Read this in your browser September 24, 2026What's NewHRSA Makes Awards for the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program- The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy awarded approximately $7 million across seven rural communities to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants. RMOMS helps communities coordinate care across the maternal care continuum, expand access to specialty care and telehealth, and develop sustainable models for delivering obstetric services in rural areas. This need is particularly acute in rural communities: FORHP-funded research from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, found that by 2023, 60% of rural U.S. counties had no hospital-based obstetric services. HRSA Awards Nearly $19 Million for Telehealth and Innovative Technologies. On Tuesday, HRSA announced new awards to expand access to high-quality healthcare through telehealth and technology-enabled learning. The announcement comes in recognition of Telehealth Awareness Week, with these programs administered by HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth:
Opportunities for a Healthier Rural America: Perspectives from the Rural Health Research Centers. The latest feature article in The Rural Monitor asks several directors of FORHP’s Rural Health Research Center program to share their thoughts on challenges and opportunities for rural health policy. Save the Date: The 988 Crisis System Grantee and Partners National Conference: Improving Connections Across the Continuum – December 15-17 in Washington, DC. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) seeks rural participation for its three-day convening of 988 Crisis System grantees, federal partners, subject matter experts, and other partners and providers across the crisis continuum. Participants will explore lessons learned from grant-funded work, emerging priorities and challenges, and practical approaches to strengthening crisis services and systems. Through engaging plenaries and breakout sessions, interactive discussions, and opportunities for peer exchange and networking, the conference will create space for attendees to share their experiences, learn from colleagues, build relationships, discover federal priorities and resources to support their work, and identify strategies they can take back to their communities. SAMHSA also invites conference participants to share promising practices, innovative programs, lessons learned, research findings, and strategies that are helping strengthen crisis systems and improve outcomes nationwide. The call for speakers and abstracts is open until Monday, October 5.
Funding and OpportunitiesHUD FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants (FY26 CoC NOFO) – deadline extended to September 30. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expects to make 7,000 awards with a total investment of more than $4 billion. The Continuum of Care (CoC) program is designed to mobilize communities around the country to quickly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness related to, or fleeing from, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking. The goal of HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project (YHDP) is to support a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending homelessness for young people aged 24 or younger, including unaccompanied and pregnant or parenting youth. In the NOFO’s Frequently Asked Questions, HUD indicates that CoC grants originally awarded funding under the Special NOFO to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness that are expiring in Calendar year 2027 are eligible to renew under this NOFO. Rural CoCs may apply for Rural Cost – a budget line item for expenses unique to rural areas – in HUD-designated Rural Area Geocodes. Last week, HUD re-opened its Fiscal Year 2026 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), originally scheduled to close on August 26, to accept applications with a new deadline of September 30. HRSA FY 2027 Health Center Program Service Area Competition – October 19. The FY 2027 Health Center Program Service Area Competition (SAC) funding improves the health of medically underserved communities and populations by providing grants to support the delivery of comprehensive, high-quality preventive and primary health care services in the United States and its territories. For each SAC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), service areas available for competition are announced in the Service Area Announcement Table (SAAT). Throughout the year, HRSA may announce additional service areas if an awarded health center cannot continue to provide services in the funded service area. Find technical assistance (TA) for applicants on the SAC TA webpage. Earlier this month, our Resources of the Week section included, So You Want to Become a Health Center, from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). According to the NACHC, HRSA health centers are currently serving up to 1 in 3 rural residents in the U.S. and in U.S. territories. U.S. Department of Justice Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative – October 30. The Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative supports local law enforcement in rural jurisdictions to prevent, respond to, and reduce violent crime. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the DOJ aims to equip rural law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices with the resources necessary to implement a violent crime reduction strategy to solve a specific violent crime. The BJA expects to make 10 awards, each up to $250,000, for a three-year project period. Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project – Ongoing. The Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project (RHPTP), which began in 2020, provides 1:1 individualized technical assistance to four to six small rural hospitals and certified rural health clinics annually, to help them strengthen their organization's understanding of VBC and learn strategies they can use to be effective participants in a health care system focused on value. The RHPTP is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and administered by the National Rural Health Resource Center.
Policy UpdatesSend questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. No policy updates this week.
