COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

KASEY SHAKESPEAR, MHA, MPH, MA MESSAGE FROM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

I am pleased to address our esteemed partners throughout Utah, especially those serving rural communities. The past year has been filled with excitement and accomplishments for the Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU) and our community projects. We have remained steadfast in our commitment to addressing behavioral health challenges and strengthening the healthcare workforce in rural Utah. While new challenges have emerged, we are actively working to overcome them.

Our RHAU Project ECHO Hub successfully hosted its inaugural health equity series, consisting of six highly attended sessions. We extend our deepest gratitude to the communities for their invaluable support in making this series a resounding success. Moving forward, we are eager to leverage this platform to deliver timely and tailored education that addresses the unique needs of rural communities. Furthermore, we are collaborating with other ECHO Hubs in Utah, including those at Intermountain Heath, the University of Utah Health, and Comagine Health, to ensure comprehensive virtual educational offerings.

Our fully operational RHAU Health Resource Database now provides access to over 3000 health-related resources specifically tailored to rural Utah. This database is a testament to our commitment to facilitating local access through education about available resources. The educational cards distributed across all 24 rural and frontier counties of Utah have garnered tremendous support. We remain dedicated to the ongoing maintenance and expansion of this invaluable resource.

Our participation in the Health Resource Service Administration (HRSA)'s Rural Community Opioid Response Program has yielded significant outcomes over the past year. Notably, we have supported Aspire365 in securing contracts to provide their innovative at-home chronic care treatment model throughout Utah, addressing substance use-related and general behavioral health needs. This collaborative approach aims to alleviate the burden on rural healthcare organizations. Additionally, we proudly assisted the University of Utah's School of Nursing in organizing a student SUD summit in Price, Utah, this past May.

In the realm of health and wellness, our team continues to lead initiatives on college campuses across rural Utah. The Healthy T-Bird Coalition at Southern Utah University and the Health Trailblazer Coalition at Utah Tech University have experienced remarkable growth in membership and impact. These coalitions, led by passionate and capable student leaders, have made substantial contributions to their communities. Moreover, we are thrilled to announce the establishment of our third coalition, the Health Badgers Coalition at Snow College, during the previous academic year. Our plans include expanding our efforts to additional campuses while upholding evidence-based approaches through our existing initiatives.

The expansion of the Rural Health Association of Utah's Annual Conference marks a momentous development that promises to elevate its quality and impact. By relocating the conference to the Dixie Convention Center, we have gained the opportunity to enhance planning and introduce new features to the conference experience. This includes a networking event on November 8, 2023, where attendees will receive updates from our office and celebrate the remarkable individuals making a difference in rural Utah. We wholeheartedly invite you to join us in St. George from November 8th to 9th for this transformative event.

In conclusion, I extend my deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff members, whose passion and talent drive our mission of supporting rural Utah. Additionally, I express my sincere appreciation to our partners for their unwavering support. It is a privilege to work alongside and serve such remarkable individuals. Together, we will continue to achieve great success in our endeavors.