Change of Schedule: As of October, technical assistance calls for grantees during 2002 will be shifting from every other Tuesday to every other Thursday from 2 to 3pm EST. The schedule for October appears below. To register, search for summaries or materials from prior calls, or download materials for upcoming calls, please go to the CAP Website: www.capcommunity.hrsa.gov. Please remember that the site is password protected. Grantees should contact their primary contact to receive the password. Once you register for the call, please be sure to download the materials that will be used during the call. You should immediately receive a confirmation note by email that includes the call-in number for the call. If you have difficulty registering or do not receive the call-in number, please contact scampbell@mac1988.com or call 301-468-6006 x437.

With the exception of calls related to legal issues, many TA calls are summarized and posted on the CAP website (www.capcommunity.hrsa.gov). Legal issue briefs are posted on the site under legal issues and require a password, which may be obtained by emailing Sherilyn Adams (sadams@hrsa.gov). You may also request an audiotape copy of any previous calls (up to one month after the call) by contacting Shandy Campbell at the email above. 

Congratulations to Indigent Care Collaboration (ICC). The Austin, Texas, CAP collaborative recently received significant media coverage both in the Austin Business Journal and on their local 10pm NBC news affiliate regarding their work in creating access to care for more than 100,000 uninsured Central Texas residents! The article also highlighted the elements of the ICC “I-Care” program which includes an eligibility determination tool, a diabetes disease management pilot program, and a shared health record for patients that will be available to many health care providers in the region via the Internet.

New York CAP collaborative, Brooklyn Alliance to Strengthen the Safety Net officially launched its new website, www.momsandkids.org, on July 19, 2002, at Brooklyn Borough Hall with representatives from partner agencies in attendance, followed by health fairs and other outreach events. The momsandkids.org website was created in both English and Spanish and will soon be available in Arabic, Chinese, French/Creole, and Russian. Using a secured web-based tool, it allows users to conduct preliminary screenings for publicly funded insurance programs in privacy, is directly linked to 2 managed care plans, and includes an electronic directory of member organizations by neighborhood, zip code, and type of service provided—a first in New York City. The site has received over 17,000 hits since going live on September 7, 2001!

Deadline: Rolling

CAP staff began discussions with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) at the Department of Transportation almost two years ago to provide additional funds and technical assistance to CAP communities seeking to adopt new transportation technologies to enhance access to health care. We are very pleased to announce that the Federal Register Notice has been published. FTA has committed a portion of the funds for CAP communities, so we urge you to apply and to do so quickly. Further information and the RFP may be viewed at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/research/fleet/its/otrfp.html. Technical questions or concerns may be directed to Mr. Ronald Boenau or Mr. William Wiggins via phone at 202-366-4995 or via e-mail at Rural.RFP@fta.dot.gov.

Deadline: November 1, 2002

The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) is a collaborative partnership between the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The program’s intent is to support the development of family-centered, community-based initiatives that plan and implement innovative and cost-effective approaches to child health and development. Initiatives that support those with limited access to quality health services; foster cooperation among community organizations, individuals, agencies, businesses and families; involve pediatric health professionals; and build community and statewide partnerships among professionals in health, education, social services, government, and business are encouraged to apply. Up to $400,000 is available to fund 8 projects. Additional program information and application links are available at http://mchb.hrsa.gov/grants/default.htm#htp.

Deadline: November 1, 2002

3Com's Urban Challenge program grants $100,000 in 3Com technology to U.S. cities to incorporate new uses for information technology into the fabric of their communities. 3Com grants can be used by schools, departments, and organizations to tailor a networking solution that meets their community's needs.

To participate, your city should meet at least one of these criteria:

• Principal policy agenda aimed at enhancing educational or community development

• Strong involvement and endorsement from the mayor's office

• Tangible benefits to students and residents in a specified timeframe

• Multiple project constituencies including schools, local community colleges, libraries, government agencies, healthcare institutions, etc.

For more information visit: http://www.3com.com/solutions/en_US/scenario.jsp?solutiontype=1000004&groupid=11060&solutionid=5960

October 17-19, 2002 Chicago, Illinois

The National Community Care Network (CCN) Demonstration Program has planned a conference celebrating the past, present, and future of community health improvement. Featured topics will include: 

• Building and sustaining effective health partnerships

• Improving health outcomes for underserved populations

• Closing gaps in health disparities

• Strengthening connections to your community

Participating organizations include: American Hospital Association, Community Care Network Demonstration Program, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Coalition for Healthier Cities and Communities Health Forum, Health Research and Educational Trust, and the VHA Health Foundation. For more information, visit www.communitycare.org or call Sabine Schwark at 312-422-2615.

November 6-10, 2002 Washington, DC

Evaluation 2002 will be the 17th annual conference of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). The theme of the conference is "Evaluation: A Systemic Process that Reforms Systems," and will critically examine the ways in which evaluation and its findings affect the larger systems in which programs operate. Conference attendees will have an opportunity to meet and learn from a variety of professionals found around the Nation's capital, as well as from evaluators around the globe. Registration and other information about the convention can be found on the AEA web site at http://www.eval.org/.

November 9-13 2002 Philadelphia, PA

APHA’s Annual Meeting & Exposition is the premier platform to share successes and failures, discover exceptional best practices, learn from expert colleagues and the latest research in the field, and stay on top of the trends in public health. Scientific and educational sessions, networking opportunities and events, and the largest public health exposition are available with more than 12,000 public health peers and leaders attending. For more information on registering for APHA please visit: http://www.apha.org/meetings/index.htm Note: CAP Grantees if you are presenting at a Poster Session, please let us know (email Diana at dderkoorkanian@hrsa.gov)!

