USDA Accepting Applications for Placemaking Cooperative Agreements to Spur Economic Growth and Community Development in Rural America

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The Department Increases Total Funding to Up to $4 Million to Help More Rural and Tribal Communities Access Placemaking Assistance

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is accepting applications for cooperative agreements to help eligible entities provide planning, training and technical assistance to foster placemaking activities in rural and Tribal communities.

The funds are being made available through the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC). USDA is increasing RPIC funding to up to $4 million to assist more rural communities access placemaking assistance. The previous funding level was $3 million.

Today, USDA is inviting eligible entities to apply for up to $250,000 to help rural and Tribal communities create plans to enhance capacity for high-speed internet access; preserve cultural and historic structures; and support development in transportation, housing and recreational spaces.

This technical assistance will help communities convene partners and identify community needs to develop placemaking plans. These plans will help rural areas build back better and stronger. The entities must support participating rural communities for up to two years.

Learn more about this USDA Stakeholder Announcement.

Pennsylvania State Data Center Releases Updated Data, Reports

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Detailed Population Estimates Released 

The U.S. Census Bureau has released the 2021 Detailed Nation, State, and County Population Estimates, the final set of detailed population estimates for this vintage. The July 1, 2021 data provide estimates at the nation, state, and county level for population by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin.

To read more, visit: https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Data/Research-Briefs.

Post-Census Group Quarters Review Operation Launched 

The U.S. Census Bureau began mailing approximately 40,000 eligible governmental units at the tribal, state, and local levels about participating in the 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR) operation. The 2020 PCGQR is a new, one-time operation that was created in response to public feedback received on the Count Question Resolution operation about counting group quarters’ populations during the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Group quarters are defined as places where people live or stay in a group living arrangement that is owned or managed by an organization providing housing and other services for the residents. Group quarters include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, prisons, and worker dormitories. Heads of eligible governments received notice about this program which opened June 6 2022 and ends June 30, 2023.

This program is different from the Census Count Question Resolution program (CQR).  For more information on this program and data for you community visit our CQR StoryMap.  Contact us with any questions.

Post Enumeration Survey Results 

A new Report shows Pennsylvania is 1 of 37 states that did not have estimated statistically significant undercounts or overcounts.  Results of the Post Enumeration Survey were released this month identifying 14 states (or state equivalents) estimated to have had an undercount or overcount – a net coverage error statistically different from zero.

Pennsylvania had a 0.48 percent overcount (not statistically different from zero) in 2020. This is consistent with results from previous decades which showed a 0.14 percent overcount in 2010 and a 0.95 percent undercount in 2000.

Pennsylvania Municipal Population Estimates

With the release of the 2021 municipal total population estimates in May we learned a total of 702 municipalities in Pennsylvania experienced an increase in population between 2020 and 2021. A total of 111 municipalities were population neutral between 2020 and 2021 while 1,759 municipalities decline in total population.

For more details visit: https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Data/Research-Briefs.

Academy of Pediatrics Solicits Input into Oral Health Direction

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Oral Health is asking stakeholders to complete a survey on the effectiveness of oral health initiatives/Campaign for Dental Health, priorities for future directions, and resources needed to improve management of oral health promotion, disease prevention, and early childhood caries. The AAP seeks to strengthen oral health initiatives:

  1.  In the wake of the pandemic.
  2. As part of the AAP Equity Agenda
  3. Because children continue to see a pediatric or primary care provider or other trusted community member long before they see a dental professional and during the years in which prevention of dental disease is optimal.

The survey deadline is July 15.

Click here to complete the survey.

Update on Pennsylvania Regulatory Exceptions and Act 17 Provisions: EMS Information Bulletin 2022-08

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From the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services

This EMS Information Bulletin (EMS-IB) supersedes all previously published EMS-IBs related to COVID-19 exemptions as a result of the Disaster Declaration or continuance thereof.

Effective at 11:59 pm June 30, 2022, all regulatory exceptions issued as part of the COVID-19 disaster declaration will expire. This means that all crews must meet legal staffing standards as of July 1, 2022. Any agency that is currently using out-of-state providers to fulfill staffing requirements must immediately stop the use of these providers effective 11:59 pm, June 30, 2022.

