Author: janiya
A Prescription for Rural Healthcare: Bolstering Residency Programs in New York
by Elana Sitnik Across New York State, rural communities face a critical shortage of primary care physicians, hindering access to essential healthcare. Although New York State trains more medical residents than any other state, there are very few residency programs located in rural communities. A 2019 report by the Primary Care Development Corporation highlights the dwindling number of primary car...
Mobile Food Pantry Coming to Rural Communities
Food insecurity is a pressing issue in many rural communities, where access to resources is limited. However, a beacon of hope is on the horizon for residents of Black River and Evans Mills as a new initiative aims to address this challenge head-on. In a pioneering move, a mobile food pantry is set to roll into these north country communities, providing much-needed relief to those facing hunger. S...
Innovative Strategies in Rural Healthcare: Success Stories from Across America
Hospital leaders at the American Hospital Association Rural Health Care Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., showcased local initiatives to recruit and retain health care professionals. Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, Wash., addressed staffing challenges by creating nurse residency and workforce development programs, cross-training nurses, and developing apprentice programs, resulting in...
Federal Communications Commission Announces Wind-Down Procedures for Affordable Connectivity Program
In response to a lack of additional funding from Congress, the Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued an Order detailing wind-down procedures for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The program, aimed at providing discounted internet services to low-income households, faces termination due to funding depletion. The Order outlines significant da...
High Suicide Rate Among American Farmers Sparks Rural Community Action
In 2023, the United States witnessed a tragic milestone as more than 50,000 Americans took their own lives, marking the highest yearly rate of suicide on record. Among the most affected are farmers, who face unique challenges that often go unnoticed. According to the National Rural Health Association, farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Special correspo...
Rural Housing Coalition Unveils Marist Poll Results on Housing Affordability in New York
The Rural Housing Coalition (RHC) has released the findings of a recent Marist Poll on housing affordability conducted in mid-November. The statewide survey, encompassing 1,780 adults, highlights the pressing concerns regarding housing affordability across New York. Key takeaways from the poll include: – 73% of Residents Identify Housing Affordability as a Major Problem: A significant majori...
Transformative Philanthropy: Prioritizing Nonprofit Staff Well-being
The Healing Trust has been reshaping the narrative in philanthropy since 2003 by prioritizing the well-being of nonprofit staff. This blog post explores their principles and practices, showcasing the profound impact of prioritizing staff well-being on the nonprofit sector. The Healing Trust recognizes that supporting the healing of nonprofit staff is crucial for sustainable change. While funding m...
Prevent Addiction and Support Recovery in Employment
In a groundbreaking move three years ago, New York introduced the first-in-the-nation “recovery-friendly workplace tax credit” to encourage employers to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. However, recent data reveals a stark reality: out of the $6 million allocated for this initiative, only $6,000 has been utilized by qualified for-profit employers since its ...
Legislative Commission on Rural Resources Releases Fall 2023 Edition of Rural Futures Newsletter
The Legislative Commission on Rural Resources is excited to present the Fall 2023 edition of *Rural Futures*, a newsletter that underscores their unwavering commitment to advocating for rural communities in New York State. This newsletter reflects a year of significant accomplishments, raising awareness of the importance of rural New York within state government. In 2023, they have spearheaded col...
New York State’s Struggle with Medical Debt Disparities
A recent analysis funded by NYHealth and conducted by the Urban Institute has revealed concerning statistics regarding medical debt in New York State. As of February 2022, approximately 6% of consumers, or around 740,000 adults, had medical debt in collections. Alarmingly, almost half of those with medical debt owed $500 or more. In June 2023, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to exclud...
Construction Industry Hit Hard by Opioid Epidemic
New York, NY- The opioid epidemic has claimed over a million lives since 1999, with 2021 seeing 106,699 drug overdose deaths, 75.4% of which were opioid-related, according to the CDC. An alarming trend is evident in the construction industry. Recent data from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) reveals that construction workers face the highest opioid-related overdose death ra...
Vice President Alison Coates with NCP Radio on Rural Improvement
Our Vice-President Alison Coates, has been at the forefront of advocating for improvements in rural healthcare. In a recent conversation with David Sommerstein at North Country Public Radio , she shed light on the specific challenges faced by rural communities in accessing quality healthcare. Urban-Centric Healthcare According to Coates, the healthcare system in our country was primarily built wi...