"Mobilizing for the Health Movement", an evening session at the Capitol devoted to addressing the racial gap in health care was held on September 10, 2002, by the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C. Topics included: "Political Activism: Understanding the Politics of Policy Making" and "Social Agitation: How to Have a Race, Class, and Health Discourse". A webcast and transcripts of various panels from the Forum are currently available at: http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=667

How information technology is being used to improve the quality of clinical care in physician offices is the focus of a new report from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF). Crossing the Chasm with Information Technology: Bridging the Quality Gap in Health Care, examines the ways current technology can support the goals of the Institute of Medicine's influential report Crossing the Quality Chasm. The IOM authors concluded that information technology is one critical ingredient to improving quality and safety. The report also discusses the challenge of introducing new technologies into an organization.

The report highlights applications that address:

• Patient empowerment

• Making the care system reliable and safe

• Care relationships beyond the encounter

• Public accountability for quality

The full report is available at: http://www.chcf.org/topics/view.cfm?itemid=19871

According to a recent study released by the Institute of Medicine, if even one member of a family does not have health insurance, it can adversely affect the entire household. The study, based on 2001 Census Bureau information, found that 58 million people living in the United States either do not have health insurance or live in a family in which someone is uninsured. The report states that families with uninsured members also tend to have fewer assets, are less likely to be able to borrow money to pay medical bills, are disproportionately headed by a single parent, and tend to include ethnic or racial minorities. Further, they often face "barriers to care," including cultural differences, less education, and language problems. Children are particularly affected by a family member's lack of insurance, especially if it is a parent. The full report is available online at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10503.html?onpi_newsdoc09182002

Regional Healthy People 2010 Resources

From asthma to workforce development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regions are focusing attention and compiling evidence-based resources for selected Healthy People 2010 priorities. Resource listings, event information, and contacts on the site provide information on how to get involved in your region's Healthy People 2010 activities and priority area(s).

For each region's priority area(s), you can download, print, or search listings of action resources using Acrobat Reader. Two-page resource listings describe Healthy People 2010 companion resources, sites with evidence-based strategies, and other tools to achieve and promote relevant objectives. For more information and to access these resources visit: www.phf.org/HPtools/regions.htm and the State Healthy People 2010 Tool Library www.phf.org/HPtools/state.htm.

New Start Health Center Technical Assistance

The Access Project’s June 26th technical assistance conference call: New Start Health Centers: Start Smart for Long-Term Stability and Growth, is now available online. The conference call was structured to assist Health Center Initiative New Start applicants through a consideration of strategic alliances, resource requirements, and other keys to success that better ensure long-term stability of a community health center. If your CAP Site is involved or interested in New Start Health Centers, a listing of support resources for Health Center initiatives including the June 26th Conference call is available on the Access Project Website at: http://www.accessproject.org/e_directorybill.htm

The Bureau of Primary Health Care has many existing partnerships and key contacts with national organizations. The following newer partners are teaming with us to assist communities like yours nationwide in improving access and building coordinated systems of care. These partnerships offer many opportunities to broaden and strengthen CAP initiatives.

The Access Project offers tools and techniques including community-based participatory research methods for gathering and evaluating information in your community. They also provide:

• State and National health policy briefs with guidance on how the policy environment may be affecting your local work

• Coaching on how to put local information to use in improving your health system and sustaining the changes

Contact Information: Bill Lottero, (617) 654-9911, Email: blottero@accessproject.org
Website: http://www.accessproject.org/

APAN is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting communities nationwide in establishing and sustaining systems of coordinated care with private/charity care providers based on the Asheville/ Buncombe County, NC, and other Project Access models. Full-time, in-house consulting staff offers:

• Presentations to leadership groups, site-visit coordination to operational systems, and sharing of outcomes data from operational systems

• Community collaboration, promotion, and assistance with pacing event planning

• Sample budgets, business plans, and other documentation assistance; and introduction of data management systems and other services

Contact Information: Dave Werle or Jeremy Russom, (828) 274-9820 Email: exec@apanonline.org,
Website: http://www.projectaccessonline.org/

The Georgia Health Policy Center assists in the development of statewide initiatives to support communities in increasing access and decreasing health disparities. GHPC also provides:

• Training for individuals serving as technical assistants to communities building local and regional access initiatives

• Direct, intensive facilitation, mediation, and data analysis support for communities working to improve health and access to care locally

Contact Information: Tina Andersen-Smith, (404) 651-3137, Email: alhtas@langate.gsu.edu,
Website: http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwghp/

ICMA sponsors, develops, and implements a number of programs that provide local government managers and administrators with expertise on a various topic areas including providing assistance and encouragement in the development of vertically and horizontally integrated community-based health access initiatives.

Contact Information:Stacie Ketchum, (202) 962-3563, Email: Sketchum@ICMA.org,
Website: http://www.icma.org/

NACo supports and encourages the leadership of locally elected county officials in the development of vertically and horizontally integrated community-based health access initiatives. Services include:

• Assisting communities in making new or strengthening existing connections with county officials for health access initiatives

• Highlighting successful county health access initiatives and encouraging other counties to develop their own community-based health care projects for uninsured residents

Contact Information: Lesley Buchan, (202) 942-4261 Email: lbuchan@naco.org
Website: http://www.naco.org/

United Way of America is a membership organization providing training and technical assistance to 1,400 members nationwide. Through local initiatives, United Way convenes leadership councils, facilitates the development of community plans, and provides resources and leadership to implement key strategies to help children, youth, and their families succeed. Creating access to and increasing health and human services has been a cornerstone of these efforts. CAP grantees are encouraged to use this contact to get connected to their local United Way resources.

Contact Information: Caroll Vasquez, (703) 836-7112 ext. 522 Email: caroll.vasquez@uwa.unitedway.org
Website: http://national.unitedway.org/