Rural Health Office 
UA Zuckerman College of Public Health
in conjunction with the Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc.

National News......

1. Living on the Edge Health Care Expenses Strain Family Budgets
2. House Stimulus Proposal Contains Dollars for Rural Programs
3. Surgical Errors Cut By Checklist
4. $267 Million USDA Rural Development Broadband Loan Finalized

Across Arizona......

1. Arizona Rural and Public Health Policy Forum - February 2, 2008 Phoenix, AZ (See Calendar of Upcoming Events)
2. Keogh Health Foundation: “Health-e-Arizona” mini-grant (See Grants and Opportunities)

Upcoming Conference Calls & Internet Broadcasts.....

1. Internet Broadcast: 30th Annual Minority Health Conference: Our World, Our Community - Building Bridges for Health Equality - February 27, 2009
2. Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) 2009 Monthly Conference Calls

Grants and Opportunities...

1. Keogh Health Foundation: “Health-e-Arizona” mini-grant
2. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity – Deadline: February 24, 2009
3. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Healthy Eating Research New Connections 2009 - Deadline: February 24, 2009
4. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Communities Creating Healthy Environments – Deadline: February 26, 2009
5. National Academy of Social Insurance: Nathan J. Stark Internship for Nonprofit Development – Deadline: March 01, 2009

6. HRSA: Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities – Deadline: April 1, 2009

Items of Inter est........

1. Resources and Tips for Working with American Indians and Alaskan Natives
2. National Health Interview Survey
3. Electronic Health Record Purchasing Program Deadline Extended
4. CSRHA Releases New Toolkit for Rural Health Care Providers: Rural Growth Building a Capital Campaign in Your Community
5. Urban-to-Rural Evacuation Planning Toolkit

FY 2009 - Calendar of Upcoming Events

National News

     1.  Living on the Edge: Health Care Expenses Strain Family Budgets [Dec. 18, 2008] According to a new national study conducted by the Center for Study Health Care System Change (HSC) out-of-pocket spending for medical care exceeds 2.5 percent of family income increasing financial pressure already felt by American families. [Read Article]

     2.   House Stimulus Proposal Contains Dollars for Rural Programs [Jan. 16, 2009] House Democrats Thursday revealed an $825 billion stimulus plan that aimed at spending and tax cuts. The House plan has designated spending specifically aimed at rural areas.. [Read Article]

     3.    Surgical Errors Cut By Checklist [Jan. 15, 2009]  According to a year-long, eight-nation project  surgical teams that followed a basic cockpit-style checklist in the operating room, from confirming the patient's name to discussing expected blood loss, reduced the rate of deaths and complications by more than one-third. [Read Article]

     4.    $267 Million USDA Rural Development Broadband Loan Finalized [Jan. 14, 2009] Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that Open Range Communications has finalized a $267 million loan agreement with USDA Rural Development to provide broadband service to 518 rural communities in 17 states.[Read Article]

Across Arizona

     1.   Arizona Rural and Public Health Policy Forum - February 2, 2008 Phoenix, AZ (See Calendar of Upcoming Events)

     2.   Keogh Health Foundation: “Health-e-Arizona” mini-grant (See Grants and Opportunities)    

Upcoming Conference Calls......

     1.  Internet Broadcast: 30th Annual Minority Health Conference: Our World, Our Community - Building Bridges for Health Equality 

Date: February 27, 2009
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm EST; 12:00 – 1:30 pm Arizona time http://minority.unc.edu/sph/minconf/2009/

     2. Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) 2009 Monthly Conference Calls - The Rural Health Care Program hosts a monthly outreach conference call for applicants and service providers on the second Thursday of each month at 2 P.M., EST.

Participants may begin calling in 10 minutes before the call begins.
Phone Number: 1-800-240-9939
Pass Code: 6772932# (be sure to press the pound key after entering the numbers)

Click here to access the 2009 Monthly Conference Call Schedule

Grants and Opportunities

  Note: Technical assistance is available for the development of grant proposals and other funding applications from the professional staff of the Rural Health Office and the State Office of Rural Health Program. Please contact Jennifer Peters.

