| Read this in your browser Thursday, March 26 What's New CHWs, Peer Support, and Behavioral Health Care Deserts. A new resource from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explores solutions for behavioral health care deserts – areas with severe shortages of mental health providers, long wait times, high costs, and other barriers. Research shows that the number of behavioral health clinicians in rural areas is significantly lower than in metropolitan areas. One promising way to fill in the workforce gap is to add trusted individuals who are not clinical providers but come from the communities they serve: - Community Health Workers (CHWs) act as a liaison between providers and health care consumers to help navigate local health and social services.
- Peer Support Specialists are individuals with lived experience of substance use disorders who go through specialized training for recovery mentorship, emotional support, and assistance with practical needs such as paperwork and transportation.
Annual Disability Statistics Compendium 2026. Researchers used data from various federal resources – including the Social Security Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey – to compile statistics about the lives of people with disabilities. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability in rural, demographics, employment, income, and insurance coverage across rural, urban, and suburban areas. The research is funded by the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Q&A Session for NHSC Scholarship Applicants – TODAY – Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 pm Eastern. Experts from HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce will hold the first of three sessions to assist with applications for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship program. The next session will be Wednesday, April 1 at 10:00 am Eastern. Pediatric Readiness in Rural Emergency Care – Thursday, April 2 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The HRSA-funded Emergency Medical Services for Children, in coordination with the National Rural Health Association, is holding an information session on the Pediatric Readiness Assessment, which is available now through the end of May. Learn how this free 30-minute assessment can help emergency department teams evaluate their readiness and provide feedback and insights to support improvement and save lives in your rural community. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. White House Releases National Framework on Artificial Intelligence. The White House released its national artificial intelligence framework on March 20, outlining the administration's policy priorities and recommendations for Congress. Building on an executive order from December 2025, Ensuring A National Policy Framework For Artificial Intelligence, the framework identifies seven key priorities, including promoting innovation, strengthening national competitiveness, and addressing key safety and public trust concerns. Resource of the Week Updated Topic Guides at the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub). With support from HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, RHIhub has been updating their Topic Guides that bring together key resources and information in one spot. Newly updated this week: Social Determinants of Health for Rural People, and Conducting Rural Health Research, Needs Assessments, and Program Evaluations. Approaching Deadlines AmeriCorps VISTA Sponsoring Agencies - Request for Concept Papers – March 26 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition – March 26 CMS Requests Feedback on Hospital Supply Chain Policy – Comment by March 30 AmeriCorps State and National Grants – March 31 HRSA NHSC Loan Repayment – Three Programs – March 31 Now Available: Medicare Survey on Hospital Outpatient Drug Costs – Submit by March 31 USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loan & Grants Programs – March 31 USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – March 31 CDC Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – NEW – April 14 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings – April 15 HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program – April 16 SAMHSA Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems – April 20 CDC Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge – April 30 NIH Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Phase II – July 31 Forecasted Opportunities HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Planning – Estimated Post Date March 26 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Impact – Estimated Post Date March 26 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – Estimated Post Date March 31 HRSA Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program – Estimated Post Date April 17 Ongoing Opportunities - Updated March 2026 Bold 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 Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development Small Business Administration Rural Businesses Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business 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: National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program USDA: Summer Food Service Program USDA/National Rural Health Association: Rural Hospital Technical Assistance 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 (R.O.U.T.E.S) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Older Veterans – Ongoing until October 2026 UVM Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course | 
