Ohio Dept. of Health Seeks Applications for Rural Health Transformation Program

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), announces the availability of competitive grant funds to improve health behaviors associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) was authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Section 71403 of Public Law 119-21) and empowers state to strengthen rural communities by improving healthcare access, quality and outcomes by transforming the current system. Five key strategic goals of the program, as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) are:

• Make Rural America Health Again
• Sustainable Access
• Workforce Development
• Innovative Care
• Technology Innovation

The Ohio Department of Health is seeking applications to create innovative, community-based movements that improve wellness-related behaviors (WRB) associated with the prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity:

• Optimal Nutrition – Healthy Eating
• Being Physically Active
• Restorative Sleep
• Positive Outlook -Stress Management
• Belonging – Social Connectedness
• Avoiding Risky Behaviors

These topics and behaviors are the pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and align with other health frameworks like Blue Zones®. Strategies must be evidenced-based and utilize public health models such as the Transtheoretical Model and Stages of Change to produce population level improvement. This grant opportunity opened July 30 and ends on Sept. 8.

Click here for the ODH website for more information, including a download for a detailed document that includes an information meeting to be held online 10am Monday, Aug. 10.