Hello ,
Another year has flown by as we close out 2022 and prepare to ring in a new year. LORHN's team has had quite a busy, and successful year working with our network members and community partners to provide health education and outreach about various topics, link rural residents to health and social services they need, and advocate for rural individuals, populations, and communities to have equitable access to health and human services to maintain a good quality of life.
Below is a glimpse of the work our team has accomplished this calendar year:
HRSA Rural Health Network Planning Grant
- Telehealth Advisory Group (TAG) convened, engaged, and committed to the work.
- A telehealth assessment was completed for LORHN's service area
- Findings from the assessment were used to guide and prepare a funding proposal for a four-year HRSA Rural Health Network Development grant to mobilize LORHN and partners to expand access to telehealth in the region.
CDC Opioid Data to Action (OD2A)
- >160 clients served with known use of opioid substances, or at-risk for using them.
- >$61,000 rental/relocation assistance secured for clients in the Glades.
- >$6,000 utility assistance funds secured for clients in the Glades.
- Dozens linked with FL Department of Economic Opportunity for unemployment benefits.
HRSA COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake
- >115 residents vaccinated/boosted in the Glades
- >2,000 COVID-19 packets distributed, including educational materials and face masks.
- >$20,000 rental assistance secured for clients in the Glades.
- >$20,000 utility assistance funds secured for clients in the Glades.
- 2 homeowners had their HVAC systems replaced due to age and medical conditions.
FL Rural Health Network: Health Disparities Project
- LORHN has committed to expanding our Community Health Worker programs and
- Will work with other leaders to create rural-focused CHW training opportunities.
- The network will also complete a Social Network Analysis to further understand and leverage connectedness and collaboration amongst the network.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop
- LORHN partnered with HCSEF to provide a virtual CDSMP workshop that had 12 participants in week one and 7 that graduated from the program.
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We look forward to continuing this work in 2023 with our amazing network members and community partners. We also continue to encourage individuals to practice recommended COVID-19 guidelines to remain healthy and keep families safe. These recommendations can also prevent the spread of the flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses affecting our local communities and nation.
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Get vaccines and boosters based on the recommended schedule, based on age and health status
- Get a COVID test if you become ill (after 3 days of symptoms if you are vaccinated) and quarantine/wear a mask until results are received.
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others indoors
- Avoid crowds, especially with inside with limited ventilation
- Socially distance when possible
Be well and stay safe,
Andrea Stephenson, MBA, MHS, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer
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LORHN CEO Named 2023 NRHA Rural Health Fellow |
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Andrea Stephenson, LORHN CEO
2023 NRHA Rural Health Fellow
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November 2, 2022 - National Rural Health Association (NRHA) announces 2023 Rural Health Fellows
LORHN's CEO, Andrea Stephenson, MBA, MHS, FACHE, has been named one of seventeen professionals throughout the nation for this year-long intensive Rural Health Fellows leadership program.
She has dedicated nearly 30 years of her life and work to reduce health disparities through health planning, service coordination, program development, evaluation, and advocacy throughout South Florida and around Lake Okeechobee. She has been a steadfast and fierce advocate for rural, minority, and marginalized communities at the local, community, state, region, and national levels along the way and will continue to do so. Congratulations, Andrea!
The goal of the fellows program is to educate and develop a network of diverse rural leaders that will step forward to serve in key positions in the association, affiliated advocacy groups, and local and state legislative bodies with health equity as a main focus (NRHA, 2023).
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Partner Spotlight: Hendry Regional Medical Center (HRMC) |
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Hendry Regional Medical Center raised $45,000 this year for the Pink Warriors Fund. HRMC created the Pink Warriors Fund in 2017 to raise awareness of breast cancer as well as raise funds dedicated for local women needing breast cancer related services. Each year during the month of October Hendry Regional fundraises through multiple events that are highlighted by the Pink Warriors Walk on October 22. This year’s event was attended by over 250 participants.
