Rural Communities Initiatives - Blog

Rural Communities Initiatives (October 28, 2008)

Earlier this month I visited two communities in northern Wisconsin and another north of Madison, meeting with Office of Rural Health Community Grant recipients. 

Project Zero in Iron County is a collaboration between the County Health Department, Grand View Health Systems, Hurley School District, UW Extension, and County and City EMS and law enforcement in response to alarmingly high rates of teen drinking.  I met with the Iron County Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition in Hurley and learned more about their project, including their plans to stage a “Prom Crash” simulation event, host non-alcohol activities and raise community awareness of this problem.

Members of the Coalition: Zona Wick, Iron County Health Department Director and Sandra Genisot, Project Zero Coordinator.

 

The Community Partners for Cardiovascular Health Coalition in Langlade County, through their Cardiovascular Health Project, plan to achieve multiple goals with their project:

• Increase access to pre-emergency services by placing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in high-priority locations and
• Expand prevention, recognition and early treatment services for County residents with cardiovascular health risks by providing AED/CPR training to the public.

Cardiovascular Health Coalition members l to r: Sarah Zelazoski, Human Resources/Grant Coordinator, Antigo School District; Jenny Schlundt, Fund Development, Langlade Hospital; Roxanne Bornemann, School District Administrator; Laura Hoffmeister, Public Health/School Nurse; Karen Hegranes, Public Health Nurse, Langlade County; me.

 

The Adams County EMS Cardiac Care Coalition is a collaboration between Moundview Memorial Hospital in Friendship, Adams City and County law enforcement, local EMS and Mid-State Technical College.  Their EMS Cardiac Care Initiative will improve the Chain of Survival for cardiac patients by increasing the number of EMTs in the County and providing advanced training to current EMT and emergency room staff. 

Gary Olson and Janet Heller, Moundview Memorial Hospital and Clinics, members of the Cardiac Care Coalition.

 

Proposal Writing Resources
Develop Your Proposal in Eight Steps is an outline of one way to plan and organize the proposal preparation process.  These steps focus primarily on the pre-proposal writing stage.  The author recommends dividing the work into eight steps.  For example,

• Create a timetable and plan of when things must be executed and by whom to meet the deadlines of the funder and your need for funding
• Conduct your research: Research the past grant-making history of your potential sources.

Foundation and Grant Highlights
Not all grant programs award financial resources.  Operation Ranger has awarded over 400 Polaris Ranger 6x6 utility vehicles in all 50 states to EMS, fire, police and other public organizations.  They plan on awarding another 65-75 vehicles in 2009; eight vehicles have been awarded in Wisconsin since the program began in 2003.  The program’s goal is to “recognize the service of our nation’s emergency responders and to provide a versatile, practical vehicle that will enhance emergency response capability at the community level.”  The application is available on their website.  The deadline is January 9, 2009.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager 

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Rural Communities Initiatives (October 22, 2008)

As I mentioned last week, this month I’m traveling around the state meeting with recipients of the Office of Rural Health’s Rural Community Grants.  I’ve really enjoyed meeting with project participants, learning more about these great projects and the opportunity to visit their communities.  

In the past week I’ve met with three community coalitions.  Last week I was at Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County in Darlington meeting with members of the Stroke Awareness and Outcome Improvement project.  This project will train EMTs, hospital emergency room and long term care facility staff in treating stroke patients.  They will also host a community health fair offering stroke education to the general public.  

Terri Vieth, Quality Manager, and Kathy Rueff, Director of Nursing, at Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County.

 

I also had an opportunity to visit Boscobel Area Health Care and meet with Mary Sprosty, Community Relations Coordinator and manager of their Pediatric Trauma Prevention Project.  The Hospital is partnering with Boscobel Police Department, Rescue Squad, Chamber of Commerce and School District, along with other EMS in the County, to train medical staff, parents and the general community on preventing and treating pediatric trauma.  They will also train parents on proper car seat installation and bike helmet use.

Mary Sprosty at Boscobel Area Health Care.  I didn’t get the name of the gentleman on the left.

 

Yesterday I met with members of Dane County Emergency Management Services on their project, Cardiocerebral Resuscitation Training for the General Public.  They will train EMTs and the public on CCR, a hands only CPR system, through classes and public service announcements.  According to Dr. Stiegler, anyone can learn CCR basics with about 90 seconds of training. 

Carrie Meier, EMS Specialist, and Dr. Paul Stiegler, County EMS Medical Director.

 

Proposal Writing Resources
The Rural Assistance Center has developed a Grantwriting Frequently Asked Questions resource.  They offer short, instructive responses to 20 questions on a variety of grant seeking and writing topics.  For example:

Question: How do we show that our project addresses a real need?
Answer: Focus on how the project will help the community, rather than how it will help your organization. Tell the donor about your community and about the people you are trying to help. Help them understand the impact that their funding will have on the community, and back up your statements with facts.

Foundation and Grant Highlights
October 24 is the deadline to apply for the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Prescription Drug Collection Grant.  Wisconsin is one of the first states to offer a comprehensive drug collection and disposal program.  This grant is a continuation of the successful 2008 program.  The Department will award $100,000 to counties and municipalities who propose collection programs for controlled and non-controlled drugs.  More information and the application are available on DATCP’s website.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager 

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Rural Communities Initiatives (October 15, 2008)

I’ve recently been traveling around the state, meeting with coalitions that were awarded a 2008-09 Rural Community Grant by the Office of Rural Health.  This has been a great opportunity for me to meet the project partners and to find out more about the programs.  Over the next few updates I’ll be describing the programs and posting pictures of some of the partners.  You can read the full proposals of all the awarded projects on our Community Grant webpage.

Last week I met with the Hudson PAD (Public Access Defibrillation) Program coalition.  Their program objective is to “reduce the time to defibrillation and increase the chance of survival for people with heart-related emergencies in the Hudson area.”  The coalition will use grant funds to purchase automated external defibrillators, place them in public buildings in the area and train several hundred people in CPR and how to use the devices.  

Members of the Hudson coalition, l to r: Eric Christensen, Chief, St. Croix EMS & Rescue; Kari Kane Rambo, Director of Development, Hudson Health Foundation; Karen Hansen, Marketing & Community Relations Manager, Hudson Hospital; Philip Hughes, Professional Development Manager, Hudson Hospital; Diane Wetzstein, CPR Program Coordinator, Hudson Hospital and me.

 

I also traveled to Oconto Falls last week and met with the Oconto Falls Area Public Health and Safety Coalition.  The coalition will host a Community Safety Fair next May, where representatives from County fire, law enforcement, EMS, public health and the Northeast WI Technical College will distribute information and provide demonstrations to the public on proper safety precautions.  They will give away bicycle helmet certificates, smoke detectors and other safety devices and test kits and raffle off two bicycles.

Members of the Oconto Falls Area Public Health and Safety Coalition, l to r: Mike Roberts, Oconto Falls Police Chief; me; Jim Van Dornick, Administrator, Community Memorial Hospital; Tristam Westphal, Grant Writer, Community Memorial Hospital; Bob Parisey, Director, Oconto Falls Area Ambulance Service.

 

Proposal Writing Resources
In Goals, Outcomes and Objectives -- Keeping Them Straight, Julie Seewald Bornhoeft explains these sometimes confusing terms that most funding agencies expect to see in grant proposals.  Briefly, she defines them as:

• The goal is the accomplishment you seek.
• Objectives measure accomplishments by which your program will be judged.
• Outcomes identify a change in behavior, attitudes, knowledge, etc.

Foundation and Grant Highlights
Two grant opportunities, one national and one local, have application deadlines in the next few weeks:

• The CVS Caremark Community Grants program will award up to $5,000 to programs targeting children with disabilities and also to organizations that provide uninsured individuals with needed care through community health care programs.  More information is available online; the application deadline is October 31.

