Sunday, April 20, 2025
4/20/2025
Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Applicant Organization Name and Address: Appalachian State University and Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services, Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, Suite 448, 1179 State Farm Road, ASU Box 32102 Boone, NC 28608; https://ihhs.appstate.edu/ Project Director: Sydeena Isaacs PhD, RD, LDN, isaacsse@appstate.edu, P:828-964-0565 Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, MPH, tysonjs@appstate.edu Ashley Parks, DrPH, MPH, MBA, MTech, parksav@appstate.edu Funding Preference: Appalachian State University Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS) is requesting a funding preference based on qualification 3. Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Surry, and Watauga counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. Legislative Aim: The SHEQuITE Network aims to increase and strengthen referrals from primary care providers around social determinants of health (SDOH) by exploring why and how referrals in the healthcare setting happen in rural Appalachian communities, in the context of a global pandemic. The greater goal of this network is to provide the opportunity to further develop collective impact initiatives to reduce morbidity and mortality, improve health outcomes, and enhance overall health in Northwest North Carolina (NC). The team will focus on planning efforts to increase and strengthen referrals from primary care providers around SDOH by exploring why and how referrals in the healthcare setting happen in rural Appalachian communities in the context of the global pandemic. This will include initial data collection efforts surrounding provider engagement and burnout, referral practices, self-efficacy and confidence in making referrals based on SDOH. Focus Area: Referrals for Social Determinants of Health in the context of a pandemic (i.e. referrals, burn out, provider engagement, etc.) Proposed Service Region: The network will engage local healthcare provider organizations in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Surrey, and Watauga counties who are interested in participating in the Rural Health Network North West NC. Target Population: The target population includes underserved individuals and families living in rural regions of North Western NC including Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Surrey, and Watauga counties. This includes individuals, families, and children who would benefit from improved SDOH screening and referral processes for accessing health and social services. The rural, sparsely populated, mountainous terrain of the area can be a barrier to accessing care. A large portion of our patients require complex services to manage comorbidities within limited means. This network request is substantiated through local data indicating the need for our populations to have greater access to primary care services in order to support long-term health outcomes. Network/Consortium Partnerships: Confirmed network partners who will collectively contribute to the planning, development, and implementation of improved SDOH related referral processes include the following: Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (provider); High Country Community Health (provider); Community Care Clinic (provider); Appalachian Healthcare Training and Consulting (community partner); and Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services’ Interprofessional Clinic (provider). Experience Serving Rural Underserved Populations: The Beaver College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State University was established specifically to impact rural health and wellness in the Appalachian region by collaborating with regional partners and educating a future healthcare workforce to serve the local communities. The Beaver College of Health Sciences has grown to the second largest college at ASU and graduates hundreds of students each year into the workforce of Western North Carolina in professions from nursing to social work to nutrition to speech pathology and public health. We train students with regional partners to prepare them to work in rural health.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).