To our partners,
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to effect lives around the Lake and flu season begins, Lake Okeechobee Rural Health Network (LORHN) remains committed to supporting and improving the health and safety of our communities. Though it may look different, our business continues through this time as we:
- Continue serving our communities through telephone and electronic means.
- Maintain consistent communication with community partners to provide timely information, education and support.
- Offer all LORHN health education workshops via Zoom, at varying times and day of the week to meet the schedule and demands of our communities.
- Provide education and training via virtual meetings with local and regional partners.
- Keep our fingers on the pulse of emerging needs and trends to guide future network and project planning.
We continue to monitor the evolving situation closely and will adjust our guidelines as appropriate. We value your continued partnership as we help our community through this crisis, one day at a time.
Be well and stay safe,
Andrea Stephenson Royster
Chief Executive Officer
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2020 Census Deadline Extended - Again! |
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Deadline to complete
the 2020 Census is
October 31, 2020
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What services will you, or your family, need in the next 10 years?
Census data is used to determine the amount of money allocated to your community based on population demographics and need assessments. Don't miss out on WIC, childcare, emergency medical services, road improvements, senior programs, college Pell grants, and accurate representation in government. Most people complete it online in less than 10 minutes.
Help spread the word by sharing our social media post on your page and flyers in your community and business. Contact us to schedule a virtual presentation or discuss other ways to partner.
Your data is protected. In fact, the US Census Bureau is bound by law and every employee takes an oath to protect your personal information. Answers are used only to provide statistics for funding and planning purposes. Read more here.
Help spread the word and increase the response rate in your neighborhood by sharing flyers! Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. |
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New Programs Coming to Western Palm Beach County |
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Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Screening in
Western Palm Beach County.
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The six domains of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are economic stability, education, neighborhood, physical environment, social context, and health care resources; each one affects an individual's health over the course of their lifetime.
The Quantum Foundation has awarded LORHN a grant to utilize a Community Health Worker (CHW) model to screen individuals in health and social settings for SDOH needs and work with clients one-on-one to connect them to resources they may need to improve their health outcomes and quality of life.
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Opioid Data to Action (OD2A) |
The opioid epidemic continues to affect individuals and families and take lives of Palm Beach County residents. Unfortunately, individuals can fall through the cracks and stay out of care if not provided one-on-one assistance.
LORHN will have a CHW Care Coordinator serving residents of Western Palm Beach County to conduct opioid related prevention, risk-reduction, and linkage activities with various partners. The Care Coordinator will also engage, link, and/or relink individuals experiencing opioid use disorder into treatment and support services.
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If you're interested in collaborating on one, or both, of these projects contact our team to discuss opportunities for collaboration. Both programs will utilize the Unite PBC platform as a partner with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. |
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Florida KidCare - Affordable Health and Dental Insurance for Kids (0-18) |
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Contact us today to:
- Refer a family to us for free help
- Ask a question about the program
- Set up an appointment
- Get resources to share with your clients
- Schedule an overview training for staff
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Florida KidCare is designed to provide services to children at each stage of growth and development. Health and dental services are delivered through quality plans that offer a choice of local doctors, dentists, specialists, hospitals, pharmacies and other health care providers.
Florida KidCare includes free, subsidized and full-pay options based on family income and household size. Most families pay nothing at all for coverage, and many pay as little as $15 or $20 a month. Families who do not qualify for free or subsidized coverage may purchase a competitively priced full-pay plan.
Lawfully residing immigrant children are eligible
without a waiting period.
With no application fee and year-round enrollment, the time to apply is always now.
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Health Education Workshops Are Virtual |
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Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)
This course is for individuals living with any chronic illness, e.g. heart disease, asthma, COPD, emphysema, cancer, anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Weekly meetings provide a space for individuals and family members to gather for support and learn techniques to self-manage and take control of their health and health conditions. Coming soon, email us if your interested.
Want to start a workshop with your friends, family, neighbors, or colleagues?
Email us ASAP and we will coordinate a private workshop. At least 8 participants are needed for all workshops.
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Prescription Assistance & Health Insurance Enrollment |
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LORHN continues to provide one-on-one assistance for individuals that do not have access to affordable medications. This is more than a discount card (those are available as well). LORHN partners with NeedyMeds to submit applications directly to medicine manufacturers on behalf of clients to receive discounted medicine. In some cases, LORHN staff have been successful at securing free medication for up to a year.
Assistance is also available for individuals and families that are not enrolled in health insurance. Open Enrollment for the Marketplace is coming up soon. Individuals may also be eligible for Special Enrollment Period prior to open enrollment. Assistance is free, don't delay being covered.
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The Florida Department of Health has a dedicated call center for COVID-19 available 24/7.
