Saturday, April 5, 2025

Now Launched πŸš€ Shop Our New Store

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We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Autism Society’s official e-commerce store

We’re thrilled to launch the Autism Society’s official e-commerce store just in time for Autism Acceptance Month! Now you can wear, carry, and showcase your support with our exclusive collection of branded T-shirts and tote bags.


Every purchase makes a difference. Your support helps fund critical programs, advocacy, and resources for individuals and families in the Autism community.


Thank you for being part of our community and championing awareness, acceptance and belonging, across the entire Autism spectrum. Together, we can make an impact!

Shop Now
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Friday, April 4, 2025

Autism Is Acceptance

Autism is acceptance. Embracing who you are is where true belonging starts.
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The Autism Is campaign acknowledges that no two Autistic individuals have the same lived experience. Autism is both personal and collectiveβ€”an identity, a community, a culture, and a way of life. It comes with strengths and struggles, moments of joy and challenge, and everything in between.


Throughout April, we're sharing stories that celebrate the diversity of the Autism experience.

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Voices of Autism: Craig's Story

Image of Craig - Autism is acceptance
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β€œAutism isn't something to fight; it's an inseparable part of who I am. Once I accepted this truth, I stopped chasing an impossible version of myself.” - Craig S.


Read his full story below.

"I spent my whole life trying to fit in, to be like other people. I pushed myself to the edge trying to belong, until I realized there was nothing wrong with me.


Autism isn't something to fight; it's an inseparable part of who I am. Once I accepted this truth, I stopped chasing an impossible version of myself and embraced the real me. For years, I was told that if I were just "more normal," I'd be more successful, more accepted, more valued. I exhausted myself trying to mask and meet expectations never meant for me. The harder I tried, the more I lost myself. And the more I lost myself, the more I suffered from horrific anxiety attacks.


But I do belong. I always did. I just needed to stop looking for belonging in the wrong places. Today, I am a PhD candidate in AI ethics and thriving in a career where I'm valued for who I am. I am married to the love of my life, who doesn't see an Autistic person but just sees me. Autism is acceptance, and in accepting myself, I finally found where I belong."


The Autism Is campaign is shaped by stories like Craig’sβ€”amplifying the voices and lived experiences of Autistic individuals. We want to hear what Autism Is to you.

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Read More Stories
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Thursday, April 3, 2025

FORHP Announcements - April 3

Social Factors and Cardiovascular Disease
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April 3, 2025

What's New

NIH Study: Social Factors Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health for Rural Adults.  With funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers looked at data from more than 27,000 adults to understand what contributes to substantially higher rates of cardiovascular mortality among the nearly 60 million U.S. adults living in rural areas compared to their urban counterparts. The study found substantial rural-urban disparities in cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular diseases, which were largest among younger adults (aged 20-39 years) and almost entirely explained by social risk factors. 


Funding and Opportunities

HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – April 24.  Eligible nursing students can apply for scholarships that cover tuition, fees, and other educational costs in exchange for a minimum two-year, full-time service commitment (or part-time equivalent) at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. Application closes April 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program – May 1. Medical, dental, and nursing students interested in practicing in high-need communities are eligible to receive payment for tuition, fees and other educational costs as well as a stipend for living costs. After completion of their health professions program and any approved postgraduate training, providers serve at least two years at NHSC-approved sites in high-need rural, urban, and tribal communities. Funding is available for up to four years. Application closes May 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET.


Policy Updates

Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov.

CMS Updates their Hospital Price Transparency Fact Sheet. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their Hospital Price Transparency Fact Sheet with information on compliance and enforcement. Under Hospital Price Transparency, all hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and hospital-based departments – which may include some Rural Health Clinics – are required to post pricing information about the items and services they provide on a publicly available website. CMS audits hospitals and investigates complaints from the public to ensure compliance. They also leverage automation to perform over 200 comprehensive hospital reviews per month. Consistent with standing policies, CMS will address non-compliance with swift enforcement, and they are planning a more systematic monitoring and enforcement approach, per the Executive Order.  A variety of resources are available to help hospitals, CAHs, and REHs comply with these requirements.

Webinar on Hospital Payment in the AHEAD Model – Tuesday, April 8 at 2:00 pm Eastern. During this webinar, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide more information about the hospital global budget payment – which is a pre-determined, fixed annual budget – under the CMS Innovation Center model States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD). The webinar will review key concepts about the AHEAD hospital global budget, operational considerations, and how payments will be calculated.


Approaching Deadlines

U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program – April 3

HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development Program – April 10

CMS Proposes Updates to ACA Marketplace Rules – Comment by April 11

HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Northern Border Rural Workforce – April 11

HRSA National Telehealth Resource Center Program – April 14

HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Pathways – April 14

HRSA Regional Telehealth Resource Center Program – April 14

HRSA Telehealth Rapid Response Center – April 15

HRSA Telehealth Research Center – April 15

HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – April 17

USDA Rural Development:  Community Connect Grants – April 21 

HRSA Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program – April 22

HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – April 24

HRSA National Health Service Corps: Three Loan Repayment Programs – May 1

HRSA National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program – May 1


Ongoing Opportunities - Updated April 2025

Bold indicates HRSA- and/or FORHP-funded opportunities. 

Administration for Children & Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – Technical Assistance for Rural EMS Communications

Delta Regional Authority: Community Infrastructure Fund

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/SAMHSA: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Training

HRSA Technical Assistance for Look-Alike Initial Designation for the Health Center Program

Indian Health Service SOAR Health Training on Human Trafficking

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 Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program

ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth

Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development

Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business

Small Business Administration Rural Initiative Pilot Program

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Federal Emergency Management Agency/: Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program

Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program

USDA: America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative

USDA: National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program

USDA: Summer Food Service Program

USDA/National Rural Health Association: Rural Hospital Technical Assistance

USDA Rural Development: Circuit Rider Program – Technical Assistance for Rural Water Systems

USDA Rural Development: Community Facilities Program

USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loans & Grants – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter

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: Economic Development Loan & Grants Programs – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter

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 Housing and Urban Development: Office of Hospital Facilities Funding

U.S. Department of Justice: Jail-Based Medication-Assisted Treatment Mentoring Initiative

U.S. Department of Transportation: Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund


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