Rural Collaborative Equity Project Updates

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Stevens and Ferry County (Partnership)

Inequity Identified: More women receiving Medicaid benefits, than non-Medicaid recipients, were using nicotine products – specifically childbearing women.

Target Population: Medicaid eligible women, who are between the ages of 14-44 years of age, living in Ferry and Stevens County.

Strategies:

  • Assess our target population via focus groups

  • Use paid media, social media, and billboards to deliver information

  • Develop educational materials based on focus group feedback

  • Develop support network for women to aid in their cessation efforts

  • Care Coordinator to address barriers

  • Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) medications will be made readily available

  • Prevention information and activities will be offered to schools 

Pend Oreille County

Inequity Identified: in 2018, 47% of 10th graders experienced depression, while 38% of 8th graders and 30% of 12th graders experienced this.

Target Population: 10th Graders in Pend Oreille County

Strategies:

  • Increase community connectivity and mentorship opportunities for adults and youth.

  • Reduce stigma associated with behavioral health issues.

  • Create / provide self-care wellness.

  • Increase referral capacity and resources using peer networks.

Lincoln County

Inequity Identified: Low income residents – making less than $25,000 per year reported higher rates of poor mental health

Target Population: Lincoln County residents making less than $25,000 per year

Strategies:

  • The Lincoln County Health Department will hire a Health Equity Coordinator to work on behalf of and support the health collaborative partners in addressing health equity with a focus on reducing the number of poor mental health days experienced by individuals making less than $25,000 annually.

Adams County

Inequity Identified: Women are less likely to receive preventative medicine than men in Adams County

Target Population: Women in Adams County

Strategies:

  • Increase access by increasing after hours appointments

  • Bring medicine to where women work, worship, and live

  • Increase care coordination efforts in Adams County with a focus on decreasing barriers to care for women