“We had a tremendous response and outpouring from the community in support of our events, and we were able to raise critical dollars to help local women in their fight against breast cancer,” stated Electa Waddell, Marketing/Foundation Director.
The Pink Warriors Fund has provided over 400 local women access to breast-related healthcare that they may otherwise have not had, e.g. screening or diagnostic imaging service provided by HRMC.
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Breast cancer survivors leading
the 2022 Pink Warriors Walk on
October 27, 2022
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Vaccine Uptake in Rural Communities |
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LORHN Community Health Advocates continue to provide education about and linkage to the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. LORHN is offering a $35 Winn Dixie gift card to residents that choose to get vaccinated and/or boosted.
Boosters are an important part of protecting yourself from getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19, especially with new variants causing the majority of recent COVID-19 cases. The new bi-valent booster, made available in September, is recommended for everyone 5+.
Vaccines are available for all 3 months and older and updated bivalent boosters are available for all five years and older. Bivalent boosters are recommended for everyone 5 years and older, two months after their last dose (initial series or previous boosters). Call our team today to help find a vaccine near you or make an appointment at (863) 532-3099 or (561) 545-4751.
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FREE COVID-19 at-home Tests (Again!) |
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Take an at-home test:
- If you begin having COVID-19 symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell, or
- At least 5 days after you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, or
- When you’re going to gather with a group of people, especially those who are at risk of severe disease or may not be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines
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In early December, the White House purchased more COVID-19 rapid at-home tests to distribute throughout the country to encourage testing and increase access. Tests are delivered by the United States Postal Service.
Every household is eligible for four tests, and boxes come with two tests in each.
They can be ordered online (click link below) or by telephone 800-232-0233.
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Reducing Opioid-related Overdoses in Rural Palm Beach County |
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Opioids, and other drugs, continue to negatively affect our rural communities. People are dying from drug overdose, sometimes caused by synthetic fentanyl that cannot be detected in the streets. Know the signs of addiction and overdose to save a life. The holiday season can be extremely difficult for some and lead to increased use that could end in an overdose. Watch the short video below to learn ways to support your loved ones during this time. LORHN Community Health Advocates are one call or text away to provide information, resources, and referrals.
Help spread the word, educate the community, and help those that need it:
- Schedule an Opioid Awareness presentation
- Share our flyers and educational materials
- Refer clients to our team via Unite Us, phone call (561) 557-9273, or email.
**There are no eligibility requirements for the program, it is open to all in Palm Beach County**
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LORHN is searching for another Community Health Advocate to join our team and serve residents of Western Palm Beach County/ the Glades.
Experience and understanding of working individuals and families experiencing substance use challenges and having a connection to the Glades community are extremely helpful for this community-based role. The CHA will meet people where they are to provide information, referrals, and linkage to treatment, harm reduction, and other health-related needs.
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Health Insurance Enrollment |
Open Enrollment for health plans that begin in 2023 ends January 15, 2023. Our team members are Certified Application Counselors with the marketplace. They offer unbiased information and help with applications for public health insurance programs.
Medicaid and Florida KidCare applications can be completed all year. LORHN team members can help with all of these, just give us a call. Help is free!
Have questions? Call or text (561) 545-4751.
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As overdoses soar in rural America, more clinicians are prescribing addiction medications
NBC News
November 30, 2022
Image: Ted S. Warren/ AP file
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Policy Brief: Who Will Care for Rural Older Adults? Measuring the Direct Care Workforce in Rural Areas
Univ. of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
November 2022
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Upcoming Rural Health Events |
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Rural Health Policy Institute
Feb 7-9, 2023
Washington, D.C.
NRHA’s 34th Rural Health Policy Institute is your chance to guide the future of rural health policy with NRHA leadership and advocate for issues you care about with new and returning members of Congress and the administration.
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Health Equity Conference
May 15-16, 2023
San Diego, Calif.
Designed for those who are dedicated to bringing quality health care and health care services to underserved and often under-represented populations, including LGBTQIA+, veteran, and homeless rural residents as well as multiracial and multicultural members of rural communities.
