Community Health Workers: Evidence of Their Effectiveness PDF

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that 21 million Americans lack broadband access. Broadband is a critical infrastructural component needed for business development, job creation, health care services, education, and more. Last week, the Pew Charitable Trusts released a 48-page analysis of state programs related to broadband improvements. The analysis mentioned ARC’s POWER Initiative and our commitment to connect broadband to other policy priorities such as economic development, transportation, and agriculture. The report also highlighted broadband expansion efforts in four Appalachian states – North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia – and how each is working to close connectivity gaps. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s (TNECD) Broadband Accessibility Grant Program, for example, has awarded more than $25 million to broadband support projects within 30 counties since 2018.

Similarly, in 2019 ARC’s POWER Initiative awarded more than $13 million to broadband projects in coal-impacted communities and we’re excited to continue this support. POWER is currently accepting applications for grant funding in fiscal year 2020. The application deadline is 5:00pm on March 27, 2020, via the POWER 2020 Application Portal. If you’d like to learn more about how to prepare a strong POWER application, watch these brief videos for some important tips!

Modern Healthcare reported on Feb. 18, 2020, that top earning not-for-profit hospitals provide less charity care than those with less healthy financials, according to a study published in JAMA. The study showed that for every $100 of net income, hospitals in the top earnings quartile provided $11.50 of charity care to uninsured patients and $5.10 to insured patients, compared to the hospitals in the third earnings quartile, which provided $72.30 of charity care to the uninsured and $40.90 to the insured. Read more.

A Philadelphia family of four must make more than $70,000 a year just to survive, a new report says – a stunning sum beyond the reach of most residents in a city beset by high poverty and meager chances. According to the newly released study based on 2019 data, two adults with one preschooler and one school-age child have to take in $70,613 to meet their needs without receiving public assistance or help from relatives or friends. Read more.

In 2017, the death rate for opioid overdoses in Appalachian counties was an astounding 72 percent higher than in non-Appalachian counties. “A good job can change a lot”, said Greg Puckett, Commissioner for Mercer County, West Virginia during a seminar event hosted this week by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and ARC focusing on the opioid crisis in Appalachia. The seminar, which included two panel discussions, focused on effective solutions and  how counties can best look toward the future to strengthen communities for long-term growth. It was a capstone event of on an ongoing partnership between partnership between NACo and ARC offering recommendations, best practices, and case studies to counties to help address the situation.

A new fact sheets series is available recapping ARC’s regional and state specific investments showing that ARC invested nearly $177 million into the region, attracting nearly $247 million in matching funds and over $542.5 million in leveraged private investment during fiscal year 2019. These investments are projected to create or retain more than 17,300 jobs and train/educate over 51,000 students and workers. 70 percent of ARC’s FY 2019 investment dollars will benefit distressed counties and areas throughout the region.

Provides an overview of the unique challenges rural communities face serving parents with substance abuse issues, including provider shortages, limited access to health insurance, transportation and technological barriers, and lack of routine cross-systems collaboration with the child welfare system. Offers strategies to overcome these challenges in rural communities.

Jan 14, 2020 — Discusses the projected decline in the number of physicians in rural areas, a Montana State University professor attributes the drop to minimal career opportunities for spouses, isolation, and lack of entertainment in rural areas. Describes how policy and recruitment programs have attempted to lure physicians to rural areas, but the need is more prominent as health disparities increase.

Feb 3, 2020 — Many rural residents struggle to access healthcare services, often traveling far distances, due to a shortage of providers. Features strategies used by medical schools across the country that encourage young doctors to practice in rural areas.

National Rural Health Association CEO Alan Morgan discusses his organization’s work on the national and global stages and shares his rural health predictions for 2020.