|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Jack Salo, Executive Director
|
|
Editor's Note: the following represents highlights from a longer article.
I have never been big on anniversaries or other date based milestones, but was recently asked to pen some notes on my past fifteen years working in rural health.
I have always been first and foremost someone who loves the land, land based economies, and the people and communities found in rural places. Reading Wendell Berry's 1977 book The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture was an important point in my development. Berry chronicled the destruction of rural livelihoods, places and people through public policy and short sighted economic priorities. He was and remains an articulate, principled voice for rural America.
Our rural demographics and health indicators mirror the degradation of rural America. "Older, sicker, poorer" is the shorthand summary of where we find ourselves. Hence the recognition that the health related needs of rural places are significant and come with additional challenges, including the distances that must be traveled to access services, lack of connectivity and broad band and the shortage of health care providers willing to practice in rural places.
So with this backdrop here are three observations I would share as I reflect on my time working in rural health:
1. Rural is the new frontier (again): While much damage has been done, there remains real opportunity to grow families, community and economies in rural New York State.
2. What is a CBO? What is a Social Determinant? Who knew that a quality education, living wage, good food, safe, affordable housing and child care, social connections, transportation, etc. were the foundations for a healthy population? I am encouraged by those health care leaders and practitioners who are working with us to create more effective collaborative approaches to improving the health of individuals and communities.
3. What is Rural Health Work? I am fond of saying that you can't have healthy rural people without healthy rural communities and economies. Health cannot be achieved in a vacuum. In spite of the challenges, rural communities are also fertile ground for integrating economic, community and health initiatives that can yield multiple benefits. Rural health work is supporting all of these things and working collaboratively to consider how we can continue to creatively envision and invest in what is needed to improve rural health, community and economies.
|
 Capital Campaign Update
|
|
|
|
|
L to R: Shawn Yetter (2009-2010), Lenore Boris (2017-2019), Jack Salo, Natalie Thompson (2006-2008), Diane Albrecht (2001-2005), and Wayne Mitteer (1999-2001). Not pictured: Judy Quaranta (2014-2016) and Lynn Verduin (2011-2013).
|
|
On Friday, October 4th, the Presidents of Rural Health Network hosted a reception for Board, former Board, and Staff members to share our Capital Campaign progress and celebrate Jack Salo's 15th Anniversary as Executive Director.
|
|
|
|
Jim Savage, AVP/Community Office Manager with Tioga State Bank and Jack Salo, Executive Director of Rural Health Network, SCNY.
|
|
Jim Savage, AVP/Community Office Manager with Tioga State Bank served on the Rural Health Network Board from 2004-2008. He presented a corporate gift from Tioga State Bank at the reception saying, "Tioga State Bank is pleased to partner with an organization that works to enrich the lives of those in our Rural Communities".
We're excited to share that as of yesterday, we have contributions or pledges totaling $233,316, 44.4% of our campaign goal.
We invite you to learn more and join in supporting our campaign vision.
|
|
|
|
Click on this image for the full agenda and registration details.
|
The Food as Medicine Summit will bring together regional stakeholders around the critical connections between nutrition, food security, and chronic diseases, the services and interventions that recognize and address these links, and the opportunities for economic development through local procurement.
The day long event will feature a keynote address by Jean Terranova, Director of Food and Health Policy at Community Servings, a leading nonprofit in medically-tailored meals, and a co-author of the Massachusetts Food is Medicine State Plan. There will also be a plenary panel on the local food as medicine landscape, networking lunch, afternoon workshops, and concluding session to identify next steps.
Join us on November 6th from 9 AM - 3:30 PM for learning, networking, and planning. Registration is $15 per person and includes lunch.
|
Board Member Profile - Luann Kida
|
|
|
|
Luann Kida, Rural Health Network Board Member
|
Luann Kida is the Director of the Regional Network, Binghamton University Community Schools for Binghamton University College of Community & Public Affairs. She shows her support for Rural Health Network by serving on the Network Board of Directors and as co-chair of the Development Committee.
Luann explains why she supports the Rural Health Network:
"I grew up in a rural community and I have a passion for supporting rural work. I have always been impressed with the dedication and commitment Rural Health Network has for their work. Jack and his staff are always ready to talk about collaboration and how to meet identified needs in our rural region. I also appreciate the innovation and leadership the Network represents not only locally, but across our state as they truly set a standard of what serving rural America can look like! Their creativity in bringing resources to rural communities in a cost effective and efficient way is inspiring.
In talking about a Rural Health Network program that she finds inspiring, Luann said:
"The transportation work that Getthere has lead is truly groundbreaking work where the needs of the consumer stand front and center. Building on routine supports while connecting to what might be termed less traditional approaches, Getthere solves the ever looming transportation needs for many rural residents. This work also brings the voice for the rural needs forward in a way that would not happen without Rural Health Network."
When asked what she would tell others about supporting Rural Health Network, Luann said:
If you are looking for an organization that is fiscally responsible and passionate about improving life and outcomes for rural residents, this is the organization you should support. If you are looking to make contributions to an organization that puts every dollar to use serving the mission of their organization and stretching their resources to capacity, Rural Health Network keeps every donation local serving the counties in our area. If you are looking to support work that shows clear impact and makes the lives of others better, this is a place to feel good about your investment! Whether your passion is rural, suburban, or urban, Rural Health Network is an organization that makes a difference in a smart fiscally sound way.
