Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Organizational Information: National Center for Rural Health Professions, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford 1601 Parkview Avenue Rockford, Illinois 61107 Entity Type/Type of Facility: Academic Institution Website: https://ncrhp.uic.edu/ Proposed Service Region/Target Population: All of Logan County, Illinois Network Name: Illinois Network Supporting Providers in Rural Healthcare Excellence (INSPIRE) Legislative Aim(s): Aim #1: Achieve efficiencies Aim #3: Strengthen rural health system as a whole Focus Area(s): Rural health workforce shortages Funding Preference: Qualification #1 – Health Professional Shortage Area The National Center for Rural Health Professions (NCRHP) at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford (UICOMR) is submitting a proposal for HRSA’s Rural Health Network Development Planning Program titled Illinois Network Supporting Providers in Rural Healthcare Excellence (INSPIRE). The overall goal of this initiative is to address the critical challenges of recruiting and retaining a skilled rural health workforce in Logan County, Illinois, by fostering collaboration between clinical, academic, and community partners. The INSPIRE initiative will bring together collaborators to identify and develop a strategic plan to address rural healthcare workforce issues in Logan County. A recent survey conducted by the NCRHP, in collaboration with the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN), revealed substantial workforce gaps and challenges for Illinois critical access hospitals and highlights underlying causes of recruitment and retention issues. These insights have led us to form the INSPIRE network that will bring together the NCRHP, ICAHN, and Lincoln Memorial Hospital to develop sustainable workforce strategies to address Logan County’s healthcare workforce shortages. As the lead agency for the INSPIRE initiative, the NCRHP brings over 20 years of experience in spearheading initiatives aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of rural communities through education, workforce development, community partnerships, research, and policy. With a strong track record of convening networks to tackle rural healthcare challenges, NCRHP is well-equipped to lead this initiative. The INSPIRE initiative will develop a strategic plan focused on Logan County’s unique rural health workforce challenges. Dr. Hana Hinkle will serve as the Principal Investigator for this initiative. The Project Director (PD), Vicki Weidenbacher-Hoper, and the Network Director, Ellen Blokus, will report directly to Dr. Hinkle. In her role as PD, Ms. Weidenbacher-Hoper will be the primary leader and point of contact for the initiative, overseeing, monitoring, and executing award activities in collaboration with the Network Director.