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Annual NRHA Conference
May 16-19, 2023
San Diego, Calif.
Each year, more than 200 individuals present over 85 concurrent educational sessions, 20 research papers and up to 100 research and educational posters at NRHA's annual events, constituting the nation's largest, most inclusive rural health conference.
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2023 Annual International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health Conference
June 18-21, 2023
Tampa, FL
ISASH is an organization dedicated to the professional development of agricultural safety and health professionals, providing national and international leadership in preventing agricultural injuries and illnesses to the agricultural community. ISASH provides opportunities for sharing information about research and intervention programs, improving professional skills and knowledge, networking and other supportive activities.
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NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
2023 Summer Symposium
July 23 - 26, 2023
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
July 30 - August 3, 2023
Radisson Blu Mall of America
Bloomington, MN
Advance your rural broadband community through effective leadership. The Summer Symposium is the only conference of its kind—designed specifically for new and veteran board members in the rural telco industry. It provides strategic, forward-thinking insights on effective leadership and successful practices in governance.
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Sign up for LORHN's bi-weekly distribution of the GrantStation Insider Content e-newsletter or view LORHN's GrantStation Insider Content e-newsletter archive page for previous funding opportunities.
Funding for Individual & Family Assistance
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.
All applicants applying for services must have a total household income of no more than 150% Federal Poverty guidelines; be responsible for paying their home heating or cooling bills; and be a U.S. citizen, qualified alien, or permanent resident of the U.S. Programs are available for individuals, children, and families.
This non-profit agency provides case management for families, education programs, community health education and healthcare coordination, food, clothing, diaper and toiletry distributions, financial literacy, transportation, translation and interpretation, emergency rental, and more.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices. Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. To receive the connected device discount, consumers need to enroll in the ACP with a participating provider that offers connected devices (Note: not all internet companies offer device discounts.) The internet company will provide a discount to the consumer.
State & National Grants
The Florida Health Literacy Initiative will provide grants to help Florida adult English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and family literacy programs integrate health education into their instruction. The initiative is seeking to cover all areas of the state. Deadline: February 6 ,2023
Notice of Special Interest for research that analyzes barriers to care and risk of HIV-associated comorbidities among disproportionally vulnerable and affected population groups of people living with or at risk for HIV infection. Deadline: May 8, 2025
Community development loans to local governments, public service authorities, user associations, nonprofit organizations, and other community entities for the development and/or construction of large-scale community projects. Deadline: ongoing basis
USDA Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees provide financing for telephone and broadband infrastructure in rural areas. Funds may be used to finance broadband-capable telecommunications services, including improvements, expansions, construction, acquisitions, and refinancing. Applications accepted year-round
Learn about Federal Grant forecasted, posted, and archived grants available via various Federal Government Programs. Grants Learning Center provides information about eligibility, writing, reporting, policies, systems, and more.
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LORHN Community Resource Guides |
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Knowing where to start looking for help for yourself, a friend, family member, or client can be overwhelming. LORHN has developed a community resource guide for each community of our service area. Every guide includes phone numbers for various county services as well as local medical services, senior services, medical and social support services, food, housing and utilities, pregnancy and childcare, mental health services, and employment services.
Click each geographic area below to download the community guide. Please share them! Notice something missing? Let us know!
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Hendry & Glades
Community Collaborative Meetings
1st Friday of each month
8:30 am - 11:30 a
Okeechobee
Community Collaborative Council (CCC)
4th Tuesday of each month
10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Western Palm Beach
P.A.T.C.H.
3rd Tuesday of each month
9:00 am - 10:45 am
Martin County
InterAgency Coalition
2nd Wednesday of each month
8:30 am - 10:00 am
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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. Our vision is to promote/provide for the special and specific health needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in the Lake Okeechobee area.
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LAKE OKEECHOBEE RURAL HEALTH NETWORK | 888-880-8242 | www.LORHN.org
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