Luann and her family live in Oxford, NY. |
AmeriCorps Positions Available
|
Full-Time AmeriCorps Position Highlight
Rural Health Service Corps is looking for an
Outreach and Engagement Specialist to support local community prevention, behavioral health, and general well-being efforts. The member will raise public awareness about heroin and opiate addiction to help mitigate the multiple barriers to recovery (lack of awareness, stigma, misinformation, etc.) that exist. They will also represent Rural Health Network by attending health fairs and events, coordinating Narcan trainings, and participating in the Northern Broome Addiction Awareness Coalition meetings and events (in Whitney Point 1-2 times monthly), as well as meet with patients at Lourdes Hospital and make appropriate referrals. This will involve conducting non-clinical healthcare intakes, assessments, and screenings. Some evenings and occasional weekend hours will be required, and a personal vehicle is necessary.
For more information about this AmeriCorps position and our other openings, please
visit our website.
|
| Health Equity Events in
Tioga & Chenango Counties
|
The Blueprint for Health Equity event series began in the Hudson Valley PHIP region. These workshops help health and human service providers learn about health disparities and how the individuals they serve might be impacted. The workshops include an interactive component such as a poverty simulation or rural cultural competency roleplaying, and an actionable commitment to moving towards health equity. The first event in the Southern Tier region was held in Ithaca earlier this spring and a Delaware County event was held earlier this week.
The Tioga County Blueprint Event will be held on October 22 at Tioga Downs from 9:00am-1:00pm. It will feature a panel of people with lived experience, a keynote presentation by Dr. Sharon Bryant, Binghamton University professor, rural cultural competency role playing, and reflective discussion. Planning Committee partners include Tioga Opportunities, Inc., Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Tioga County Public Health. Click here to register.
A Chenango County Blueprint for Health Equity Event - Bridges Out of Poverty will be held Wednesday, November 20th from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus. This is a free event and lunch will be provided. The first 25 people to register will receive a book and workbook. To ensure enough Bridges Out of Poverty Books and Workbooks are available (no guarantee other than the first 25 registered), Please sign up on or before November 6, 2019 by clicking here.
|
Update on the Social Determinants
Measurement Project
|
Presentation at the NYSARH Annual Conference
|
|
|
|
Emma Nalin and Jack Salo
|
|
On September 26th, Emma Nalin and Jack Salo presented on Overcoming Rural Competitive Disadvantage in VBP (Value-based Payment) through Practice and Policy at the NYS Association for Rural Health annual meeting in Niagara Falls, NY. The presentation described progress and learnings from our Social Determinants Measurement project while opening a discussion of the challenges faced by rural community-based organizations in the transition to a new payment environment. Specific tools highlighted in the presentation included calculating Return on Investment and Social Return on Investment, forming different types of partnerships to achieve scale, and using logic models to succinctly communicate program design. Attendees contributed to an additional discussion of the challenges and potential rewards of long-term social determinants measurement.
To learn more about these activities and the RHN Social Determinants Measurement project, please contact
Emma Nalin
, Project Coordinator.
|
Join Us in Observing National Rural Health Day
|
|
Rural Health Network partners to celebrate National Rural Health Day
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) is encouraging local organizations across the country to celebrate National Rural Health Day. NOSORH founded National Rural Health Day to help showcase rural America and increase awareness of the health-related challenges in those areas.
According to NOSORH's CEO, Teryl Eisinger, 57 million Americans live in rural and frontier areas. Those areas also face unique healthcare issues, such as a lack of healthcare coverage and providers.
We at Rural Health Network are excited to celebrate National Rural Health Day and will be doing our part to increase awareness in our community. To keep up on what we are doing, visit our
Facebook
page and give us a like!
To learn more about National Rural Health Day and what you can do to be involved, visit the National Rural Health Day website at
www.powerofrural.org
or visit NOSORH's page at
www.nosorh.org.
|
NY State of Health Marketplace
|
New York State of Health Marketplace opens November 1, 2019
Please check your current insurance plans and review them to be sure they meet your health care needs (primary care provider, specialists, prescriptions) and household budgets. The marketplace will be open November 1 to December 15, 2019. Be sure to ensure your coverage for 2020.
If you are uninsured, under-insured, or need to renew or change plans, please contact our Community Health Workers in Broome, Tioga or Delaware Counties. They will link you with enrollers from health insurance plans and community based organizations. You have choices within your neighborhood or home. Rural Health Network hosts enrollers at our 455 Court Street Binghamton office.
Our Community Health Workers can help with many resources to support your health and well being!
Broome 607 692-7669 x 230 Rose
Tioga 607 692-7669 x 210
Susan
Lourdes 303 Main Street Primary Care Clinic 607 798-8058 Nicole
|
Articles and Events of Interest
|
Food and Vegetable Prescription Program Helps Improve Food Security
The FVRx Program started as a pilot in 2017 and was kick-started by efforts from the Food and Health Network and Rural Health Network. Care Compass Network has been an important supporter of the program, and thanks to their funding the program is impacting countless families. To learn more about the impact of the FVRx Program, check out this
article published by Care Compass Network.
America's Rural Opportunity Event
The Aspen Institute and the Rural Development Innovation Group, in collaboration with Texas A&M University are hosting a panel discussion titled Towards Rural Resilience: Preparation for a Changing Planet on Thursday, November 7 at 3:30 Eastern Time. Register to join via Livestream.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - October 26
The Broome County Sherrif's Office will be collecting unwanted, outdated, or unused prescription or over-the-counter medications for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26th from 10 AM to 2PM at locations throughout the county. Read More. To find additional locations in the region, search here. |
|
To support our work at Rural Health Network,
Please take a moment to learn more
about our work and the impact we're making in south central New York.
If you're shopping at Amazon, you can support Rural Health Network by making your purchases though Amazonsmile.
|
|
Advancing the health and well-being of rural people and communities.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
