Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Name: Shackelford County Community Resource Center, dba ResourceCare Address: 725 Pate Street, Albany, TX 76430 Facility Type: Non-Profit Federally Qualified Health Center Website: https://www.resourcecare.org/ Project Director Name: LaJeana Hayes-Long Title: Family Nurse Practitioner Contact Information: 254-725-4311/lhayes@resourcecare.org Project Name: Weight-Management Network Legislative Aim: Aim #1: Achieve efficiencies. Aim #3: Strengthen the rural health care system. Focus Area: The focus area for this proposal is reducing obesity. Service Region: Fisher, Jones, Shackelford, Stephens, Nolan, Taylor, Callhan, Eastland, Coleman, and Brown Counties. This project will focus on reducing obesity, while recruiting rural patients who are financially burdened (the target population). Within this area, 34.4% of the total population are low-income, and 14% are living in poverty. Obesity is a concern of the service area, as 45.4% are considered obese. Within the target population, subpopulations suffering from health disparities, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, include low-income individuals, racial/ethnic minorities, and individuals who have disabilities. Historically, these groups are underserved and require higher levels of care. All Network members are considered rural as defined by the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer. Members are prepared to integrate clinical and administrative functions and resources to develop the Network and establish program activities, objectives, and structure. ResourceCare, a non-profit FQHC has expertise in providing primary care, mental health, dental health, pharmaceutical and enabling services to rural, underserved and medically vulnerable patients. ResourceCare has served a rural service area for 30 years, spanning across 9 counties in Central Texas. The organization provides additional services such as nutrition and enabling that provide linkages to care for chronic disease management which promote healthy weight management. AccelHealth, a non-profit FQHC providing primary care, mental health, dental health, pharmaceutical and enabling services to rural, underserved and medically vulnerable patients. AccelHealth has been seeing rural patients in Central Texas since 1967. The organization serves patients in 5 counties and provides medical, behavioral, and dental services. The Network contact, Dr. Childers, has experience in weight management and underserved communities, and is a Texas native. Family Health Clinic is private primary care clinic serving rural patients in Eastland County. The Network contact, Dr. Deluca, is a family practice physician and has experience in weight management and over 25 years of experience in rural health medicine. ResourceCare opened its doors in 1994 to connect health care and social resources with the community's residents to meet their needs locally. Since inception, it has increased its clinical site locations, services, and patient population. The Center is part of a network of social and community services, as ResourceCare often collaborates with other safety-net providers, non-profit organizations, and other local agencies to offer whole-person care to nearly all residents. ResourceCare is a Health Center Program awardee. The target population will benefit from the Network with greater access to health and social services. The Network has designed a program with five core elements: peer-to-peer support groups, behavioral health therapies, exercise and nutrition education for patients, linkages to chronic disease management, and provider education. The Network will seek input from community groups and partner organizations to continuously improve the Network’s structure/activities. ResourceCare was notified of this opportunity through an HRSA News Release. ResourceCare is requesting a funding preference for this proposal under Qualifications 1 and 2: Health Professional Shortage Area, Medically Underserved Community/Populations.
