ORHPC News Update April 2023 - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care

 

MDH ORHPC

Office of Rural Health and Primary Care News

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April 2023

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MDH news

Registration open for the 2023 MN Rural Health Conference!

2023 MN Rural Health logo

We hope to see you in June!

This year's MN Rural Health Conference is back in-person. Join rural health leaders from across the state on June 12-13 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) for keynote presentations, panel discussions and breakout sessions. In addition, the conference is an excellent opportunity for networking with each other - something we have all been missing. 

Conference attendee registration is open as of Monday, April 3. Blocks of rooms offered at reduced rates have been reserved for conference attendees at three hotels in Duluth. All hotels are located within a short walking distance of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, where conference sessions are held. Room rates are available until early-to-late May, depending on the hotel. Please be sure to mention the "2023 Minnesota Rural Health Conference" when booking your room.

If you have any questions about registration or lodging, please contact conference staff by email (ruralhealthconference@ruralcenter.org) or phone (218-464-6121).

Conference sponsorships still available 

A limited number of conference sponsorships still remain available. The sponsorships are designed to meet a range of engagement goals and budgets, and provide organizations with an opportunity to demonstrate support for both rural health in Minnesota and the conference. Sponsorship enhancements include co-branded conference tote bags, water bottles, and lanyards.

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Grants and other funding

Open: IMG Residency Preparation Program – BRIIDGE

The University of Minnesota, in partnership with Minnesota Department of Health, will again offer a residency preparatory program for international medical graduates (IMGs). This nine–month BRIIDGE program will consist of inpatient and outpatient training opportunities as well as community and classroom-based components to prepare participants to match into and succeed in residency programs. Participants will be selected through a competitive application; applicants must meet the eligibility requirements, and a further assessment including readiness for residency, motivation, previous clinical experience, future goals as a practicing professional and other considerations. Applications are to be submitted through the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care’s online grant portal. Applications are due Sunday, May 7, 11:59 p.m. For more information please contact: MN_health.IMG@state.mn.us

NEW: Two new federal Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has announced two new Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Eligible applicants include all domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities. This is a great opportunity for organizations who want to address critical rural health needs. 

  • Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. The purpose of this program is to establish and expand sustainable behavioral health care services for children and adolescents aged 5-17 years who live in rural communities, and to prevent substance misuse. Award recipients will use funding to establish and expand service delivery, training and peer mentorship, and community partnerships. Applications are due Friday, May 12.
  • Rural Health Care Coordination Program. The purpose of this program is to implement activities that improve and expand delivery of health care services through care coordination strategies in rural areas. Award recipients will use this funding to improve health outcomes through coordinated, community-wide, sustainable programs in rural communities. Eligible applicants include all domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities, including community-based organizations, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, and faith-based organizations. Applications are due Monday, May 15.

Open: USDA Rural Utilities Service Community Connect Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service Community Connect Grant Program will award funding to provide broadband service in rural, economically challenged communities where it does not exist. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, small businesses, and state/local/Tribal governments. Applications are due Tuesday, June 20. For more information, please contact the Community Connect Help Desk Email

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Opportunities

Accepting applications for Grants Specialist position 

ORHPC's Health Care and Workforce Development Grants Unit is hiring a detail-oriented Grants Specialist ID 64206 to assist in administering ORHPC’s many grant programs. The Grants Specialist will help ensure that agency, state and federal policies and standards are upheld; grant funds are properly expended; and grant administration in ORHPC operates effectively and efficiently.

Key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

  • Reviewing grantee financial and progress reports.
  • Working with grant managers to review and approve grantee invoices and conduct financial reconciliations.
  • Developing and analyzing financial reports for the supervisor and grant managers.
  • Facilitating the creation and execution of grant contracts, working with MDH legal and finance staff.
  • Maintaining the online grant management portal, Foundant, including creating online application, evaluation, and reporting forms.
  • Working with grantees to provide technical assistance and resolve challenges.

This position has the option to telework from the following states: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, or South Dakota; however future work locations and schedules will be based on the business needs of the unit and supervisory discretion. If you have questions about the position, please contact genna.anderson@state.mn.us.

For information about the application process, go to Minnesota Careers website. Applications are due Thursday, April 13.

Talking through the numbers

Talking Through the Numbers, is a podcast produced by Wilder Research.  Discussions look beyond numbers and offer insight about community issues. Listen via Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

2023 County Health Rankings now available

The 2023 County Health Rankings were recently released, providing an annual snapshot of the health of the nation’s counties through the lens of more than 90 factors – from housing, education, jobs, and more. This year’s Health Rankings explore solutions to promote inclusion and invest in spaces where everyone can connect. Find out where your county ranks in your state and learn how your community’s health compares to similar counties in the U.S. 

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News of our partners

Healthgrades Awards

Congratulations to the 25 Minnesota hospitals recognized for the Patient Safety Excellence Award and the Outstanding Patient Experience Award!

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Now read this

Exploring rural-based professionals' and community stakeholders' perceptions towards the uptake of Buprenorphone, Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, February 2023.

$26.4 million grant helps Minnesota hospitals find life-threatening conditions, Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 21. 

A Minnesota family's desperate search for care reveals state's mental health crisis, Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 24.

Minnesota rushes to re-up hundreds of thousands at risk of losing Medicaid after pandemic, Minnesota Public Radio News, March 30.

Black woman-owned health agency expands to reach Rochester’s most underserved communities, NBC News Rochester, NY, March 31.

Linkages between rural community capitals and healthcare provision: A survey of small rural towns in three U.S. regions This report identifies community-level factors affecting the recruitment and retention of rural healthcare professionals. The authors used key informant interviews and a survey of healthcare professionals in 150 small rural towns (with a population between 2,500 and 20,000) in 9 States (Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin), emphasizing a broad range of community assets and investments. The findings suggest that rural communities can have a significant influence on attracting and retaining healthcare professionals through investments in social, human, and physical capital. Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-251) 92 pp, March 2023.

Crowded housing and housing cost burden by disability, race, ethnicity, and rural-urban location, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, March 2023.

Access to health services across rural and urban minoritized racial/ethnic group areas, Rural and Minority Health Research Center, March 2023. 

Rural working-age adults report more cost barriers to health care, Maine Rural Health Research Center, March 2023.

Workforce expansion improves health outcomes in underserved communities, Dentistry Today, March 2023.

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Save the date

The National Rural EMS & Care Conference will be held virtually, April 18-20.

The virtual Rural Medical Education's (RME) Spring 2023 Rural Health Clinical Congress will be held live online Saturday, May 20. This interactive, multi-topic, complimentary CME/CE conference is designed for clinicians who serve patients in rural and underserved communities. Learn more and register here.

 

2023 MN Rural Health Conference

The 2023 Minnesota Rural Health Conference is June 12-13, in Duluth, MN. 

The 2023 Many Faces of Community Health Conference will be August 10-11, in Bloomington.

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