     1.  Keogh Health Foundation: “Health-e-Arizona” mini-grant

Purpose: To seek inquires from new nonprofit partners that are interested in a mini-grant to implement Health-e-Arizona, an online tool for screening and applying for AHCCCS, KidsCare, Health Care Connect, TANF and Food Stamps. KHF has supported several groups with mini-grants to pay for Health-e-Arizona licensing fees. It appears that they will be able to support a few new partners during a trial period.
Contact: Allen Gjersvig at 602-424-2505 or allen@keoghhealthfoundation.org

     2.  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity – Deadline: February 24, 2009

Total Award: Approximately $2.4 million will be awarded for two types of research grants focused in the four areas. Small- and large-scale studies: 12- to 18-month awards of up to $150,000 each, and18- to 36-month awards of up to $400,000 each. Macro-level analyses: 12- to 18-month awards of up to $100,000 each.
Eligibility: Public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories at the time of application. The focus of this program is the United States; studies in other countries will be considered only to the extent that they may directly inform U.S. policy.

Focus:  Studies of policy and environmental strategies in four areas: food pricing and economic approaches; food and beverage marketing; improving access to healthy foods in low-income communities; and evaluations of promising food-related policy and environmental strategies in settings where children and their families make food choices.

Contact: Kathy Kosiak at healthyeating@umn.edu or call (800) 578-8636 for more information.

Click here to view proposal information

     3.  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Healthy Eating Research New Connections 2009 – Deadline: February 24, 2009

Purpose: For early career investigators from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities who bring special experience and expertise regarding the racial/ethnic and low-income populations and communities targeted by the Healthy Eating Research program. This round of funding also focuses on studies of policy and environmental strategies in four areas: food pricing and economic approaches; food and beverage marketing; improving access to healthy foods in low-income communities; and evaluations of promising food-related policy and environmental strategies in settings where children and their families make food choices.

Total Award: Up to three grants will be awarded. There are two categories of funding focused on the four areas. Small-scale studies to identify environmental determinants or evaluate changes to the food environment or policies in the four targeted areas: 12- to 24-month awards of up to $100,000 each; Macro-level analyses of food and beverage policies and environmental approaches related to the four targeted areas: 12- to 24-month awards of up to $75,000 each. Funding may not exceed $50,000 in a 12-month period.

Contact: Laura L. Klein at healthyeating@umn.edu or call (800) 578-8636 for more information. Click here to view proposal information

     4.  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Communities Creating Healthy Environments – Deadline: February 26, 2009
Purpose: To reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015 by supporting diverse, community-based organizations and federally chartered tribal nations in the development and implementation of effective, culturally competent policy initiatives to address childhood obesity at the local level.
Total Award: Up to $2.5 million and up to 10 communities nationwide. Awards are for a total of up to $250,000 per site over a three-year period.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants must have a track record of at least two years of successful community organizing and policy advocacy to address health-related problems in communities of color.
Contact: Ditra Edwards at cche@thepraxisproject.org or phone (202) 234-5921 for more information

Click here to view proposal information.

     5.  National Academy of Social Insurance: Nathan J. Stark Internship for Nonprofit Development – Deadline: March 01, 2009
Honorarium: $3,000.00
About: To provide two students with the opportunity to learn about nonprofit organizations, how they work, how they raise funds, and how they make a difference. Interns will be based at the National Academy of Social Insurance or another nonprofit organization, the National Health Policy Forum. The interns come to Washington, D.C., for twelve weeks during the summer semester.

Internship includes: A $3,000 honorarium and the opportunity to participate in a series of seminars and programs. International students with valid student visas can be placed with these non-governmental organizations, if placement projects match their skills and interests.

Click here for application information.

     6.  HRSA: Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities – Deadline: April 1, 2009

Description: Part D of Title III of the Public Health Service Act as amended, Subpart X - Primary Dental Programs, Section 340G (42 USC 256g) authorized the Secretary to award grants to States to improve the accessibility of the oral health workforce for under served geographic areas and populations. Section 340F defines a designated shortage area as “an area, population group, or facility that is designated by the Secretary as a dental health professional shortage area under section 332 or designated by the applicable State as having a dental health manpower shortage.” This Program is designed to help States address demonstrated oral health workforce needs.

Expected Number of Awards: 18 

Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,910,619 

Click here to view funding announcement

Items of Interest

     1.  Resources and Tips for Working with American Indians and Alaskan Natives: It is a Tip Sheet with resources written by many American Indians and Alaskan Natives to promote fruits and vegetables in culturally appropriate manners.  It includes agricultural products sold by tribal communities as well as available free seeds for gardening. Click here to view Tip Sheet.

     2.  National Health Interview Survey: The December NHIS Early Release on key health indicators report provides and updates preliminary estimates for 15 selected health measures based on new data from the January–June 2008 NHIS, with comparisons to estimates from the NHIS back to 1997. The 15 measures included are lack of health insurance coverage and type of coverage, usual place to go for medical care, obtaining needed medical care, receipt of an influenza vaccination, receipt of a pneumococcal vaccination, obesity, leisure-time physical activity, current smoking, alcohol consumption, HIV testing, general health status, personal care needs, serious psychological distress, diagnosed diabetes, and asthma episodes and current asthma. Click here for more information.