• The Good Samaritan Health Center Foundation in Merrill is accepting applications for projects that improve community health in the Merrill area. Last year, the foundation provided nearly $20,000 to six Merrill area agencies.  Contact Kathy Brecke at the Foundation by email or at  715-539-5042 for application material.  Applications are due November 7.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager 

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Rural Communities Initiatives (October 1, 2008)

A number of conferences are occurring in October, locally, regionally and around the country:

• The National Rural Health Association is hosting two conferences in Savannah, GA.  The Rural Health Clinic Conference is Oct 14-15 and features classes on billing and cost reporting strategies and information on the latest rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that effects payment changes for RHCs.  This is followed by the Critical Access Hospital Conference Oct. 15-17.  Topics will include facility replacement and renovation and long term care feasibility.

• The University of Wisconsin is hosting the Emergency Response & Recovery Conference October 20-21 at the Pyle Center on the UW-Madison campus.  Attendees will learn what resources and tools they needed to develop an emergency management plan and gain knowledge of emergency management procedures.  More information and registration is available online or contact Susan Paddock by email or phone, 608-262-2576.

• The Big National Conference for Leaders of Little and Medium EMS Agencies will be Oct 27-31 at  Creighton University in Omaha.  The conference is “specifically designed to develop managers and leaders in small and medium sized EMS agencies. A national and international faculty will present four outstanding programs
• • EMS Performance Improvement Academy (Oct. 27-31)
  • Field Training Officer Boot Camp (Oct. 27-29)
  • Supervisor Boot Camp (Oct. 28-30)
  • Administrator Boot Camp (Oct. 29-31)

Each program is designed to provide the EMS professional with limited or no experience a powerful introduction to a specific area of EMS management and leadership.”  More information and registration is available on the website of the North Central EMS Institute.

Proposal Writing Resources
In Creating a Budget with the Budget-Challenged, Karen Host outlines several steps to walk through when preparing your proposal budget.  Her advice could be useful whether you’re working with a project manager who isn’t familiar with the budget process, or if you’re a novice yourself.  Her tips include brainstorming a list of items and services needed to implement the project and working to identify “related costs,” for example, additional costs associated with a new computer such as internet service or a laptop carrying case.

Foundation and Grant Highlights
The School Nutrition Association is a national, nonprofit professional organization that has been advancing the availability and quality of school nutrition programs for over 60 years.  They recently announced a grant to elementary schools that will aid them in developing programs that offer fresh fruits and vegetables.  They will award ten $15,000 grants.  More information is available on the SNA website.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager 

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Rural Communities Initiatives (September 23, 2008)

The number and variety of resources that can assist us as we work to develop and implement health policies and programs in rural communities can be overwhelming.  You can find reports, videos, newsletters data…  The Office of Rural Health tries to highlight some of these resources that we hope you find useful and valuable.  Please let us know if there is anything in particular you’d like to see more of.

Here are a few resources I’ve found recently:

• The WI Division of Public Health publishes a quarterly electronic newsletter, Oral Health Communiqué.  The September issue includes information on the Division’s Oral Health Access Grant, an update on the state-wide, 4,500-student Oral Health Survey, and links to numerous oral health resources.  To subscribe, contact Lisa Bell, State Public Health Dental Hygienist.

• CDC-TV was launched last month by the Centers for Disease Control.  This online video resource will cover a variety of health, safety and preparedness topics as new videos are added to the library.  Current videos include a series for children, Through the Eyes of the Eagle, on wellness and diabetes prevention.

• The Rural Resource Center sponsors the Rural Hospital Education Gateway.  The Gateway’s mission “is to create a one-stop shop for rural hospitals to access distance and web-based educational resources.”  Dozens of resources are included in their library; topics include EMS, Workforce, Boards and Governance, and HIT.  Many of these resources (CDs, DVDs, manual, etc.) are free, including Fundamentals of Effective Board Involvement and CMS’ World of Medicare.

Proposal Writing Resources
Sometimes when we’re struggling with a grant writing, what we’d really like to see is an example of a successful proposal—what did someone else in my situation do that worked?  It can be difficult to find successful “already-written” proposals because they’re usually specific to the funding organization and they may only work within that context.  Many funders publish copies of successful proposals on their websites (including the Office of Rural Health!).  The Idea Bank has put over two dozen successful proposals on their Sample Grant Proposals page.

Foundation and Grant Highlights
The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program aims to “stimulate innovative community-based programs that employ prevention strategies to promote access to health care for children and their families.”  This Health Resources and Services Administration program has several goals, including: 1) to support community-based initiatives that focus resources on preventive child health;  2) foster collaboration among community organizations and families; and 3) involve pediatric health professionals in community-based programs.  The complete guidance is available on the HRSA website.  The application deadline is October 9.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (September 17, 2008)

The alarming rise in obesity rates, and the impact on health, has been making the news lately.  The increase in childhood obesity is especially troubling.  The Leadership for Healthy Communities has an excellent website that includes case studies, policy reports, toolkits and other resources to address wellness issues in your community.  The program, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “supports local and state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote active living, healthy eating and access to healthy foods.”

More employers are recognizing the importance and financial benefit of worksite wellness programs.  The Office of Rural Health is currently working with several communities on the Strong Rural Communities Initiative, a worksite wellness project.  The Governor’s Worksite Wellness Award honors worksites that have policies and programs that support and promote healthy practices.  The award is based on criteria that have proven to be effective in promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles.  There are several award levels for small, medium and large businesses.  Complete application information is available on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health website.

The Wellness Council of Wisconsin is sponsoring the 18th Annual Worksite Wellness Conference in Middleton September 30.  Complete agenda and registration information is available online.

Proposal Writing Resources
From the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, 7 Tips for Writing Successful Proposals:

1. Communicate with funders. When in doubt, ask for clarification. (Don't be scared: Funders are people, too.) Make sure you understand what's expected.
2. Follow the directions. Answer the questions in the order listed, submit the number of copies grantmakers request, and include only the materials specified.
3. Be creative, clear, concise, and accurate. Make the case for your proposal in your own unique way, but include precise data. Avoid technical jargon.
4. Emphasize what your organization will do. Spend more time describing your solution than the issue. Economize content and avoid repetition. Less is more.
5. Evaluation counts. Keep what you want to learn and evaluate in mind, as well the assessment tools you will use to evaluate your project (e.g., records, surveys, interviews, pre- and post-tests).
6. Proofread carefully. Make sure numbers add up and typos are removed. Double check the foundation name.
7. Seriously, proofread! If your proposal has been adapted for multiple funders, make sure you omit other funders' names, as well as references to previous requests.

Foundation and Grant Highlights
The WI Department of Health Services recently announced a $3.2 million funding opportunity, the Oral Health Access Grant program.  Grant funded programs must improve access to BadgerCare Plus (a program for children under 19 and their families), but may target additional groups as well.  The purpose of the grant is to create and improve local community efforts to increase access to oral health services.  The Department will consider requests between $25,000 and $500,000.  Proposals are due October 24, 2008.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (September 9, 2008)

The National Farm Medicine Center, located at Marshfield Clinic’s Research Foundation, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2006.  It was established in response to farm patients’ occupational health problems.  NFMC’s goals for the future include expansion of its competency in infectious disease research and rural and agricultural health and safety, as well as becoming an excellent resource for professional training in agri-medicine and agriculture-related research.

