Minnesota Rural Health Association
2007-08 Goals

The mission of the Minnesota Rural Health Association (MRHA) is to bring together diverse interests to address rural health issues and to advocate for and with rural Minnesotans.

MRHA Board goals focus on strengthening the rural voice, building rural capacity, and identifying rural opportunity across Minnesota by listening, learning, educating, and advocating; thereby improving the health and well being of rural people and communities. A strategic plan developed in 2005, progress since then, and current realities help set goals for 2007-08.

1. Raise awareness and build understanding about critical rural health issues in Minnesota and beyond
   
   Activity: Co-sponsor the summer 2008 Minnesota Rural Health Conference in collaboration with the Department of Health Office of Rural Health, Minnesota Center for Rural Health, and other partners.
   Objective: A successful conference documented by an evaluation summary that informs planning for 2009. Partners committed to designing and delivering the conference annually.
   
   Activity: Design, promote, and deliver a series/season of cyber conferences; using the model developed this past year underwritten by the Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI). Topics covered included rural pharmacy access, performance measures for small hospitals, strategies to address the high number of rural auto fatalities, and rural Medicare complexities. Cyber conference participants hear the presentation on the phone, see slides on the internet, and dialogue with the expert presenter.
   Objective: A 2008 season of 10 cyber conferences (20 participants per session) reaching people and organizations across Minnesota, and beyond. Evaluation will inform future cyber conference planning.
   
   
2. Develop and advocate for a rural health policy agenda for Minnesota and beyond
   
   Activity: Identify key legislative priorities for the 2008 Minnesota legislative session, based on identified, feasible steps, schedule/convene Rural Health Day at the Capitol during session, and advocate for legislative priorities.
   Objective: One-page 2008 MRHA Legislative Priorities green sheet stating legislative priorities and affirming the Rural Opportunity Resolution, posted to the Web site and widely distributed.
   
   Activity: Co-convene an Upper Midwest Rural Health Policy Summit to build awareness and understanding about the impact of health care reform initiatives on rural people and communities.
   Objective: A clear and concise Summit Proceedings document, posted to the Web site, that will help inform MRHA Board planning for future multi-state activities and assist local health care providers and community leaders in fostering quality health care access.
   
   
3. Develop a plan to implement the MRHA Rural Opportunity Assessment (ROA) resolution
   
   Activity: Convene a fall 2007 Board workshop to identify specific opportunities to locate jobs and infrastructure in rural communities, thereby fostering rural vitality.
   Objective: One-page summary of ROA opportunities by January 2008, posted to the MRHA Web site with a blog to promote statewide discussion.
   
   
4. Ensure long term sustainability of the Minnesota Rural Health Association
   
   Activity: Seek grants to provide operating and program support, cultivate/leverage partnerships with current and new partners, increase membership revenues.
   Objective: A sustainable budget model for 2008-10.