     3.  Electronic Health Record Purchasing Program Deadline Extended: In response to numerous requests, the deadline for submitting Arizona Electronic Health Record (EHR) Collaborative Purchasing Program (CPP) Interest Forms has been extended to December 31, 2009.  The Program, led by Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), is a state-wide collaboration between provider organizations, health plans, and the Arizona Health-e-Connection, that is designed to help providers in small- and medium-sized ambulatory practices with the transition to an affordable, user-friendly EHR system.The Program will include a discounted subscription to a CCHIT-certified, web-based EHR, services and support.  Practices completing the interest form will be eligible for the initial Program offering and other benefits.  Program pricing will be based on the number of responses to the Interest Form which may be completed at www.azhealtherecord.gov The Program is slated for launch during the first quarter of 2009. For more information is available at  www.azhealtherecord.gov or by contacting Anita Murcko, MD, by email anita.murcko@azahcccs.gov or phone (602) 417-6969.

     4. CSRHA Releases New Toolkit for Rural Health Care Providers: Rural Growth Building a Capital Campaign in Your Community: Grant funds provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Community Development Initiative, the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) and its partners John Snow, Inc. (JSI), and the Rural Health Design Network (RHDN) have developed a two-year capital campaign training program entitled Transforming the Future Health of Rural Communities through Economic Development. The program is designed to build the capital fundraising capacity of rural health organizations through leadership development and strategic planning.The toolkit is a collection of resources and rural-focused advice compiled by the members of the project team to share knowledge and resources that will promote the financial viability and success of rural healthcare organizations throughout California. Click here to view the toolkit.

     5. Urban-to-Rural Evacuation Planning Toolkit: Developed by Western New York Public Health Alliance, inc. and its partners, the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago and the Pennsylvania State University Center for Environmental Infomatics (PSUCEI) the online map based planning tool is a map-based application that predicts rural and suburban population surge following potential urban disasters and provides information on county resources important to preparedness planning.The toolkit was developed primarily to estimate the numbers and travel directions of urban evacuees in order to stimulate effective preparedness planning. Click here to view the toolkit.

Click here to view the Rural Preparedness Planning Guide: Planning for Population Surge Following Urban Disasters designed to complement the Evacuation Planning Tool, the planning guide answers the question, "so, now what?" by providing tangible, actionable planning recommendations for rural communities in the areas of pre-event, event and post-event planning.

Contact Your Representatives

     a. Arizona Congressional Delegation:  Links to Arizona members of the

U.S. House of Representatives are available at: U.S. Representatives. Links to Arizona members of the U.S. Senate are available at: U.S. Senate

     b. Arizona State Legislators: Available through the Arizona Legislative Information System (ALIS): Call 1-800-352-8404 or follow links at Arizona Legislature.

Important Links:

• Arizona Rural Health Office
• Administration on Aging

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• American Indian and Alaska Native Information (CMS)
• Arizona Critical Access Hospital Program
• Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
• Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association
• Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc.
• Critical Access Hospital Information (CMS)
• Federal Funding Opportunities
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (CMS)
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Health Services Advisory Group
• Indian Health Service, Navajo Area Office
• Indian Health Service, Phoenix Area Office
• Indian Health Service, Tucson Area Office
• Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
• Kaiser Family Foundation: Fast Facts
• Medicare Learning Network (CMS)
• National Association of Community Health Centers
• National Association of Rural Health Clinics
• National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
• National Rural Health Association
• Office of Rural Health Policy, HHS
• Rural Assistance Center
• Rural Health Information (CMS)
• Rural Health Research Gateway
• Rural Health Resource Center - TASC
• State Offices of Rural Health Grant Program (SORH)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture

Editor's Note:  This online newsletter is a joint project of the Rural Health Office housed at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, and the Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc. The mission of the Rural Health Office is to promote the health of rural and medically undeserved individuals, families, and communities through service, education and research. The Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc. advocates on behalf of the health needs of rural Arizonans at national, state and local levels. Its multidisciplinary membership provides a respected and highly effective group of rural health practitioners and rural community residents. For example, the AzRHA, Inc. has actively and successfully advocated with the state legislature for funding for telemedicine and mobile clinics in all fifteen counties of the state. Your questions (or answers) are always welcome. Please send them as well as address changes to Sharon Van Skiver, RHO Administrative Associate.