The NFMC is a primary sponsor of the Children’s Agricultural Safety Network.  Their current advertising campaign, "It's Easier to Bury a Tradition Than a Child," focuses on tractor safety.  According to the Network, “tractors are responsible for 41% of the accidental farm deaths of children under 15, yet 4 out of 5 farm children regularly ride tractors with family members.”  The campaign has won several national awards.  The Network provides various versions of the campaign (print, video and radio) that you can download and use freely.

Proposal Writing Resources
Your grant proposal must, among other things, convince the reader of the urgency of the problem you propose to address in your community.  This is usually accomplished in the problem description or needs statement portion of the proposal.  According to Julie Bornhoeft, “The proposal must convey a sense of urgency and substantiate it with facts… The needs statement must succeed in capturing the attention of the reviewer and providing them with adequate information to support the approach you will use.”  In her article, The Needs Statement, Bornhoeft provides guidelines on writing an effective statement and how to successfully manage information in order to effectively tell you story.

Foundation and Grant Highlight
The Alliant Energy Foundation has been active in Wisconsin for over 10 years, contributing over $26 million to projects and organizations in communities Alliant serves.  The Foundation has several assistance programs, including:

• Community grants are directed to programs and projects that benefit the residents and communities served by Alliant Energy’s utility subsidiaries.  Primary emphasis is given to organizations in areas where Alliant Energy has a presence and in communities where Alliant Energy employees live and work.  Grants typically range from $500 to $5,000.  During 2007, the Foundation awarded 469 grants totaling more than $820,000.
• The matching gifts program matches — dollar for dollar — each donation of $25 or more to qualifying organizations.  Last year the Foundation matched more than 4,000 gift requests for nearly $900,000.

Complete information and application forms and guidelines are available on Alliant’s website.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (August 27, 2008)

The University of Wisconsin and the State offer numerous training and continuing education opportunities throughout the year.

• UW Extension and the Department of Commerce are offering the Wisconsin Basic Economic Development Course November 10-13 in Madison.  The course will educate community leaders and others in the fundamentals of economic development.  It’s important to remember that health care is a vital part of economic development and activity, especially in rural communities.  For more information, contact Andy Lewis at UW Extension, 608-263-1432
• The UW Professional Development and Applied Studies program offers classes and seminars throughout the year.  Most of these are in Madison, which can be inconvenient for many people.  They also offer several online courses, including Introduction to Researching and Writing Grants. This class will run from September 10 through October 7.  The course “teaches you how to prepare effective grant applications to develop new services, support existing programs, and strengthen your operating budget. Through hands-on practice you will learn how to develop your ideas, research funding resources, and write a statement defining goals and objectives.”  If you have any questions, contact Ann Whitaker, 608-262-4509

Proposal Writing Resources
Federal grant proposals can be intimidating, with a variety of forms and registration requirements.  I encourage you to look at two recent Health Research and Services Administration Grants: the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant and the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant.  The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance has prepared an online guide to writing for federal grants; Developing And Writing Grant Proposals.  The guide covers many aspects and stages of proposal writing, including development, designing an evaluation and identifying the problem.

Foundation and Grant Highlight
Corporate foundations are an excellent source for grant funds, especially those with a presence in your community.  This can include a manufacturing or distribution center or regional headquarters.  Pioneer Hi-Bred International, headquartered in Johnston IA, is “the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics to farmers worldwide.”  Pioneer’s Community Investment Program awards grants to community-based projects in a number of areas, including rural health care, farm safety, education and the environment.  As with many corporate foundation, they give priority consideration to projects located in Pioneer facility communities, but consider awards to other rural areas.  Types of support include capital, general operating, program development, and seed money grants.  They favor proposals that demonstrate cooperation with other community-based programs, broad-based funding, community need, and positive results.  For more information contact the Grants Administrator, 515-248-4800. 

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (August 20, 2008)

Deadlines and Events in September and October
The Wisconsin Division of the American Trauma Society is offering three $500 grants for projects that will raise awareness of injury prevention strategies and reduce the incidence of injuries in Wisconsin communities.  Eligible applicants include individuals, EMS squads, and other community.  The application deadline is September 15, 2008. You are able to access the application through the WI Dept of Health Services website at: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/ems/News_events/WATS%202008%20Grant%20Application.pdf.  For more information contact Barb Kalscheur, 608-249-0100 ext. 37051.

The Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs is hosting their annual Community Mental Health Conference in Duluth September 16-19.  Conference tracks include integrating primary care and mental health, community psychiatric services, and improving clinical management.  Registration and further information is available on the Association’s website.

The National Rural Health Association will host two conferences in Savannah, GA in October: the Rural Health Clinic Conference (Oct. 14-15) and the Critical Access Hospital Conference (Oct. 15-17).  The Clinic Conference will feature classes on integrated billing and cost reporting strategies.  You will also hear about the latest rule changes proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  The CAH Conference will focus on facility relocation/renovation, quality improvement and long term care feasibility.

Proposal Writing Resources
Joel Orosz, former program officer at the Kellogg Foundation, offers One Program Officer’s Candid Tips for Grant Seekers.  He provides “no-spin advice on how to approach foundations and write persuasive proposals.”  Some of his “great proposal traits” include evidence that you’ve involved clients in the proposal process, a sustainability plan, and examples of your collaborative process.

Foundation and Grant Highlight
The West Foundation has been awarding grants in the Manitowoc County region for over 50 years.  The Foundation’s areas of interest include health care, human services and medical research.  In 2006 they awarded 65 grants ranging from $100 to $125,000, averaging $25,000.  Past grant recipients include EMS, fire and police departments, hospitals and hospices.  More information is available on the Foundation’s website, including the annual report and the grant application. 

Thomas J. Bare
West Foundation
915 Memorial Drive
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(920) 684-6110
info@westfoundation.us

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (August 5, 2008)

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Eye Institute’s Healthy Vision Community Awards Program provides funding for the implementation of health education activities that support goals to reduce health disparities and improve quality of life.  The focus of the 2008 awards is on vision screening for children.  The Institute will award grants up to $10,000.  The application deadline is August 29.

In July the Kaiser Family Foundation published a report on children’s access to oral healthcare, Filling an Urgent Need: Improving Children’s Access to Dental Care in Medicaid and SCHIP.  The report summarizes recommendations on actions that states can take related to children’s oral health.  The authors acknowledge the special barriers rural children face in receiving adequate oral health care and outline innovative solutions.  For example, California uses technology to extend the reach of specialists into rural and frontier areas.  Clinics in these underserved areas are connected electronically to pediatric dentists and other specialists who can advise on complex cases, enabling general dentists to care for patients they would not otherwise feel comfortable treating and improves the care they deliver.

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will host a technical assistance conference call on August 7 at 1:00 Central for anyone interested in applying for the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant.  These Grants provide one year of funding to rural organizations to develop a formal integrated health care network.  To receive the toll free call-in information please e-mail Mary Collier by noon on August 7.

The Center for Disease Control is looking for objective reviewers for proposals to the Comprehensive STD Prevention Services program.  Being a proposal reviewer for a federal program is an excellent opportunity to gain more insight into the federal grant process.  The group will meet September 9-10 in Atlanta.  To volunteer, send your contact information to Sheila McKenzie by August 25.  The CDC website has more information.

Proposal Writing Resources
In Ten Things to Know About Budgets Robert Wittig reviews tips for preparing and presenting your proposal budget.  These include things that seem obvious but that we often miss (making sure the numbers add up!) to writing a thoughtful, thorough narrative.

