Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Organization West Mountain Regional Health Alliance Address 320 S. Third Street, Office 30, Carbondale, CO 81623 Entity Type 501 (c)(3) non-profit community organization - Health Alliance Website Address https://westmountainhealthalliance.org Focus Areas Social Determinants of Health and data integration (Housing Security, Food Security, Health Access, Mental Health) Legislative Aims Aim #2: Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes Aim #3: Strengthen the rural health care system as a whole Funding Preference Yes - HPSA designation for mental, dental, and primary health care for three counties and MUP for two counties within the impact area. Project Overview The 2025 WMRHA Health and SDOH Network Grant Application aims to deepen our network's focus on leveraging available data to enhance strategic planning and decision-making processes within the rural healthcare network. This project will target planning-related actions to define, measure, and track key Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in Eagle, Garfield, and Pitkin counties. By capitalizing on collective expertise, the network aims to utilize data effectively, thereby meeting the needs of rural populations and aligning with legislative aims for improved healthcare access. We aim as result of the project to support the rural health network to be better positioned to address critical health challenges such as housing instability, food insecurity, and inadequate access to mental healthcare services exacerbated by rising costs of living and workforce shortages. Our strategic approach includes developing a comprehensive SDOH data integration plan—facilitating better health interventions and policies, while involving key partners such as Center for Improving Value in Health Care, Valley View Hospital, Valley Health Alliance, and Eagle County Public Health. This will support increased data sharing and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure informed healthcare delivery. Supported by this grant, our initiative seeks to solidify network infrastructure and engage diverse stakeholders in continuous community involvement and evaluation, making healthcare more accessible to underserved populations in this HPSA-designated region. The primary direct recipients of our efforts are the network Alliance members and their organizations, which include local health providers, public health entities, and community-based organizations. These groups are integral to implementing and advancing our data-driven strategies aimed at addressing Social Determinants of Health. The indirect recipients are the broader community members who benefit from improved healthcare services and outcomes. This includes individuals facing housing insecurity, food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and mental health challenges—conditions exacerbated by the rural setting's economic and geographic limitations.
