Rural Projects, Inc- Our Story
The Rural Health Projects, Inc. is the fiscal agent for the Tri-CHIO of Garfield, Grant and Alfalfa counties in Northwest Oklahoma. With an existing relationship with PHIO through CATCH UP 1.0, Rural Health Projects, Inc. (RHP) used the CATCH UP 2.0 grant period to expand their current family-centered work in this rural area through the increase of parent voice. They focused on increasing access to resources to populations experiencing health disparities such as foster and adoptive families. With compensation from the grant, RHP was able to include parents as a voice in their community and show the importance of parental involvement. They are in the process of forming a Parent Advisory Committee for these parents.
In addition, RHP began new partnerships with Enid Public Schools and is in the process of implementing Handle With Care (HWC), a statewide trauma-informed response to children’s exposure to adverse childhood experiences. They held a HWC informational event with Enid Public School and Evolution Foundation. Thirty to forty people attended the informational session including representatives from schools, daycares and CareerTechs from the surrounding areas. RHP is working with each partnership and are hoping to move forward with implementation with the new school year in the local public schools.
Additionally, new partnerships with the National Family Support Network Parent Advisory Committee training allowed RHP to connect resources in their community. Through this relationship, RHP had access to partner with Department of Human Services. They were able to connect parents in the community to resources needed, increasing the family-centered focus for Rural Health.
During the short period of this grant, RHP focused on parent voice, Handle With Care and new partnerships. All three of these activities are cross-sector strategies to remove barriers of participation in this rural area and increase access to resources, especially with populations experiencing health disparities.
Parent Volunteer, Rural Health Projects
By reaching out to for my needs a foster parent, Rural Health Projects was listening to me and connecting me to resources that I didn't even know existed.
Allison Seigers, Executive Director
Through additional compensation, Rural Health Projects was able to reach out to new audiences and increase our partnerships in the community.