Foundation and Grant Highlight
The Land O’Lakes Foundation awards several types of grants to organizations in areas where it has plants, facilities or members.  The Community Grants program provides awards to nonprofit organizations that are working to improve communities where Land O’Lakes has a significant concentration of members or employees.  There is no application deadline for requests of less than $5,000.  The Dollars for Doers program provides cash awards matching volunteer hours.  And the Cooperative Match Program matches dollar-for-dollar the cash donation of member cooperatives.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (July 30, 2008)

The Center for Disease Control’s National Agricultural Safety Database has been an online resource for ten years.  Its mission includes providing prevention information and promoting safety and health issues in agriculture.  The database includes articles and videos on a wide variety of topics, including machinery safety, pesticide handling, injury prevention and general rural health.

Wisconsin’s Wellness Council will sponsor the 18th Annual Worksite Wellness Conference September 30 at the Marriott in Middleton.  Speakers from insurance carriers, businesses and public health will speak on topics including maximizing wellness programs return on investment, incentives to increase wellness program participation and quantifying health-related productivity costs.  The conference has sold out the last several years.

The mission of the Rural Health and Economic Development Forum is “to optimize the health of rural citizens and the economic wellbeing of rural communities by identifying, enabling and advocating actions which add value to both.”  Member organizations represent a variety of state agencies and other public organizations, including the Office of Rural Health.  At a recent meeting Terry Bolz of Unity Insurance described their efforts to encourage worksite wellness behavior and activities.  Efforts include cash rewards to employees who regularly attend a gym, cash incentives for colorectal exams and on-site group education sessions.  He reported that a recent study found over 25% reduction in absenteeism, worker’s compensation claims and health costs due to worksite health promotion programs.

Proposal Writing Resources:
According to one author, Common Questions Asked by Grant Reviewers include:

• Who is affected by this request/who is the target audience?
• Are these project goals and objectives realistic?
• Can the timeline realistically be met?
• Is the submitting organization capable of carrying out the project?
• If the project duplicates others in the field, what makes this one stronger?
• Is the cost of this project justified/realistic?
• If the project is to be continued after this grant cycle, where will the organization get its funding?
• Do the submitters have external support aside from the granting organization?
• Is there collaboration involved in the project?
• Has the organization shown prior success?
• Is the staff of this organization capable and accountable?

Local Wisconsin Foundations:
For over 50 years the Elmwood Foundation in LaCrosse has been awarding grants to achieve its mission: To serve the cultural, health, education, and welfare needs of Wisconsin, especially the La Crosse area, through grants to tax-exempt organizations.  Awards support annual campaigns and new construction and renovation.  Recent grants have ranged from $2,000 to $50,000.  For more information:

Margaret Birschbach
Elmwood Foundation
2004 Kramer Street
LaCrosse, WI 54603
(608) 781-0850 

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (July 15, 2008)

There’s still time to register for the Office of Rural Health’s workshop, Grant Writing and Resources. The full day workshop will be July 23 at the Microtel in Rice Lake. We will include presentations on grant seeking and writing resources, grant writing from the perspective of a rural clinic, and a comprehensive overview of grant seeking and proposal writing. Lunch will be served and there is no registration fee.

The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has sponsored a series of free workshops for several years, "Art and Science of Grant Writing." Participants receive personal instruction from HUD staff on how to become more competitive for Federal grants, secure 501(c)(3) status, and the organizational structure necessary to secure government funds. Workshop topics include: organizational capacity building, grant proposal writing techniques, accessing government funds, and tips on working with local government agencies. Some topics and information is HUD-specific, but much of the workshop will be general and relate to applying for any federal or other source of funding.

Registration is required. Some regional workshops include:
August 5-6: Milwaukee, WI - email contact: Sheila Ashley, Milwaukee HUD Liaison
August 13-14: Dubuque, IA - email contact: Krista Bowersox, Des Moines HUD Liaison

Tuesday, July 22 from 1 to 4 pm at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, the Wisconsin Partnership Program is offering a free workshop on program evaluation design and implementation. This will coincide with their Public Health Partners Conference but is open to anyone interested in attending. The session will help you develop the skills necessary to incorporate effective and meaningful evaluation plans into your project proposals. For more information contact Shannon Sparks at 608-265-2284 or sparks2@wisc.edu.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published a series of publications on non-profit executive transition. Some of the topics these publications address include succession planning, executive transition and improving the intergenerational leadership “hand-off.” The Foundation’s Knowledge Center has a collection of recent studies on health topics, including teen pregnancy prevention programs and youth and child mental health.

Proposal Writing Resources:
Julie Seewald Bornhoeft writes in Grants and Foundations Review that a grant proposal abstract (AKA executive summary, summary, cover letter, etc.) “represents a marketing tool for the project. It is your chance to complete a “60 Second Sell.” It is your first impression and like real life, you probably won’t get a second chance to make that first impression.” Her article, The Abstract -- Why Is the First Page Written Last?, contains a number of pointers on how to write an effective summary.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:
The Schuett Family Foundation focuses on health science and health care. Their giving is focused on southeastern Wisconsin, but consider proposals from all over the state. For more information:

Schuett Family Foundation, Inc.
c/o William G. Schuett Jr.
2900 Hidden Lake Road
Mequon, WI 53092
w.schuettjr@worldnet.att.net

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (July 8, 2008)

The National Association for Rural Mental Health will host its 34th annual conference August 6-9 in Burlington, VT. The conference will include a “mix of workshops, paper presentations, panels and roundtables that will provide opportunities for clinicians, administrators, consumers, family members, program/service providers, researchers, and other involved in rural mental health care to continue paving the road towards a system where rural mental health services that are research and evidenced based are available, affordable, and fundable.” Burlington is a great little city. And both the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and Ben and Jerry’s headquarters are less than 30 minutes away!

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors the Rural Mental and Behavioral Health web portal. The site’s goal is to help communities to enhance social and emotional outcomes for children and families in rural and frontier areas by providing a variety of resources. These resources include regular webinars on topics such as Accessing Behavioral Health Services through Telehealth. Other resources include discussion boards and comprehensive grant seeking and proposal writing assistance.

In April the Rural Youth Suicide Prevention Workgroup released a report, Preventing Youth Suicide in Rural America: Recommendations to States. The report outlines the problems specific to rural communities in attempting to address suicide among young people, including workforce issues; over ¾ of mental health professional shortage areas are rural counties. The Workgroup outlines a number of recommendations for states and communities, including relying more on telemedicine and improved screening processes.

Proposal Writing Resources:
The Rural Mental and Behavioral Health web portal (above) includes a comprehensive Guide to Funding Resources. This covers federal and private funding sources; definition of terms, how to identify funding opportunities, the steps in the funding process and many links to foundation databases and proposal writing resources.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:
The mission of the Cardiovascular Associates Foundation in Wausau is to support activities and programs that benefit health and human services, community education programs designed to raise awareness of health issues and promote healthy lifestyles, youth related programs, and civic affairs programs. Recent grants ranged from $100 to $20,000, with the median $300. Applicants are required to provide proof of their non-profit status. For more information:

Cardiovascular Associates Foundation, Inc.
500 Wind Ridge Dr.
Wausau, WI 54401
(715) 847-2611
seasonp@canw.org

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (July 18, 2008)

The Office of Rural Health is committed to providing assistance and resources to all health care providers in rural areas, including hospitals, clinics and EMS. We will sponsor two EMS workshops in July, hosted by Nan Turner:

• Wednesday July 16, 9:30 – 11:30
  Nan Turner will present the results of the 2007 Rural EMS Needs Assessment, discuss its implications and proposals for 2008-09. Discussion will also include a review of the EMS Resource pages on the WORH EMS website.
• Monday July 28, 9:00 – 3:00
  Representatives from the WI Trauma Care System, EMS Advisory Board, State EMS Medical Director’s Office, and State EMS Office will provide an overview of current activities. Some of the topics they will cover include: Wisconsin Ambulance Run Data System (WARDS), the King LTS-D, EMS educational changes, and licensing update.