Learning Events and Technical AssistanceFTC Consumer Protection and Older Adults Roundtable: Healthcare-related Scams Before, During, and After Open Enrollment Season Opens – Tuesday, September 29 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Scammers often work overtime during Open Enrollment for both Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace to try to steal money, personal information, or charge for so-called “health plans” that cover few – if any – medical expenses. Join the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and experts from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for a one-hour panel discussion. HRSA’s Health Centers Program Celebrates National Recovery Month – Wednesday, September 30 at 1:00 pm Eastern. Join HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) for a National Recovery Month webinar highlighting how health centers are integrating comprehensive substance use disorder treatment and recovery services into primary care. Hear from innovative health centers and BPHC partners implementing care delivery models that reduce stigma, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and enhance recovery outcomes that last. National Recovery Month is an opportunity to honor this momentum, recognize those who make recovery possible, and encourage every provider to help build recovery‑ready communities.
Resources of the WeekRHIhub Topic Guide: Community Health Workers in Rural Settings. The Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) recently updated its topic guide for community health worker (CHW) initiatives, currently playing a prominent role in state Rural Health Transformation Program efforts across the country. The site includes FAQs about CHW roles, training, certification, and a Community Health Workers Toolkit for guidance on planning, implementing, and sustaining a CHW program in your rural community. Administration for Community Living Senior Medicare Patrol. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services with a mission to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their families and caregivers. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a national network that covers all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. SMPs recruit and train retired professionals and other volunteers to recognize and report health care fraud and help seniors make better financial and health care choices. Visit the SMP Resource Center to get the latest news and/or report on consumer fraud, find online learning events, and become a volunteer. SAMHSA Engaging Service Members, Veterans, and Families: A Toolkit for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides methods for Community Behavioral Health Clinics deliver services to military service members, veterans, and their families. The resource features some discussion about challenges and considerations for providing treatment in rural and remote areas.
Approaching DeadlinesDHS Proposes New Fee for H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions – Comment by September 24 CDC Rural Health Evaluation and Capacity Building Fellowship – September 25 FCC: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America – Comment by September 30 HRSA Seeking Nominations for the Tribal Advisory Council – September 30 HUD FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants (FY26 CoC NOFO) – deadline extended to September 30 Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program – Deadline for Next Cohort September 30 USDA America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative – September 30 USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – September 30 USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) – September 30 USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Guarantees – September 30 USDA Rural Utilities Service: Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program – September 30 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Older Veterans – Project Ending in October SAMHSA Call for Speakers/Abstracts for 988 Crisis System Conference – October 5 NHTSA Request for Information: National Emergency Services Information System (NEMSIS) – Comment by October 6 CMS Requests Billing Information for Unpaid 2026 APM Incentive Payments – update by October 13 HRSA FY 2027 Health Center Program Service Area Competition – October 19 AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – October 20 NIH Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 and R34 Clinical Trials Optional) – October 21 U.S. Department of Justice Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative – October 30 Request for Information: NTIA’s 2027 Internet Use Survey – Comment by November 9 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC) – November 10 USDA Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program – December 31 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – January 13, 2027
Forecasted OpportunitiesCMS Student Loan Repayment for Nursing Home Staff – Coming Soon HRSA National Health Service Corps Student to Service Loan Repayment Program – Coming Soon
Ongoing Opportunities - Updated September 2026Bold indicates HRSA- and/or FORHP-funded opportunities. Administration for Children & Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program General Services Administration: Federal Surplus Property Available for Public Use HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications HRSA National Health Service Corps Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Training HRSA Look-Alike Initial Designation for the Health Center Program Indian Health Service/Department of Defense: Medical Supplies and Equipment for Tribes (Project TRANSAM) Licensure Portability: The Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project National Rural Health Association: USDA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance National Rural Health Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development Small Business Administration Rural Businesses Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program USDA: National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program USDA: Summer Food Service Program USDA Rural Development: America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative USDA Rural Development: Circuit Rider Program – Technical Assistance for Rural Water Systems USDA Rural Development: Community Facilities Programs USDA Rural Development: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants USDA Rural Development: Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Investment Program USDA Rural Development: Rural Energy Savings Program USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees U.S. Department of Transportation: Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course |
