Upcoming Events
Rural Health Student Summit 2025
Rural Health Student Summit
Open to ALL Students!
Join us to empower and inspire students by providing networking opportunities, informative sessions, and hands-on workshops that address challenges and introduce opportunities in rural healthcare, ultimately equipping them with the knowledge and resources to positively impact rural communities as they move into their careers in healthcare.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow at NERHA’s annual Rural Health Student Summit!
Attendance is free for all!
2025 Annual Fall Conference
2025 New England Rural Health Association Conference
Rural Health in a Changing World
Mystic Marriott Hotel in historic Groton, Connecticut
Get ready for the 2025 New England Rural Health Association Conference, "Rural Health in a Changing World", on November 4th & 5th at the Mystic Marriott Hotel in historic Groton, Connecticut
The annual NERHA conference is our flagship event of the year, attracting 400 attendees from across New England. This marks our second year in Connecticut, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to its breathtaking coastlines for this year’s event!
NYSARH/NERHA Webinar: Brownfields Redevelopment in Rural Communities (Copy)
NYSARH/NERHA Webinar: Importance of Mental Health in Rural Communities
Madison County Health Council has been a driving force in bringing mental health awareness and training to our rural communities and schools since May 2022. We have certified nearly 4,000 first aiders across multiple Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculums. In our presentation, we will discuss how bringing teen MHFA training to teens in our rural communities has given students the tools and skills needed to recognize when a friend or peer is struggling and to know when to get a trusted adult involved. These skills have been critical given the lack of local resources and availability.
AI in Rural Healthcare: Separating Fact from Fiction
AI in Rural Healthcare: Separating Fact from Fiction Webinar
Join us for an insightful webinar exploring the realities of AI in rural healthcare. We’ll address its potential, dispel common myths, and tackle critical topics like security, legal concerns, and ethical implications in behavioral health. Learn how AI can foster patient trust, enhance workforce readiness, and offer practical solutions for small clinics. Don’t miss this opportunity to see how AI can transform rural healthcare while ensuring trust, security, and accessibility.
NYSARH/NERHA Webinar: Brownfields Redevelopment in Rural Communities
NYSARH/NERHA Webinar: Brownfields Redevelopment in Rural Communities
This presentation will include an introduction to brownfields redevelopment and how these sites impact rural communities, including background information and relevant data. We will conclude with an overview of TAB services and resources.
2024 Rural Health Student Summit
The New England Rural Health Association Rural Health Student Summit aims to empower students interested in rural healthcare by providing a platform for networking, learning, and skill-building. Through engaging discussions, informative sessions, and hands-on workshops, the Summit seeks to inspire students to explore opportunities and address challenges in rural healthcare settings. By fostering connections and sharing insights, the Summit endeavors to equip students with the knowledge and resources they need to make a positive impact on rural communities. Join us for a day of exploration, collaboration, and growth at the Rural Health Student Summit.
National Rural Health Day Celebration
You are invited to join the Rural Health andPrimary Care Program for a celebration ofNational Rural Health Day.
The celebration is being held at the Hall ofFlags in Augusta, ME from 1:00 PM until3:00 PM on November 16th, 2023.
The event will feature awardspresentations and refreshments.
More information to follow.
2023 Fall Conference: New Horizons for Rural Health Equity
We are thrilled to announce the 2023 New England Rural Health Conference – New Horizons in Rural Health Equity on November 8th and 9th at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel in Killington, Vermont.
Our conference is an opportunity for rural healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, educators, students and community leaders to learn from experts in rural topics, and to network with each other. Designed to involve all sectors that impact the health of people in rural New England, this multidisciplinary event gives attendees the opportunity to delve into specific areas of interest or participate in sessions spanning a variety of topic areas.
This event is designed to meet the needs of those interested in improving the health and wellbeing of our region's rural communities. Over the past 20+ years, the annual conference has become one of the Association's largest events, attracting over 300 participants. We heard you last year and we are excited to bring you back to the beautiful Killington Resort in Vermont!
Register Now!
STDs in Rural Communities
Save the Date!
Speaker: Marguerite Urban, MD - University of Rochester Medical Center
Registration information coming soon!
Financing Health and Social Services to Address Health Related Social Needs
A Two-Part FREE Live Webinar Series Sponsored by the New England Rural Health Association
Join us on June 20th and June 29th from 12 noon -1 pm ET for live webinars examining strategies for using community partnerships and innovative financing approaches to address health related social needs. In the first webinar, Effective Strategies to Address Individual and Community Health, we’ll explore how communities in California, Vermont and Maine are using Whole Person Care to coordinate health and social services and the lessons learned about creating, mobilizing and managing aligned and equitable partnerships. The second webinar, Financing Health and Social Services to Address Health Related Social Needs will delve into how multisector partnerships are being funded, examples of Federal and state initiatives, and more.
