This newsletter is brought to you by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and the Community Health Systems Development Team at the Georgia Health Policy Center.
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GRANTEE SPOTLIGHTS
Network Development Grantee
  The Georgia Health Policy Center recently spoke to Kathy Schwarting, CEO of Palmetto Care Connections, about how the telehealth network pivoted from having a provider focus to helping on the patient side as a result of the pandemic. 
Network Planning Grantee
The Georgia Health Policy Center recently spoke to Ann Morgan, executive director at the North Country Healthy Heart Network, about planning efforts for the North Country Chronic Disease Prevention Coalition in rural New York. 
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC UPDATES
Rural Health Network Development 

December 2022 
TA support for your sustainability planning deliverable is only a call away! Make plans to talk about any remaining sustainability planning questions or ideas with your technical assistance provider on your routine monthly call this month. The plan is due in the Electronic Handbook on December 30, 2022.  

January 2023 
Scheduled TA Calls: Sustainability Planning 
Just a reminder that your TA provider will take a few moments on your January call to discuss any remaining elements in your year 3 work plan. As the new year begins, this is an opportune time to reflect and celebrate the work accomplished in recent months as well as plans to tackle items remaining in your work plan. 

Mid-January: Fund Planning QuickCourse  
While you are implementing the next steps from your business and sustainability planning, this self-guided resource may come in handy for identifying and tracking future actions related to identifying specific organizations and individuals you will approach for support, determining the appropriate strategies for making your request, developing a timeline for the process, and refining a prospectus — a document that presents the reasons for investing in your program. 

Mid-January: Sourcebook Entry Instructions and Template 
During mid-January, you will receive a template and instructions for completing your network’s entry in the FORHP RHND Grantee Sourcebook for the 2020-2023 Cohort. This is a public-facing document that provides you and your fellow grantees the opportunity to share the story of your FORHP-funded project with other rural communities, policymakers, funders, etc. The final Sourcebook will be hosted online for you to share with others who want to know more about your work, to reference for planning similar projects, etc. The sourcebook entries will be due March 15, 2023. 

2023 Save the Dates: Upcoming Virtual Meetings  
  • February 8 @ 2:00 p.m. ET: Closeout Reporting Overview and Sustainability Breakout Discussions 
  • March 8 @ 2:00 p.m. ET: Tips for Negotiating with Third Party Payers 
Rural Health Network Development Planning 

Rural Health Network Development Planning Grantee Meeting
Your Network Planning technical assistance (TA) team and FORHP program coordinator are working to confirm the details for an in-person joint grantee peer conference for Network Planning and Rural Health Care Coordination grantees. The conference will be held in Atlanta, Ga. In late February or early March, 2023. This will be an opportunity to meet and interact with your peers, hear timely content from subject matter experts, and connect with FORHP about the agency’s priorities and updates.  
 
Each grantee may bring two team members to the conference.
 
Registration details, including conference hotel information are coming soon!

Upcoming Deliverable: FY 2022 Network Planning Grantees 
The External Environment Scan will focus on trends that will impact the relevance and sustainability of the network. Grantees will work with their partners to ensure that the skills, experiences and knowledge of all members are being leveraged to successfully complete the scan.  
 
Be sure to make time and build a process to engage your network partners and other relevant stakeholders. Ask them to provide data, personal knowledge, and experiences. Ensure that you build in opportunities to meet and engage in sense-making. Ask your TA coach for assistance. The template and instructions can be found on the grant portal at CRL Consulting, Inc. 
  
Due dates: 
  • For grantees who started in July, the scan will be due on February 10, 2023.   
  • For grantees who started in September, the scan will be due on May 12, 2023.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities and Webinars: FY 2022 Network Planning Grantees 
  
Make a Statement Web Blast 
January 18, 2023, from 3:00-3:30 p.m. ET 

This web blast will focus on developing a network statement. The goal of this Web Blast is to prepare grantees to write a compelling network statement that will be included in the Sourcebook and Strategic Plan.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration plans 15 awards with total funding of $15 million to help states meet the requirements for SAMHSA’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program. The planning grants are meant to support states as they develop and implement certification systems for CCBHCs and establish prospective payment systems for Medicaid-reimbursable services. Eligible applicants are state mental health authorities, single state agencies, or state Medicaid agencies. Applications are due December 19.  

HRSA is investing $750,000 to assist academic medical centers and other centers of excellence to create or expand technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building (telementoring) models to support health care providers in rural areas. The award recipient will provide technical assistance resources that are national in scope, freely accessible, and meet the needs of rural communities and health care providers. Applications are due January 9. 
RESOURCES, NEWS AND UPDATES
The report summarizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services activities in fiscal year 2022 to advance health equity for people living in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. The report covers ten priority focus areas including the rural health workforce, payment and delivery system models and demonstrations, long-term services and support, maternal health, mental health and substance use disorders. Click here to access the report.  
 
The Toolkit for Everyone Aligning and Measuring (TEAM) is designed to help people think about measurement in the context of health collaboratives and aligning efforts across sectors. People participating in collaboratives have different roles, needs, and perspectives. The TEAM contains four main parts that each help people think about measurement in a different way. Click here to access the toolkit.  
 
This collection of resources supports health equity by focusing on health as a national priority advocated by collaborators from all sectors. Additionally, the resource offers a series of action areas to encourage cooperation, create healthier communities, strengthen integration of health services, and measure health outcomes and well-being. Lastly, the resource includes a searchable collection of rural and urban communities working to promote health equity. Click here to access the tool.  
 
The Rural Health Information Hub recently launched a new resource developed in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, with support from Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The toolkit provides practical guidance for planning for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and emergencies. It also includes guidance and resources for different types of emergencies and considerations for special populations. Click here to access the toolkit. 
 
The 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offers 24/7 call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has created a 988 Partner Toolkit to provide local and state partners the necessary resources to understand how best to use 988. The toolkit provides communication outreach materials and encourages organizations to build upon these resources with their community coalitions to meet the needs of their specific audiences. Click here to learn more. 

In June 2022, The Biden-Harris White House released the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, a whole-of-government approach to combatting maternal mortality and morbidity by working to cut the rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, reduce the disparities in maternal health outcomes, and improve the overall experience during and after pregnancy for people across the country. The Blueprint outlines five priorities to improve maternal health and outcomes in the United States. Click here for the report.
UPCOMING EVENTS 
Below is a list of additional opportunities that you may find useful for your network planning and development. Attendance is not required. 
February 7-9, 2023 | Washington, DC

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is hosting their 34th annual Rural Health Policy Institute. Attendees will have the opportunity to develop rapport with federal elected officials and staff and understand the importance and successes of NRHA’s advocacy. Learn the new ways NRHA is advancing the association’s priorities. Participate in NRHA’s Rural Health Disparities Summit and connect with Congressional delegation to educate them on rural health policy priorities. 
February 19-22, 2023 | San Antonio, TX

The American Hospital Association is hosting their 36th annual Rural Health Care Leadership Conference. The conference will bring together health care leaders to share strategies and resources for accelerating the growth of a stronger rural health system. Attendees will participate in conversations that examine the most significant operational, financial and environmental challenges and present innovative approaches that will enable you to transform your organization’s care delivery model and business practices. 
March 20-23, 2023 | San Antonio, TX 
 
Registration opens January 2nd. More information to come!