Both sessions will be at the WI Rural Health Cooperative in Sauk City. However, you will be able to “attend” and participate live online from anywhere in the state. More information and registration is available on the WORH website.

The health care workforce is facing critical shortages; many expect this problem to get worse before it gets better. Our needs assessment last year showed that staffing is a primary concern of rural EMS Directors. Two recent national studies examined EMS workforce issues, with a focus on differences between rural and urban services and the types of recruitment and retention problems they face.

• EMS Workforce for the 21st Century: A National Assessment summarizes research on workforce planning with recommendations to improve staffing.
• Issues in Staffing Emergency Medical Services: A National Survey of Local Rural and Urban EMS Directors explores rural-urban differences in recruitment and retention as reported by a survey of 1,425 local EMS directors.

Proposal Writing Resources:

The Rural Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Technical Assistance Center (REMSTTAC) is “dedicated to supporting EMS, trauma and rural health policy makers, EMS agencies, EMS professionals and the communities they serve to help ensure that vital EMS and trauma services can continue to survive and thrive in rural and frontier communities.” They provide a variety of technical assistance and resources, including a budget model, a guide to conducting a community EMS needs assessment and a number of online training modules.

REMSTTAC also lists information on grant opportunities in its Resources section. These include the Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED) Grant Program

Local Wisconsin Foundations:

The Bauernfeind Family Foundation has been awarding grants in Oconto County since 1999. Grants have recently averaged $650 and are awarded to hospitals and other community development non-profit service agencies. Contact the Foundation office for an Application for Grants and more information:

John Bauernfeind
Bauernfeind Family Foundation
1215 4th Avenue N.
Park Falls, WI 54552
bauerfamfo@EZ-Net.com

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (June 18, 2008)

The WI Partnership Program of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health is accepting Letters of Intent in response to the 2008 Request for Partnerships. Letters are due June 30 and applicants will be notified by July 14 if they are invited to submit a full proposal. The Community-Academic Partnership Program “is based on the premise that partnerships capitalize on the strengths and unique skills of community-based organizations and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health faculty and staff.” The Fund is particularly interested in proposals aimed at the elimination of health disparities and that address vulnerable populations and the health needs of underserved areas. The Fund maintains a searchable database of potential academic partners around the state. They will sponsor two information sessions/grant writing workshops for those interested in applying. The morning information sessions require no registration.

June 19, 2008 – Pewaukee
Waukesha County Technical College CANCELLED - DUE TO RECENT FLOODING AND ROAD CLOSURES.
PEWAUKEE WORKSHOP HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR JULY 8.

June 25, 2008 – Wausau
UW-Health Wausau Family Medicine

Please consider applying for this multi-year funding opportunity. The Fund accepts both planning/development and implementation proposals. The Office of Rural Health is currently a partner in a successful Partnership Fund program, the Strong Rural Communities Initiative.

Proposal Writing Resources:

Identifying trends or future health care needs can be effective in a funding proposal and is very important in planning health care in your community. The WI Department of Administration has prepared projections of population changes by gender and age for WI counties and municipalities through 2030. This type of information can be useful in identifying future childcare and maternity services or projecting health care needs of the elderly.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:

The Wanek-Vogel Foundation is Ashley Furniture’s charitable organization. The Foundation has been operating in Arcadia in Trempealeau County for 10 years. Among their areas of focus are health care organizations and medical research. They’ve recently given grants to a local ambulance service and a medical center. In 2006 they awarded 10 grants, ranging from $50 to $5,000. For more information:

Paulette Rippley
Ashley Furniture Industries
One Ashley Way
Arcadia, WI 54612
(608) 323-6249

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (June 11, 2008)

The Department of Health and Family Services’ Worksite Wellness Resource Kit can assist worksites with implementing strategies that have been proven to be effective in improving employee’s health and fitness. The kit shows employers ways to get started with a wellness program and make a difference in employee’s health, regardless of their worksite size and resources. Effective wellness programs are a proven method of reducing health insurance costs. DHFS hosts regional workshops on ways to effectively implement wellness programs. Future workshops will be:

• June 26, Waukesha
• July 11, La Crosse

Registration for the free workshops is required.

UW Professional Development is presenting another in their series of Nonprofit Development Workshops in July.

• Locating Grants, July 16
• Writing Successful Proposals, July 17
• Community Fundraising, July 22
• Major Gift Fundraising, July 23
• Building Effective Nonprofit-Business Partnerships, July 24

All sessions are in Madison and run from 9:00 – 4:00. The cost is $150. You may register online.

The Health Resources and Services Administration invites community-based teams of health care providers working with underserved populations to join the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative. Teams of health care providers will have the opportunity to learn, replicate, test, and adopt specific practices in patient safety and clinical pharmacy services to improve health outcomes and reduce adverse events. The goal is to replicate best practices using a collaborative model. The 18 month learning session begins August 14; you must request to participate by July 1.

Data Sources:

The Department of Health and Family Services publishes annual Public Health Profiles for each county. The profiles contain health and demographic information, including a great deal of information on births: birth weights, pre-natal care and mother’s education and mortality rates by cause.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:

The Maasch Family Foundation has been operating for over 10 years in Waupaca County. They award several grants each year, ranging from $500 to $1,000, in the health care and medical education areas. The Riverside and Wolf River Area Health Foundations recently received grants. For more information contact:

Lloyd Maasch
208 W. Clark St.
Weyauwega, WI 54983
(920) 867-2252

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (June 4, 2008)

The Office of Rural Health will sponsor two grant seeking and writing workshops in June and July:

• June 5, Rural WI Health Cooperative, Sauk City
• July 23, Rice Lake (site to be announced)

Registration for the June workshop closed June 3. I’ll send out the agenda and registration within the next week for the July workshop. And you can always get registration forms on our Calendar.

A 2007 Office of Rural Health Rural Community Grant recipient, Tomah Memorial Hospital’s Hospice Touch Program, is featured in the most recent issue of the Rural WI Health Cooperative’s monthly newsletter. All newsletter issues are available online. The most recent issue of the Rural Assistance Center’s online newsletter, The Rural Monitor, includes several articles about rural hospice programs. Articles include an overview of how a hospice program works and the challenges rural programs face and methods some use to achieve long term success.

Last year the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report, End-of-Life-Care: Key Components Provided by Programs in Four States. According to the report, almost 30% of Medicare spending is used to provide care to recipients in the last year of the their life. The authors surveyed programs in four states, including Wisconsin, to identify challenges to end of life programs and innovative ways providers are overcoming obstacles to care. Challenges included difficulties providing services to rural residents because of travel distances, fewer community-based service options, and an inability to hire adequate staff in rural areas.

Data Sources:

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has developed a valuable resource, CLIKS: Community Level Information on Kids which provides information on factors that impact children’s health and welfare at the county level. This resource “allows users to access state-specific inventories of data from local sources, such as health departments, human services agencies, and schools… CLIKS can be a powerful new tool for community leaders, policymakers, service providers, parents and others who want to take a closer look at the local factors that affect the lives of children and families.” From the main webpage, select Maps and Wisconsin. You can search for data on infant mortality, low birthweight rates, juvenile drug arrests and domestic violence, among dozens of other factors, all on a county basis.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:

The goal of the Fred J. Peterson Foundation in Sturgeon Bay is to “increase the quality of life of Door County residents.” The Foundation has been active for over 40 years and focuses on many areas, including community service associations, family services, and health care institutions. Applications are accepted year round. They recently made grants to the Community Clinic of Door County and United Way Grants ranged from $10 to $50,000, with the median $500. For more information contact:

Ellsworth Peterson
Peterson Foundation, Inc.
41 N. 3rd Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 743-5574

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (May 27, 2008)

Three conferences will occur in June that may be of interest:

The Wisconsin Rural Health Conference, sponsored in part by the Office of Rural Health, is in Elkhart Lake June 18-20. Conference sessions will address a broad array of topics of interest to rural health care organizations, facilities and providers. Sessions will cover subjects such as health information technology, pharmacist workforce, and boards of directors. John Eich, Office of Rural Health Director, will participate in a rural health panel, focusing on organizations vital to rural health care access, the resources they offer, and what their value to Wisconsin rural health care providers.