Webinar #2 on June 29th from 12 noon – 1 pm ET on Financing Health and Social Services to Address Health Related Social Needs will highlight national work on innovative funding strategies, evolving CMS payment policy and new pilot and demonstration initiatives.
Topics to be covered:
Innovative funding strategies to pay for connecting and providing health and social services
Braiding and blending funding streams – why and how
Pending CMS payment policies for assessing and reimbursement
R-CHIP – Maine’s new rural HRSN demonstration initiative
Presenters: Elaine Chhean, MPH National Academy for State Health Policy, Anne Ekedahl, MHA, Health Policy Consultant and Senior Fellow, WE in the World, Michelle Probert, MPP, Director, Office of MaineCare Services, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Moderator: Andrew Coburn, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Southern Maine
Register Here For the Second Webinar
Effective Strategies to Address Individual and Community Health
A Two-Part FREE Live Webinar Series Sponsored by the New England Rural Health Association
Join us on June 20th and June 29th from 12 noon -1 pm ET for live webinars examining strategies for using community partnerships and innovative financing approaches to address health related social needs. In the first webinar, Effective Strategies to Address Individual and Community Health, we’ll explore how communities in California, Vermont and Maine are using Whole Person Care to coordinate health and social services and the lessons learned about creating, mobilizing and managing aligned and equitable partnerships. The second webinar, Financing Health and Social Services to Address Health Related Social Needs will delve into how multisector partnerships are being funded, examples of Federal and state initiatives, and more.
Webinar #1 on June 20th from 12 noon – 1 pm ET on Effective Strategies to Address Individual and Community Health
Topics to be covered:
Whole Person Care and the importance of coordinating health and social needs
California Accountable for Health – Lessons from Cohort 1
Caledonia and South Essex County Vermont ACH – Rural Partnership Model
Community Caring Collaborative – Engaging Health Care, CBOs and Public Health in Washington County, Maine
Presenters: Barbara Masters, MA, Director, California Accountable Communities for Health Initiative, Shawn P. Tester, MSOL,CEO, Northern Vermont Regional Hospital, Charley Martin-Berry, Executive Director, Community Caring Collaborative
Moderator: Deborah Deatrick, MPH, Consultant
Register Here For the First Webinar
Water Quality in Wells and Small Public Systems
Well Water Protection
Presenters:
Russell Urban-Mead ,PG, : Vice President, Senior Hydrogeologist Hydrogeology Department, LaBella Associates
Michelle Crimi , PhD: Dean of the Graduate School, Clarkson University
Russell Urban-Mead, PG, is a hydrogeologist familiar with rural aquifers and recommended approaches to ensure sustained used of domestic and small scale commercial wells. He will provide an overview of aquifer characteristics, discuss water balance tactics to ensure reliable well uses over time, outline recommended densities for long-term use of septic systems near wells, and review local regulatory options for municipal preservation of rural groundwater quality. Dr. Crimi, PhD, specializes in emerging contaminant management and treatment. She will review common sources of PFAS and some of the water treatment methods currently being developed which may be best suited to individual use on private properties.
Participation in this event is free. CHES credits are available after the event for a $10.00 fee. CME and NYS Social Work CE credits are available for purchase after the event ($20.00 fee)*.
Register Here
Health Equity & Digital Divide
Save the Date!
Health Equity/ Digital Divide
Panelists
Sarah Potwin : Executive Library Director, Niagara Falls Library
Danielle Louder: Director, Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
Sirene Garcia: Chief Innovation Officer, Finger Lakes Digital Inclusion
Aileen Martin : Executive Director, Northern Regional Center for Independent Living -
The webinar aims to address the health disparities experienced by rural communities by exploring the digital divide and how it impacts access to healthcare services. The webinar will feature a panel of experts who will discuss various issues such as lack of high-speed internet, limited access to telehealth services, and other challenges that rural communities face in accessing healthcare. The discussion will focus on identifying solutions that can improve health equity in rural areas and ensure that people living in these areas have access to quality healthcare services.
Participation in this event is free. CHES credits are available after the event for a $10.00 fee. CME and NYS Social Work CE credits are available for purchase after the event ($20.00 fee)*.
Rural Opioid and Other Substance Issues
John Coppala, Executive Director
The session will cover a range of topics, including the prevalence of opioid addiction in rural communities, the unique challenges faced by rural residents seeking treatment, and strategies for prevention and intervention. Experts in the field will share their insights and discuss evidence-based approaches to tackling this complex issue, with a goal of increasing awareness and improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by substance abuse in rural areas.