However, the Bureau of EMS (Bureau) recognizes the need to evaluate staffing models and has reviewed all authorities granted to the Bureau. As such the Bureau is authorizing all Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances in the Commonwealth to staff utilizing the provisions of Act 17 of 2020 without making application to the Department, utilizing the provisions outlined below.

Act 17 of 2020 amended the EMS Systems Act to permit the Department of Health (Department) to grant exceptions to the ambulance staffing standard for Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances.

Pursuant to the Act, exceptions were only to be granted in cases where there were extraordinary reasons and in the best interest of the EMS system and patient care.

On July 6, 2020 the Bureau of EMS (Bureau) issued EMSIB 2020-27 Act 17 of 2020 BLS Ambulance Staffing Exceptions. This document established the general criteria and process for staffing waiver applications.

Despite the termination of the declaration of disaster emergency, the Department finds the continued effects of COVID-19 as well as staffing shortages are impacting the overall EMS system and constitute an extraordinary circumstance.

As a result, and in the best interest of the EMS system the Department is issuing the following staffing exception in accordance with its authority outlined in Act 17 of 2020.

Exception 1:
At the time of patient transport, a BLS ambulance must be operated by a certified Emergency Medical Services Vehicle Operator (EMSVO), and the patient must be attended by an EMS provider at or above the level of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).  This exception is effective immediately and will remain in effect until this EMS-IB is superseded or voided by the Department.

Please direct any questions regarding this memo to your regional council.

New Online Dashboard Launched on State Opioid Overprescribing Rates

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A new online dashboard developed by the analysts at Stroudwater Associates identifies the top 20% highest opioid dispensing counties in the United States. You can view your state-specific dashboard here.

As the opioid epidemic worsens, we understand that improving the management of long-term prescribed opioids is an increasingly urgent imperative for physicians and hospitals. To help healthcare providers develop and implement a process to better manage patients on long-term opioid therapy, we present a new service offering.

Our clinician-led team guides primary care clinics and provider practices to customize and integrate an opioid management program into daily operations. Stroudwater also offers a 4-part webinar series addressing the current opioid epidemic, the role of primary care, and an introduction to the Six Building Blocks Opioid Management Program.

New Policy Brief Released: Supporting Critical Access Hospital Staff During COVID-19

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The Flex Monitoring Team has released a new policy brief, Supporting Critical Access Hospital Staff during COVID-19.

This brief highlights initiatives in three Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Illinois and North Dakota to help support their staff in the areas of child care, stress and well-being, and work flexibility as described in interviews with the Flex Monitoring Team. These examples may be useful for CAHs and State Flex Programs interested in starting similar initiatives. The brief also includes appendices of other initiatives supporting hospital staff and resiliency resources for CAHs.

Emergency Medical Services Personnel: Comparing Rural and Urban Provider Experience and Provision of Evidence-based Care Report Released

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A new study by the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, led by Davis Patterson, PhD, examined the relationship between EMS provider levels of experience and the provision of evidence-based care for rural and urban EMS systems.

We found that rural-serving EMS agencies provided evidence-based care for stroke, hypoglycemia, and trauma less often than urban serving EMS agencies. Rural EMS professionals responded to fewer daily 911 encounters on average and spent less total time on 911 responses than urban EMS professionals. Patients were more likely to receive evidenced based care for seizures and trauma when the lead EMS professional had accumulated more total time responding to 911 calls. Agency staffing—paid, volunteer or mixed—did not generally influence the provision of evidence-based care for seizures, stroke, and trauma. This study underscores the importance of developing benchmarks of evidence-based care appropriate for rural EMS systems, and will help inform educators, policymakers and stakeholders in devising solutions for addressing the gaps in training and systems of care for rural EMS systems.

Read more

Interested in more research on rural EMS? Our peer center, the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies recently published a related policy brief: How Actual Practice of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Aligns with the Recommended National Scope of Practice in Rural Versus Urban Areas of the U.S.