Wisconsin Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Conference, Early Relationships Matter: Building Networks is intended for professionals working with children from birth to age 5. This will be an opportunity to share information and learn about programs, policies, resources and community activities promoting social-emotional development in infants and young children. June 19-20 at the Concourse Hotel, Madison. Registration deadline is June 4.

The Minnesota Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Conference: Engaging Communities & Transforming Health Care will be in Duluth June 23-24. Some sessions will be specific to Minnesota, but a number will address general rural health issues. Sessions will address grant proposal writing, non-profit administration, oral health care access and rural EMS.

I encourage you to consider attending one of these events.

Data Sources:

Non-health data can be very important and useful in preparing grant proposals and developing policy initiatives. I wrote a few weeks ago how useful US Census data is in these cases. Crime statistics can also be useful. The WI Office of Justice Assistance produces statistics on violent crime and crime rates by county. The data by county is available in an easy to interpret map format or in table form in the annual Crimes and Arrests Report. The Office’s Statistical Analysis Center produces data on a number of different crimes, including assault and drug arrests. This type of data could be useful if you are seeking funding for EMS, emergency departments or trauma centers, drug treatment or mental health counseling services.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:

The Adler-Clark Foundation is relatively new (founded in 2004). It’s the charitable organization of Clark Electric Cooperative in Greenwood, Clark County. The Foundation considers funding requests in the areas of community improvement, elementary or secondary schools, and public health. Recent grants were awarded to Greenwood Schools ($1,500) and Clark City Firefighters ($1,500) and ranged from $500 to $5,000, with the median $1,500. Their focus is Clark and surrounding counties. For more information and to request an application, contact:

Timothy Stewart
Adler-Clark Electric Community Commitment Foundation Trust
124 N. Main Street
Greenwood, WI 54437
(715) 267-6188

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (May 21, 2008)

John Eich, Office of Rural Health Director, and I attended the National Rural Health Association conference in New Orleans two weeks ago. We heard a number of speakers report on innovative programs they’ve developed to address health care issues and about resources available to rural health care providers, health care facilities and communities. The agenda, along with copies of many of the presentations, is available on the NRHA website.

The day before the conference began, John and I and about 40 others participated in the Louisiana Experience, a program sponsored by the Louisiana Rural Health Association. The day began with a tour of New Orleans and surrounding areas that were hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. Following the tour, we went to St. Bernard Parish, east of the city, and worked on rehabilitating houses. Our work crew (pictured below) consisted of conference attendees from Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North and South Carolina and Louisiana.

 

 

This was a very rewarding experience that I’m glad we were able to participate in. Although it’s been almost three years, Katrina’s impact on the city and surrounding areas is still obvious. More photos are available on the Louisiana RHA site.

The University of Wisconsin Department of Professional Development offers an online grant writing course. The four week course provides information on how to research funders, write effective goals and objectives, develop work plans, and design appropriate evaluation outcomes. This is an excellent way to access the UW’s resources for those you who can’t make the trip to Madison for classes. Introduction to Research & Writing Grants begins May 28. Contact Ann Whitaker at awhitaker@dcs.wisc.edu or 800-442-4617 for more information.

Data Sources:
The WI Division of Public Health recently released a report, “The 2008 Burden of Diabetes in Wisconsin.” The report provides diabetes data for each county and finds several disturbing trends, including a 27% increase in adult diabetes and a 11% increase in diabetes hospitalizations in the last three years. The county data is broken down by age category and provides information on hospitalizations and diabetes-related costs.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:
The Bleser Family Foundation in Shawano was established in 1986 and funds a variety of projects, including medical research and education, health care facilities and recreation, focusing on northeastern Wisconsin. Recent grants include $15,000 to the Bellin College of Nursing and a $50,000 award to Northeast WI Technical College for nursing program scholarships. Recent grants ranged from $1,000 to $250,000, with the median award $20,000. Contact the foundation for application information:

Mary Hayes
Bleser Family Foundation
P.O. Box 328
Shawano, WI 54166

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (May 5, 2008)

Many rural communities struggle to maintain access to local pharmacy services due to a variety of policy and workforce issues. Pharmacist recruitment and retention is an increasing problem. The 2008 National Conference on Medication Access, Use and Safety in Rural America, June 5-6 in Minneapolis, will include sessions on workforce issues, telepharmacy, and patient safety. This conference is an opportunity to learn more about these challenges while hearing about innovative solutions.

The Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (WIPHL) is implementing a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program in conjunction with health clinics around the state. SBIRT is a comprehensive approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for people with substance abuse problems. Clinics and other primary care providers are an excellent point of contact to implement the SBIRT approach. Contact WIPHL for more information on the program.

Data Sources:

Current, reliable data is fundamental if you are completing a needs assessment, developing a policy proposal or writing a grant. Appropriate data is important to support your position and demonstrate need in your community. Facts can help you tell your “story” and illustrate the need for resources. In general, the more local the data the better. That is, it’s better to have local, county data than state data. Unfortunately, data isn’t all archived in one place. I’ll use these updates to identify some useful data sources on different health and demographic topics.

U.S. Census – This is probably one of the most commonly used data sources, because it contains so much information on a very local level. The USA Counties feature provides information at the county level for dozens of factors, from age (20.1% of the people in Adams Co. are 65+) to poverty (11.4% of Iron Co. was below poverty level in 2004) to birth rate (12.4/1,000 in Richland Co. in 2004). More specific Census information (at the town/village level) is also available through the American FactFinder site.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:

The Bigley Foundation awards grants to programs that serve the elderly and to health care organizations in the Viroqua area. Recent grants ranged from $1,000 to $16,000. For an application and more information, write to:

Richard Endicott
The Bigley Foundation
E16070 West Ave.
Hillsboro, WI 54634

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (April 29, 2008)

The UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Summer Public Health Institute is an excellent way for public health professionals to learn valuable skills while earning academic or continuing education units. The Institute offers a number of one and two week courses in Madison July 14 – August 22. Many of these skills would be valuable if you plan on developing a needs assessment, want to identify health trends in your community or you want to communicate your findings to the public. Course topics include:

• Survey Methods for Public Health Professionals
• American Indian Health and Well-Being
• Communicating Public Health Effectively
• Introduction to Social Marketing in Public Health
• Leadership Principles and Public Health Practice

The National Rural Health Association is sponsoring a series of webinars on domestic violence. The series will educate rural health center staff about domestic violence issues and prevention programs, including patient screening and intervention. The sessions begin Wednesday, May 14. Each of the four sessions will last from 1:00 – 2:30. You must pre-register.

