Paris, TN – Over the past two months, the Paris and Henry County Healthcare Foundation received exciting news – they had been awarded two, three-year grants to help with chronic conditions and develop a telehealth network in rural West TN. The Delta State Rural Development Network Grant Program (DELTA) is a little over $1 million per year for three years and the Rural Health Network Development Program (RHND) is $300,000 per year for three years.
The Delta grant will assist people in 18 counties in West TN and will include several partners to implement the grant programs including Henry County Medical Center, Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach, Hardeman County Community Health Center, and 10 city or county school systems. The West TN Delta Consortium made up of these and other partners will implement a plan which includes care navigation/coordination, pharmacy assistance, chronic disease management, behavioral health, health education programs and more to combat chronic conditions in our region. The primary purpose of this grant is to continue to address obesity prevention efforts and to expand behavioral health services in the region.
The RHND grant involves developing the West TN Delta Network Telehealth program to increase the organizational and technology capacity of the network formally established in 2018 to expand access to telehealth behavioral and obesity-related primary and specialty health services for rural residents. The purpose is to increase access in rural areas, develop population health management, and show improved health outcomes and community impact. Partners include Henry County Medical Center, Hardeman County Community Health Center and Hardin County Regional Health Center (Lifespan Health, Inc.). It will serve 13 counties in West TN.
“We are excited to receive these grants to be able to expand our services in West TN and make an impact on the health of the families we serve,” said Tory Daughrity, Director of Marketing and Public Relations and Coordinator for the Paris and Henry County Healthcare Foundation. “With the awarding of both grants, we will be able to expand and grow our capacity and find new ways to combat chronic conditions and obesity as well as behavioral health issues during a time when families need it most. We look forward to working with all these outstanding partners during the next three years.”
Eight states in the Delta region are receiving a total of $12 million in grant funding in 2020 to support the development of integrated health care networks to address unmet local health care needs and prevalent health disparities in rural Delta communities.
The Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program requires that local health providers work together across counties and parishes to share resources and expertise, with a focus on strengthening the knowledge of Delta region communities about health risks and disease management. Funded projects are tailored from programs showing evidence of effectiveness in addressing gaps and needs in a community setting and improvements in the health status of individuals. The grants are funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Since 2002, HRSA has partnered with the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to implement the program. The DRA leverages federal funding to improve lives and spur economic development in the Delta region.
HRSA awarded 28 states with 45 grants at approximately $13 million in funding in 2020 to provide support to integrated health care networks who can address the health care needs of their rural communities. Paris and Henry County Healthcare Foundation was the only awardee in TN for this three year grant.
Both grants are housed within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) which the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on policies impacting rural health and works with state and local partners to enhance delivery of services to 50 million residents living in rural communities.
The Delta Regional Authority, a federal-state partnership, is congressionally mandated to identify and provide economic development investments to the 252 counties and parishes of the Delta. Through the Rural Communities Advancement Program, the DRA funds regional initiatives with the guiding principal to build communities and improve lives in the Delta region.
The Paris and Henry County Healthcare Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization founded in 1994. The Foundation was established to enhance and improve the health of all citizens of Henry County through philanthropic support of the programs and services of Henry County Medical Center. There is a particular emphasis placed on wellness education, community outreach, scholarships for students pursuing a health care career, and support of health improvement programs that otherwise could not be implemented.
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.