Rural Health School Health Newsletter

School Health Newsletter

January 2025

Partnerships - Education - Advocacy - Resources

Winter is Here: Stay Safe and Be Smart

Flu Season is Here

Flu season is here! Help keep yourself and those around you safe. Be smart a remember to take all precautions!

Tennessee Department of Health shared locations across all 95 counties where Tennesseans can receive a free flu vaccine to protect themselves against getting or spreading the virus. All County Health Departments in Tennessee are providing flu vaccines for free to the public with hours and location information can be found here.

2025 Grand Regions Tour

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee invites you to join us for our 2025 Grand Regions Tour. These spring regional events will give members an opportunity to learn from prominent speakers in rural communities and esteemed universities as we explore critical topics in behavioral health. These events are perfect for healthcare providers, educators, advocates, and anyone passionate about rural health.

To read more, click here.

2025 Rural Health Day on the Hill

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and join us for Rural Health Day on the Hill, hosted by the Rural Health Association. This exclusive, members-only event provides a unique opportunity to directly engage with Tennessee state representatives and senators to discuss vital topics such as healthcare legislation, funding, and policy. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., scheduled meetings will allow members to share their insights and concerns, amplifying the voices of rural communities across the state. To register, click here.

Events and Resources

Community Resource Event Join us for a valuable Community Resource Event hosted by Purpose Point Community Health, Mount Canaan, and the Rural Health Association of Tennessee! On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at 2800 N. Chamberlain Ave., Chattanooga, TN, 37406. Come and learn about various community resources and get expert information/assistance with TennCare Redetermination, Medicare Counseling, and so much more! For more information, call 423-541-5950.

Positive Soultions for Families Positive Solutions for Families is an evidence-informed seven-part series for parents and caregivers of young children. Participants will learn how to use positive approaches and effective techniques to improve interactions with their child(ren). These tools will promote optimal development and will address challenging behaviors. For the full event schedule, click here.

Parent-to-Parent Advocacy Training Are you looking for support with your child’s Individualized Education Plan, 504, mental health, child welfare or juvenile court involvement? Tennessee Voices will walk you through the process, showing how to offer support, and so much more. This free training takes place February 19th an 20th. To register for this event, click here.

TCCY 2025 Advocacy Days The 2025 Children’s Advocacy Days theme, Navigating the Digital Frontier: Empowering Children & Youth for a Bright Future, will explore innovative ways to positively impact the lives of children and youth in our ever-evolving digital era. This year’s theme will provide critical insights into equipping young people with the skills, resources, and resilience needed to thrive in a tech and artificial intelligence-driven world. For more information, click here.

CMS Health Equity Conference The 2025 CMS Health Equity Conference: Building a Healthier America, which will take place from April 23 to April 24, 2025. The free, hybrid conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Bethesda, Maryland, and available virtually. To learn more, click here.

Every Child Tennessee This event is open to trainings for potential foster parents. To access the full training information, click here.

Rural Health Association Rural Health Dashboard This dashboard provides key data elements to better inform policymakers, administrators, funders, and others wishing to strengthen access to care in rural Tennessee. Users are invited to explore, click on, and hover over different visual elements. To access the full dashboard, click here.

The State of the Child in Tennessee 2024 This annual data book tracks the status of children by analyzing state level statistical indicators of child well-being using social, educational, economic, and health data. To read the full report, click here.

Preventing Firearm Violence and Injuries Impacting Children and Teens This is a summary of initial findings from CDC-funded firearm injury prevention research related to better understanding and preventing firearm violence and injuries impacting children and teens. To read the full summary, click here.

Using Case Studies to Highlight Best Practice and Improve Outcomes in Brain Injury This series is designed for Service Providers across all Systems of Support including Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder, Domestic Violence, ACEs/Trauma, Child Abuse, Chronic Pain, Homelessness, Criminal & Juvenile Justice and Brain Injury. For more information, click here.

Rural Health Information Hub The RHIhub is a great first stop when looking for information, opportunities, and resources on rural health. Access the RHIhub here.

Grant and Support Resources

Whole Kids Foundation School Garden Grant Program Deadline March 5th

Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) Grant Program Deadline March 17th

SUN Meals (Summer Food Service Program) Ongoing basis

Rural Health Association of Tennessee

Mailing Address:

PO Box 656,

Decaturville, TN 38329

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This service was supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, under GR-21-73441. The contents of this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of/or endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.