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April 4, 2025

ORHPC Monthly Update

• MDH and ORHPC News
• Grants and Funding
• Opportunities and Resources

MDH and ORHPC News

We are Rural. Join the Journey!  Registration is now open for the 25th Minnesota Rural Health Conference to be held on June 9-10 in Duluth! Register today to join a broad range of health care professionals and leaders from across Minnesota in building healthy rural communities. Conference sponsorships and exhibitor opportunities are available. A limited number of scholarships — which cover the full cost of registration for attendees — are also available. The strong sense of community among Minnesota’s rural health care workforce and policymakers points to our common goal of building healthy communities through continued collaboration, support and innovation. The Minnesota Rural Health Conference is hosted by the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, the Minnesota Rural Health Association, and the National Rural Health Resource Center. Please contact ruralhealthconference@ruralcenter.org or call (218) 464-6121 with questions.

Data Corner

Exploring climate change and health

Healthcare professionals are on the frontlines of protecting patients from climate health risks. Earth Day, observed on April 22, offers an opportunity to reflect on the interconnectedness of human health and the health of the planet. Warming winters, longer periods of extreme heat and humidity in the summer, and changes in rainfall causing flooding and drought are all signs of climate change that impact the natural environment and people in Minnesota.

Climate change can pose health risks for rural Minnesotans, from poorer air quality due to wildfire smoke to the increase in Lyme disease due to longer seasons for deer ticks.

A Minnesota Department of Health survey found that 60% of healthcare professionals in Minnesota recognize that climate change is impacting the health of their patients, but only 17% regularly discuss these issues with their patients. Only 20% reported feeling well prepared for these conversations.

The three most commonly reported barriers were:

• lack of knowledge regarding how to approach this issue with their patients or clients (57%)
• lack of time (40%)
• perceived lack of patient interest (29%)

Respondent self-reported level of concern, preparation, comfort, role in addressing climate change, and whether they feel positioned to help patients or clients

Source: Kircher, M., Doheny, B. M., Raab, K., Onello, E., Gingerich, S., & Potter, T. (2022). Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals toward Climate Change and Health in Minnesota. Challenges, 13(2), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020057

The MDH Climate and Health Program is working to provide evidence-based information on climate health risks and ways to protect public health and prevent future harms from climate change. In partnership with healthcare professionals, they created a training video demonstrating how providers can talk with their patients about climate change. The video, along with other tools and resources, is available on their Discussing Climate Health with Patients page.

Grants and Funding

Request for Proposals: Agricultural Rural Mental Health Services

Region 5 Development Commission (R5DC) receives funds from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to provide mental health support to people who work in agriculture, providing ways to cope with and manage stress.

R5DC is seeking two licensed mental health care practitioners to provide services to Minnesota's rural agricultural communities. Please share this R5DC request for proposal with your networks!

Deadline: May 10 at 8:00 a.m.

Electronic bids must contain “ELECTRONIC BID – MENTAL HEALTH” in the subject line. The response package must be submitted electronically to Staci Headley, sheadley@regionfive.org.

Substance Use Prevention, Education, and Recovery (SUPER) Focus Grants

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is seeking proposals for substance misuse prevention, education, recovery, and treatment programming for prioritized communities of focus. About 65% of funds are reserved for American Indians living in urban areas, people involved with the justice system, and Black/African Americans. Remaining funds will be available for use by others based on factors like age, disability, gender, location, mental health, race, or sexual orientation.

One quarter of funded programs will focus on youth under 25. Programs must include two parts:

• Main focus: Prevention and recovery services that help communities avoid substance use or maintain long-term recovery from substance misuse and mental health issues
• Secondary focus: System improvements that expand substance treatment and mental health programs (Up to 25% of funds can be used for this)

A short-term infusion of funds is available through June 30, 2026, for applicants who would like focus on activities and strategies to build capacity and/or to address the intersection of substance misuse and mental health in Minnesota communities. Applicants may choose to apply for these funds in addition to the primary and secondary focus areas, or only for the enhancement opportunity.

The deadline for SUPER Focus Request for Proposals is April 11.

Opportunities and Resources

Flex Advisory Committee member vacancies 2025

The Minnesota Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program Advisory Committee has vacancies for the following positions:

• Critical Access Hospital administrators, or their designee, from any executive leadership position from within the Critical Access Hospital for these hospital regions
  • Region 1 Critical Access Hospital (NW Minnesota)
  • Region 2 Critical Access Hospital (NE Minnesota)
  • Region 3 Critical Access Hospital (Central Minnesota)
• Advanced practice provider

The purpose of the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Advisory Committee is to assist the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care with program planning, implementation, evaluation, and policy consultation for the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program.

Members of this committee will be expected to collaborate with others, bring forth rural health care delivery issues, provide input toward possible program funded solutions, inform evaluations and insight into rural policy issues by participating in meetings and responding to requests for information. The committee meets three to four times a year and may convene subcommittee discussions and workgroups via conference call or in person.

To apply, complete the Flex Advisory Committee Application (PDF) and submit along with a copy of your resume/CV to health.flex@state.mn.us. Submissions will be accepted until positions are filled. 

Please email health.flex@state.mn.us with questions.

State of the Healthcare Industry: Market Updates for Rural Strategy

You are invited to join the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and Stroudwater Associates for the next installment of the State of the Healthcare Industry: Market Updates for Rural Strategy webinar series on Friday, April 11 at noon. This quarterly session provides valuable insights from industry experts on emerging healthcare trends and strategies to sustain essential rural services.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand new regulations and laws that have occurred during the last 90 days
2. Describe the current market dynamics of the healthcare industry
3. Evaluate the effects of these trends on rural providers
4. Apply this understanding to their organization

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed!

Mental Health Workshop for Rural EMS

The Minnesota Ambulance Association is partnering with ResponderStrong at NDRI to offer a Mental Health Workshop for Rural EMS focused on practical training and ready-to-implement solutions for ground ambulance agencies. Attendees will participate in the ResponderStrong Train-the-Trainer Workshop (PDF) on day one and get hands-on experience using the ResponderStrong (PDF) resources and understanding how to implement these programs in their agencies on day two. 

Registration for the June 25-26 workshop is $150, which includes lodging.

Who Should Attend?
Rural EMS supervisors, managers, wellness coordinators, educators, and directors

Register soon, space is limited! Learn more about ResponderStrong (PDF) and their Digital Resources (PDF).

Emergency Preparedness Basics Workshops for Long-term Care Facilities

In this one-day workshop, people will learn how to better prepare for and respond to emergencies at healthcare facilities. The workshop is for both beginners and experts. It includes lectures, activities, discussions, and practice scenarios. Participants will learn about managing incidents, running ongoing programs, and collaborating with others in their region in addition to learning from other attendees.

Available sessions:

• April 8, St. Cloud (limited number of spots left)
• April 24, Virtual (Zoom)
• May 6, Virtual (Zoom)

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is for those responsible for emergency preparedness at long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities including:

• Emergency preparedness coordinators
• Emergency management program leads
• Others such as facilities management staff, administrative and support staff, and clinicians

Register for the Plan, Prepare, Act workshop online and contact workshop@vitallearningstrategies.com with any questions.

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) promotes access to quality health care for all Minnesotans. We work as partners with policymakers, providers, and rural and underserved urban communities to ensure a continuum of core health services throughout the state.

651-201-3838

health.orhpc@state.mn.us

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