Local Wisconsin Foundations:

Community Foundations provide a valuable service at the local level in Wisconsin. Twenty two foundations are located throughout the state and provide funding and organizational resources in a variety of program areas. The Donors Forum of Wisconsin maintains a Foundation Finder interactive county map to locate your local community foundation. The Community Foundation of South Wood County is one example. This foundation, located in Wisconsin Rapids, awarded $2 million in grants in 2006-07, ranging from $500 to over $350,000 in a number of interest areas, including public health programs, elderly services and medical research. Some specific grants include:

• $3,345 to the Biron Volunteer Fire Department for a rescue boat
• $4,400 to the City of Pittsville to improve a walking trail to enhance recreational opportunities
• $3,918 for Nurturing Healthy Little Bodies, a program to decrease children’s overweight and obesity rates

Many Community Foundations, including South Wood County, also provide resources and assistance in leadership development and grant writing.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (April 23, 2008)

Did you know there are over 1,200 private foundations based in Wisconsin? In 2006 these charitable organizations awarded over $450 million in grants. An excellent source for information on local foundations is Marquette University’s Funding Information Center. The Center publishes an annual directory of Wisconsin foundations, available in hard copy or electronically. There are several ordering options on their website. You should also check with your local public, technical college or UW library for copies. I’ll be highlighting local foundations that work in the health care field on a regular basis.

An often overlooked funding source is corporations with a local presence, or their subsidiaries. Many “big-box” retailers (Wal-Mart, Target) have local charitable operations. Walgreens has a corporate foundation that funds local programs. Their primary interest is health and they are specifically interested in proposals that focus on improving:

• Access to health and wellness in the community
• Pharmacy education programs and mentoring initiatives
• Civic and Community outreach
• Emergency and Disaster Relief

Madison will host two Health Information Technology (HIT) conferences over the next few months. More information, including agendas and registration, is available on line:

• The Digital Healthcare Conference 2008 will be at the UW’s Fluno Center May 7-8. The Conference is “a gathering of healthcare leaders to network, learn and innovate. Attendees share insights, compare experiences, and hear engaging presentations from their peers. The Conference brings together experts in healthcare, technology and law to share their knowledge. Attendees learn proven and emerging strategies for improving healthcare delivery and patient safety.”
• Wisconsin’s Third Annual eHealth Implementation Summit will be at the Madison Concourse Hotel on June 12. The Summit is “ a multi-stakeholder working session for health care professionals, CIOs and health information managers, senior executives representing health care providers, public and private sector payers and purchasers, state and local government, advocacy groups, patients and consumers, elected officials, and academic researchers.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (April 16, 2008)

It appears that oral health is becoming more widely recognized, deservedly, as an integral part of overall health. I recently came across these funding opportunities for community oral health projects:

Seal-a-Smile Program: The Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin recently released a RFP (Request for Proposals) for their children’s oral health program. Previous grants have ranged up to $30,000. Eligible applicants include schools, hospitals, community health centers, local public health departments, and non-profit agencies. Eligible expenses include professional staff compensation and equipment and materials. Applications are due June 20.

Samuel Harris Fund for Children's Dental Health Program: The American Dental Association sponsors competitive grants to support programs that “help children whose socio-economic status impacts on their access to professional oral care and adversely affects their oral health habits at home. The program… seeks to increase access to, and education on, oral health care by encouraging volunteerism in the health professions community.” Applications are due July 17.

The WI Department of Health and Family Services last week revised their information on poverty and health insurance coverage for most counties. This is valuable data that may be useful when you are applying for funding. Many funders are interested in poverty levels and access data. Local Data on Poverty Status and Health Insurance Coverage in Wisconsin is searchable by county and region.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (April 8, 2008)

Several events and opportunities to build community and organizational capacity during April and May:

The Healthy Wisconsin Leadership Institute offers an excellent opportunity for community health coalitions to develop organizational and leadership skills. The Community Teams Program is a “year-long applied learning program [that] aims to facilitate the development of collaborative leadership and public health skills among teams of individuals who are mobilizing communities to identify and solve health problems.” Applications for this free program are now available online and are due July 3. I encourage you to look at the Program website, which includes examples of projects completed by previous community teams, and consider applying.

The UW Department of Professional Development & Applied Studies is offering two classes in April you may find helpful: Find Funding: Successful Grants (April 22) and Essential Care: Improving Medication Management for Older Adults (April 24). Both classes are at the Pyle Center on the UW-Madison campus. This may not be convenient for everyone, but if you browse their website you may find another class and spend a few days here in Madison.

The Wisconsin Partnership Fund will sponsor a symposium May 14, Introducing the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin: Exploring public health surveys as tools for researchers, policy makers and community stakeholders. Leading State and national experts will share their experiences on using health surveys in forming policy and programs. There will also be opportunities to discuss how you can use SHOW’s data and become part of a community survey. Public health survey data can be extremely useful in forming local health care policy and in applying for funding opportunities. The meeting will be from 8:00 to 12:00 simultaneously at the UW Madison and Milwaukee, followed by a tour of the survey centers. Information and free registration is available on line.

The National Rural Health Association Annual Conference will take place May 7-10 in New Orleans. Conference sessions will highlight workforce issues, telemedicine, rural clinical practice and health disaster planning. There is an optional opportunity to volunteer on residential rebuilding projects.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (April 1, 2008)

I want to remind everyone about the Office of Rural Health’s Hospital Finance Workshop at Tomah Memorial Hospital on Thursday, April 24. Topics will include:

• IRS Form 990 revisions
• Accessing capital markets
• Charge Master issues

Lunch will be provided and registration is free, but limited. The complete agenda and registration information is in the ORH Reporter Calendar of Events.

There are several Tribal and Native American grant deadlines in April and May:

• Tribal Educational Outreach on Lead Poisoning Grants These federal EPA grants will support Tribal lead education and outreach activities and efforts to identify children's risk of lead poisoning. Application deadline: April 21, 2008.

• Infrastructure Development for Children’s Mental Health Systems in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities Grants Federal Health and Human Services grants to provide Indian communities with tools and resources to plan and design a community-based system of care to support mental health and wellness for children, youth, and families. Application deadline: May 9, 2008.

Native American Elderly Service Centers
The University of North Dakota’s Center for Rural Health has an excellent interactive sight to locate Native American elderly service centers around Wisconsin and the nation. There is detailed contact and location information for the ten centers in the State, plus complete information on the types of services each center provides, such as assisted living and home health care, home repair and legal assistance and respite care. The University’s National Resource Center on Native American Aging is seeking nominations for the Heroes Project. The project seeks to honor individuals who have dedicated their time, talent, and energy to help community elders, to solve local problems, and to build stronger communities. Contact the Resource Center for more information. The nomination deadline is September 30, 2008.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (March 25, 2008)

The Southwest Wisconsin Area Health Education Center recently announced it’s seeking proposals for 2008-09 project funding. The Center will consider proposals up to $15,000 in its 23 county region that address a variety of health care objectives, especially those that involve health literacy or include community coalitions. Contact Judith Quirt at 608-663-1688 or at jquirtswahec@onecommail.com for application information. I encourage you to consider applying for this great opportunity.

Last week I mentioned a joint FCC/USDA initiative to provide information on broadband technology to rural communities. Several other USDA programs support rural health care initiatives:

• The Community Facilities Program provides low interest loans and grants to municipalities, counties, special districts, non-profit corporations and tribal governments to assist in developing facilities in rural areas and towns up to 20,000 population. Eligible facilities and purposes include health care, EMS and utilities, including telemedicine. USDA accepts applications on a continuing basis. Contact the WI Rural Development Office for information.
• The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program funds systems and equipment that connect medical professionals and patients at separate sites, such as tele-radiology. The application deadline is April 14; the website has complete application information and examples of WI programs they have funded in the past few years.

Another opportunity to learn about broadband technology and health care is the 2008 eHealth Implementation Summit. This free conference in Madison on Thursday, June 12, will include an update on Wisconsin’s eHealth Action Plan and sessions on developing regional health information exchanges and linking public health and clinical care. The agenda and application are available on line.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (March 18, 2008)

This spring and summer the Office of Rural Health will host two grant seeking and proposal writing workshops. One workshop has been confirmed for Thursday, June 5 at the Rural WI Health Cooperative in Sauk City. We will schedule another workshop in the northern part of the state and I’ll send out a save the date notice as soon as we have a confirmed date and location. Grant workshop topics will include what funders are looking for in a successful proposal, general proposal writing assistance and resources for finding the right funder. I’ll send out registration information when the agendas are confirmed.

