORHN has two Community Health Workers (CHWs) that help with:
  • Health Insurance Enrollment
    • Marketplace
    • Medicaid
    • Medicare (refer to SHINE counselors)
  • Prescription Assistance Program Applications
    • NeedyMeds online application tool
    • Discount prescription drug cards
  • Care Management Services for adults/seniors that are high-risk
    • Meet clients where they are (home visits)
    • Determine specific needs and goals to improve health
    • Provide direct and supportive services
    • Navigate and link clients to health and human services
    • Assist with appointment scheduling and follow-up
    • Help gather records, complete forms and applications
These services for residents of Okeechobee, Hendry, Glades, and Western Palm Beach Counties. To become a referral partner, learn more about, or use our services, contact Tiffany Parrish. 
Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop
This Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSMP) workshop is open to any adult or senior living with at least one chronic condition (heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, depression, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other physical and mental health conditions).

Participants meet once a week for six weeks. Weekly sessions are 2.5 hours long and cover a variety of topics and skills to help individuals improve their own self-management of their disease(s), like action planning, problem solving, and decision-making. Trained co-leaders motivate participants and encourage behavior change.
 
** Light refreshments are provided each week. We encourage participants to attend all six sessions. New participants can join in Week 1 or Week 2 **

To host a workshop on-site, contact Tiffany Parrish (888) 880-4242.
To find an upcoming workshop, visit us on  Facebook.
"Your Health Matters" Health Literacy Workshop
The Your Health Matters Workshop is a Health Literacy program designed to help people find, understand, manage, and use health information. Participants will learn how to find information and local resources, their rights as a patient, ways to maintain their health, and how to effectively communicate with healthcare and human service professionals.

Topics include: Your Healthcare, Your Doctor, Your Medicine, Nutrition, and Saying Healthy.  Groups meet once a week for 1.5 hours for three weeks. 

To host a workshop on-site, contact Tiffany Parrish (888) 880-4242.
To find an upcoming workshop, visit us on Facebook. 
Diabetes Self-Management Workshop
Diabetes Self-Management (DSMP) workshop is open to all adults and seniors living with Diabetes. This evidence-based program meets once a week for six weeks. Weekly sessions are 2.5 hours long and cover a variety of topics and skills to help individuals improve how they self-manage their diabetes and the impact diabetes has on their lives and emotions.
 
** Light refreshments are provided each week. We encourage participants to attend all six sessions. New participants can join in Week 1 or Week 2 **

To host a workshop on-site, contact Tiffany Parrish (888) 880-4242.
To find an upcoming workshop, visit us on Facebook. 
Rural Health Conferences & Learning Opportunities
Friday, April 26, 2019
South University, Royal Palm Beach, FL

This symposium will continue to provide opportunities for Community Health Workers/Promotores (CHW's) and health and human services professionals to receive valuable information as well as network with many representatives from other community organizations, program funders, and health industry professionals. Register now!


April 29, 2019
Online, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST

Rural Health Research & Policy Center is providing this free webinar, available to the first 200 participants that log on. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of the death in the U.S. However, past scholarly work suggests that the burden of disease varies considerably between residents in rural and urban settings. The purpose of this webinar, presented by Dr. Timothy Callaghan and Dr. Alva Ferdinand, is to provide an up-to-date, in-depth look at how the burden of diabetes has changed over time. We'll look at diabetes-related mortality in and out of the hospital, complications of the disease, and progress toward Healthy People 2020 goals.




May 7-10, 2019 
Atlanta, GA

NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference is the nation's largest rural health conference, created for anyone with an interest in rural health care, including rural health practitioners, hospital administrators, clinic directors and lay health workers, social workers, state and federal health employees, academics, community members and more. The annual Rural Medical Education Conference and Health Equity Conference will both be held May 7, directly prior to the Annual Rural Health Conference. 
 
Sept. 17-18, 2019
Kansas City, MO

Take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities designed for clinic and hospital professionals and board members serving rural America.

Sept. 18-20, 2019
Kansas City, MO

Take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities designed for clinic and hospital professionals and board members serving rural America.
Funding Opportunities
Health Resources  & Services Administration (HRSA)
Successful RCORP-Medication-Assisted Treatment Expansion (MAT Expansion) award recipients will receive up to $725,000 for a three-year period of performance to establish or expand medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in eligible hospitals, health clinics, or tribal organizations located in high-risk rural communities. 

USDA Rural Development Programs 
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. Eligible borrowers include public bodies, community-based nonprofit corporations and federally recognized tribes. Examples of what funds can be used for include: 
  • Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities 
  • Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses 
  • Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing 
  • Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment 
The USDA rural development home loans are designed to help medium income American's buy a home in rural and suburban communities. Qualifying individuals and families that qualify may have: NO money down, low interest rates, 30-year fixed rates, government guaranteed, flexible credit guidelines, and the ability to roll closing costs into the loan.

Local Funding Opportunities 
Almost 70 percent of Glades Electric Cooperative members participate in  Operation Round Up, which helps people in GEC's service area who have  exhausted normal avenues of financial assistance. The fund is for  deserving individuals and organizations. If you know of people who  need and deserve assistance and live within the Glades Electric service  area (Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties), encourage or help them to complete an application.  

Government grants by key word, funding opportunity number, category,  and agency

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. For example, this program can link teachers and medical service providers in one area to students and patients in another. The application deadline is May 15, 2019.
Continuing Education Opportunities

Florida Department of Health, Continuing Education, Official Course Search

LGBT Mental Health Program  This program will discuss how to make clinics and health practices more inclusive for LGBT patients. (1 credit)


Community Meetings Around the Lake


Stuart Meeting
2nd Wednesday of each month
8:30 am - 10:00 am
Children's Services  Council 
101 SE Central Parkway
Stuart, FL 34994 

Indiantown Meeting
2nd Thursday of each month
8:30 am - 10:00 am
Seminole Inn, 
Indiantown, FL 

 
Okeechobee County School Administration Building
700 S.W. 2nd Avenue
Okeechobee, Florida 34974
Fourth Tuesday of the Month
10:00 am

3rd Wednesday of each month 
Speak with an Attorney or an Advocate about your legal problem.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm 
House of Hope
2484 SE Bonita Street 
Stuart, FL 34997

3rd Tuesday of each month 
9:00 am - 10:45 am
Glades Initiative
141 SE Ave C
Belle Glade, FL 33430


Family Services Network Meeting

1st Wednesday of each month
8:30 am - 10:00 am
Hope Connections - LaBelle
475 East Cowboy Way
LaBelle, FL 33935
About LORHN
Lake Okeechobee Rural Health Network, Inc. (LORHN) was formed in 1994 as a non-profit corporation designed to provide for the special and specific health-related needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in the Lake Okeechobee area; with extended services to Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee, Western Martin, and Western Palm Beach counties.

LORHN was established through Florida legislation (Statute 381.0406) and is one of nine local rural health networks covering the state of Florida . As per Florida statute, the goal of the networks shall be to ensure that quality health care is available and efficiently delivered to all persons in rural areas .

LORHN's Vision: To promote/provide for the special and specific health needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in the Lake Okeechobee area.