Colorado Rural Health Center, The State Office of Rural Health and Rural Health Association, was Awarded National Rural Health Association funding to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    AURORA, CO, November 12, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC), The State Office of Rural Health and Rural Health Association was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) as part of the Health Equity Technical Assistance Pilot, funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. CRHC will use the award to complete Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for CRHC staff and board as well as to present education to rural hospitals and clinics across the state.

This award is offered in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. NRHA provided CRHC a $10,000 dollar grant for the express purpose of helping the state organization develop or coordinate community activities.

"Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are cornerstones of an equitable healthcare system. We are grateful to NRHA and our training partners for the opportunity to bring vital education not only to our staff and board, but to rural health clinics and hospitals across the state as we seek to make sure that all Coloradans have access to comprehensive, high quality, affordable healthcare" said CRHC CEO Michelle Mills.

CRHC has partnered with professional trainers who specialize in health equity work, addressing bias, social determinants of health, and fundamental access to equip recipients of training with the tools needed to ensure equitable access to care. CRHC staff recently completed internal training and offered similar tools and training to attendees to the organization's recent Annual Rural Health Conference, held October 19-21 in Colorado Springs.

The Colorado Rural Health Center adopted an organizational equity statement in 2020:

The Colorado Rural Health Center recognizes that many factors impact the health of individuals and communities, including geography, income, and race. We recognize the existence and power of historical and ongoing systematic structures that have excluded individuals from leading their most healthy lives.

We are committed to repairing injustices by championing policies that recognize these inequities and foster community-led solutions. We are actively working to include diverse opinions and perspectives in our decision making processes and advocacy work and recognize that we all live better lives when everyone has a seat at the table.

The Colorado Rural Health Center serves as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health (SORH) and State Rural Health Association, partnering in its latter capacity with NRHA to maintain strong relationships with a robust coalition of rural members across Colorado.

About The Colorado Rural Health Center
The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association. The organization's mission is to enhance healthcare services in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues. CRHC's vision is to improve healthcare services available in rural communities to ensure that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

# # #