The Office is also hosting a Critical Access Hospital finance workshop in Tomah on Thursday, April 24. Topics will include news on federal and state reimbursement policies and a report on the financial impact of conversion to Critical Access status. We will send out registration information within the week, or check the Reporter Calendar of Events.

The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health will sponsor The American Indian Health Sciences Day: Health is our Future. The UW School of Pharmacy hosts this event on Friday, April 4, 11:30-4:30 in the School of Pharmacy Building Commons. More information is available on line.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a new, online resource for those in rural America looking to bring the benefits of broadband services to their communities. Broadband Opportunities for Rural America makes available the expertise and resources of the FCC and USDA in a single location. The site provides information on the different technology platforms that can provide broadband service, government funding for broadband services, and data on broadband deployment. In addition, the site provides instructions on how to locate companies already licensed to provide wireless services in or near specific rural communities, as well as helpful links to other government and private resources related to encouraging broadband opportunities in rural America. The FCC’s Rural Health Care Program is one of the program sponsors.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

Rural Communities Initiatives (March 11, 2008)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is hosting a satellite broadcast, Supporting Rural Family Caregivers, on Wednesday, March 19 from 12:00 to 2:30. The broadcast will include “a discussion of the difficulties faced by rural family caregivers and how to support them in areas with limited provider agencies, manpower shortages, and transportation challenges.” The interactive session will provide an opportunity for audience questions. You can view the broadcast at one of over a dozen sites around the state, or register to view it online. However, individual viewing links are limited. You can also call in on a limited number of phone links. More information and registration is available online.

We’ve probably all heard that obesity has become a national epidemic. It may surprise many people that obesity is a more severe problem in rural communities than in urban areas. Child obesity rates are of special concern—according to most medical researchers, childhood obesity puts an individual at greater risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and other health problems. The Rural Health Research Center at the University of South Carolina issued a report last year detailing the incidence of childhood obesity and illustrating the significant differences between rural and urban children, Overweight and Physical Inactivity among Rural Children Aged 10-17: A National and State Portrait. The report includes detailed data on a state-by-state basis; for example, over 34% of WI children are overweight, compared to 27% of urban children. The report is available free through hard copy or download. The National Association of Counties published a report in January, Rural Obesity: Strategies to Support Rural Counties in Building Capacity. This report outlines methods rural communities have used in their effort to address the obesity problem.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (March 5, 2008)

Last week my colleagues, Marsha Siik, ORH Dentist Recruitment Manager, and Zach Baeseman, an MD/MPH intern working with the Office, and I had an opportunity to visit the Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center in Cashton. Mari Freiberg, Clinic Director, gave us a tour of their newly expanded facility. They’ve added a number of dental chairs, bringing their total to14. The tour included the Clinic’s buggy garage, which accommodates the local Amish population (the only CHC in the country with a buggy garage!). As part of their community outreach effort, the Clinic hosts an annual hemophilia-screening day to address the incidence of this condition in the Amish population. The Clinic has prepared a presentation describing the impact of hemophilia on dental care for their Amish patients.

Our other purpose for visiting Cashton was to attend a public meeting at the Clinic hosted by Couleecap. Martha McCabe, Health Advocate for Couleecap, is leading a Wisconsin Partnership Fund supported program “to continue planning efforts for communitywide collaboration and support for optimal fluoridation levels” in southwest Wisconsin. Leaders from several communities in Monroe and Vernon counties shared their thoughts on oral health and water fluoridation in particular. Their opinions, and those of others in the region, will be shared with policy makers. Couleecap has prepared a report that explains some of the oral health issues in the region and describes steps communities are taking to address these problems.

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Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Upland Hills Health uses Rural Communities Grant Program to add lifesaving technology to their community. (Feb-Mar 2008)

Upland Hills Health, the primary healthcare provider in the greater Dodgeville and Mineral Point area used the grant to purchase a new lifesaving technology for the local EMS squads.

AutoPulse ® non-invasive cardiac support pumps were purchased for both Dodgeville and Mineral Point EMS squads. The squads were given hands on training by a manufacturer representative and a cardiopulmonary expert from the hospital.

An alternative to traditional CPR, the AutoPulse delivers consistent and proper levels of chest pressure. Conversely, research shows that traditional CPR, dependent on the strength and skill level of the individual performing it, is rarely performed with consistency.

And the AutoPulse allows compressions to continue while a patient is moved through narrow spaces (typical of many of the historical structures in these communities) and while in transit (in ambulance or Med Flight).

The impact was immediate. When the Mineral Point Squad answered the call to a local hotel they found a pulse-less and non-breathing patient. They utilized the AutoPulse. By the time the patient arrived at the Upland Hills Health Emergency room she had a BP of 150/80 and heart rate of 113.

This is just one example of the positive and personal impact we hope to see on our community thanks to the grant dollars that funded this investment.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

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Rural Communities Initiatives (Feb 2008)

Loan Repayment Assistance

March 28 is the deadline to apply to the National Health Service Corps’ loan repayment program. This program, similar to the WI Health Professions Loan Assistance Program (HPLAP) (http://www.worh.org/workforce), provides education loan repayment awards to qualified health and dental care professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas. The online application will be available later this month on the Corps website: http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/applications/lrp_07/index.asp

The Corps also maintains a database of job openings in qualified Health Professional Shortage Areas. Employment in a HPSA is a prerequisite to Corps and HPLAP eligibility. The database can be found online at: http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/jobs/.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

 

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Rural Communities Initiatives (Feb 2008)

Rural Community Grants

This spring the Office of Rural Health will distribute guidelines for the 2008 Rural Community Grants, which fund collaborative community health care projects. In 2007, eight planning and implementation proposals of up to $40,000 were funded. This year ORH will award extra points to project proposals that address Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Any project that will directly improve or enhance emergency services in a community, county or region will have 5 points added to the proposal score. This score determines whether a proposal is funded. Therefore, the EMS point bonus could be the difference between a proposal receiving funding or not.

2007 Community Grant guidelines and proposals that were previously awarded are available on the ORH website: http://www.worh.org/RCgrants. Also on the website is an EMS needs assessment ORH funded in 2007. This report (http://www.worh.org/EMSprojects) describes the current status of rural EMS around the state.

Projects must be a collaborative partnership between community organizations and stakeholders and one of the partners must be a rural hospital with 50 or fewer beds in order to be eligible for consideration. Complete Rural Community Grant guidelines will be published within a few months.

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager

 

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Rural Communities Initiatives (Jan 2008)

University of Wisconsin Professional Development is offering two ways to gain grant writing experience: workshops on the UW campus and online courses.

The online course, Introduction to Researching and Writing Grants, begins January 30. The instructor is Paul Harrison, development and communications manager for the Madison Community Health Center. This course will teach you how to:

• Develop your idea and research funding resources
• Write a need statement, define goals and objectives
• Develop methods, work plans and budgets
• Evaluate and devise future funding strategies

More information on the course is available online: http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/online/writing_grants.htm

Professional Development also offers a series of non-profit development workshops, including a two day series, Locating Grants and Writing Successful Proposals. These workshops will teach participants how to identify and approach public and private funding sources and how to create a dynamic funding proposal. Workshops will be held on the Pyle Center on the UW Campus February 6 and 7. Registration information is available at: http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/nonprofit/index.html

Kevin Jacobson, Rural Communities Initiatives Program Manager