June 13, 2019

What’s New

Challenges of the Rural Opioid Epidemic: Treatment and Prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C. Previous research on HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) has focused on urban or international populations, yet the US opioid epidemic is moving away from metropolitan centers. In this report, researchers examine the increasing rurality of opioid injection, the challenges to treatment and prevention that are unique to rural areas, and the public health interventions needed to address them. See the Learning Events and Resources of the Week sections below for federal information on programs that can help prevent transmission of infections associated with needle use.

Healthy Brain Initiative: Roadmap for Indian Country. This report, supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was created to help tribal community leaders understand how dementia and associated caregiving is affecting their community and then consider what approaches, including public health strategies, they might pursue. The first part explains the challenge of dementia in Indian Country and makes the case for the role of public health in reducing its burden. The Road Map then offers eight public health strategies for American Indian/Alaska Native leaders to consider as part of a broad response to dementia. These strategies are based on input from experts, practitioners, tribal health directors, and leaders in Indian Country. They are intentionally flexible and designed to be adapted to a wide array of local priorities. Continue reading “Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Announcements” →

July 31, 2019

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is looking for volunteers to participate in a virtual focus group to assist in the  development of the Rural Emergency Medical Services Training and Equipment Assistance Program, that was reauthorized in the Agricultural Act of 2018. 

The program has not been funded yet, but they are gathering input to implement it, should it be funded in the future.  They are looking for volunteers from rural non-profit, government-owned or tribal EMS agencies or ambulance services, including fire-based and non-fire-based services and those owned by non-profit, government or tribal hospitals. 

Individuals may be paramedics, EMTs, medical directors, agency directors or others who work, volunteer for or are associated with an EMS agency. The focus group will meet in September via the internet and last approximately 90 minutes. 

If you are interested in participating, please send your first and last name, the name of the agency with which you are affiliated, city and state where the agency is located, your role in the agency, as well as your email address to Christy Edwards with  FORHP at: cedwards@hrsa.gov.  If you have questions, please call contact Christy at: 301-945-0869.