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COVID-19 Infographics
Now Available to Share
LORHN is excited to share a number of easy-to-read and field-tested infographics about how to prevent individuals and families being negatively infected by both COVID-19 and the flu.
Infographics were created by Dr. Shanina Knighton, PhD, RN and See Your Words, in partnership with HCSEF & LORHN.
LORHN encourages wide use and sharing of these graphics to help educate and empower the community to take control of their health. Visit our website to view all of the topics and download designs to share.
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This year, the importance of a flu shot
cannot be underestimated.
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As COVID-19 continues to spread, we must continue to prevent the spread of both viruses and prepare for an active flu season by getting vaccinated.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends an annual influenza (flu) vaccination for all persons aged 6 months or older who do not have contraindications. Understand the similarities and differences of Flu and COVID-19.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages all to get a flu vaccine, especially those at high risk of developing complications. This includes people who are 65+ years old, individuals with certain chronic medical conditions (asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc.), pregnant women and children younger than 5, especially those younger than 2 (CDC, 2020).
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Ask your doctor about the flu shot. |
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FCC, HHS, and USDA Team Up for Rural Telehealth Initiative.
These federal agencies have signed a MOU to establish an interagency Rural Telehealth Initiative Task Force. Click the image for the full press release.
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Rural Healthcare Surge Readiness
Explore resources, tools, and training to prepare various healthcare settings (EMS, hospitals, ambulatory, and long-term care)to respond to COVID-19 in their communities.
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CMS COVID-19 Crosswalk
Details provisions that impact telehealth services, CMS hospitals and facilities without walls, patient over paperwork, workforce, payment, data reporting, and more.
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COVID-19: Here’s What CMS Will Do With the Temporary Telehealth Codes When the PHE Ends
Healthcare Law Today
August 12, 2020
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How the pandemic forced mental health care to change for the better
VOX News
September 18, 2020
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Upcoming Webinars & Professional Events |
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Recorded September 23, 2020
LORHN & Health Council of Southeast Florida (HCSEF) co-hosted this information session on September 23rd. Sandy Goodman with the 2020 Census joined us to share information and answer questions about the 2020 Census.
Recorded September 24, 2020
LORHN partnered with the Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Florida, and Friends Fighting Falls to talk about fall prevention strategies and educational workshops available in the region during Fall Prevention Week.
The Florida Rural Health Association continues to provide bi-weekly virtual learning sessions with Rural EMS/Paramedicine experts. Webinars are every other Thursday at 12:00 pm.
Program Design and Changing Culture in the EMS/Fire-based Organization to Include a Patient Centric Model
October 15 | 12:00 pm
Applying the "7 Habits" to Improve the Community Healthcare System
October 29 | 12:00 pm
Medication Reconciliation within MIH-CP: Pitfalls and Best Practices
November 12 | 12:00 pm
October 5 | 2:00 pm
October 8 | 2:00 pm
October 13 | 1:00 pm
October 14 | 6:00 pm
October 15 | 2:00 pm
October 14 - 16, 2020 | Orlando, FL
Details to come, see website for updates.
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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.
COVID-19 Relief Funding Opportunities
A partnership between the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee and Southwest Florida Community Foundation. This relief fund will provide resources to 501(c)3 organizations in the southwestern region of our state who are working with those who are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Funders in Palm Beach County have joined together to coordinate this funding opportunity. This funding process will provide assistance to nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County and Martin County whose staff, services and clients have been impacted by this crisis.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to view Federal Nutrition Programs' response to COVID-19: meals during school and child are closings, feeding older Americans, SNAP, WIC, food security, and timeline of federal and regulatory updates.
Local Grants
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.
Assistance Available: electrical, water, rental/mortgage, gasoline, medical, transportation to medical services, food, HVAC Repair (60+), family self-sufficiency and more.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that assists high-energy burdened, low-income households with the costs of heating and cooling their homes. Home energy funds are provided once per calendar year and are based on the client’s gross income and household size. ALPI’s focus of CSBG funding is to support a Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP); however, there are limited emergency assistance funds available to help alleviate an immediate crisis. Under the FSSP, an eligible client is provided services through ongoing case management with the ultimate outcome being the enhancement of a family’s ability to, ultimately, meet their own needs. Apply online.
Regional Grants
A virtual-learning platform for health professionals in Florida to learn about best practices and evidence-based care for rural patients with serious and life threatening illness through didactic and case presentations. Deadline: Ongoing
Grants to community-based organizations that prioritize HIV/AIDS prevention and/or care services across the southern United States. Funding may be used for a variety of organizational and staff resources, including technology and software, meeting space costs, conference attendance fees, professional development, and continuing education. Deadline: Ongoing
Grants for community-led campaigns and education initiatives across the deep south that work to reduce stigma and change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around HIV and AIDS. SPARK! Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis. Applications are accepted via online submission on a rolling basis.
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
Federal Grants
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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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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