Note from the editors: As mentioned last week, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. are now managing and publishing this these e-mails. We’d like to thank Suzette for all the hard work she’s put into making them such a useful resource over the years. If any readers have any suggestions or feedback, we’d love to hear it! We know we’ve got big shoes to fill here.
PUBLICATIONS:
USDA and EPA Join with Private Sector, Charitable Organizations to Set Nation’s First Food Waste Reduction Goals. USDA blog, 09/16/15. Food waste contributes to $1500 per family in food waste annually and comprises the largest percent of solid municipal waste in the United States. In response to this, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Deputy Administrator Stan Meiburb called for a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030, which builds on previous federal, nonprofit, and private sector-led programs like the US Food Waste Challenge, food waste apps, and the new food waste education section on ChooseMyPlate.gov.
Income and Poverty in the United States: 2014
Reports on income levels and the number of people in poverty for 2013 and 2014, along with the percent change from 2013 to 2014. Includes statistics for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas (see Table 1 and Table 3). Based on data from the 2015 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, which had redesigned questions related to income. Tables D-1 and D-2 provides metro/nonmetro data for the traditional 2013 and redesigned 2013 income and poverty measures.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
Date: 09/2015
National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services Meeting Minutes, Slade, Kentucky, May 27-29, 2015
Provides a summary of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting. Discusses health disparities in the Appalachia region, social determinants of health including poverty, as well as federal programs and how they address these challenges.
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Date: 05/2015
Health Summary Important for Coordinating Care with Non-VA Providers
Sep 15, 2015 -- This blog entry provides a progress report on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' electronic health record exchange program called the Veteran Initiated Electronic Care Coordination project. Reports progress in helping rural veterans coordinate care among multiple providers, both inside and outside the Veterans Affairs system.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Preserve Rural Access to Therapy Services
Sep 11, 2015 -- Announces the Senate's passage of a bill to extend the prohibition of enforcement of CMS's direct supervision policy for outpatient therapeutic services through December 31, 2015. The passage allows time to advance the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) legislation which allows for the general supervision of most outpatient therapeutic services to be done by a physician or non-physician provider, thus ensuring that rural hospitals can continue to provide these needed services to patients in their own communities.
Source: Office of Senator John Thune (SD)
CMS Releases First Ever Plan to Address Health Equity in Medicare
Sep 8, 2015 -- Announces the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health’s plan to address health equity and eliminate health disparities for underserved beneficiaries. The plan outlines six priorities and targets Medicare populations that have disproportionately high levels of disease, low quality care, and difficulty accessing care, including those living in rural areas.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Assessing Rural-Urban Nurse Practitioner Supply and Distribution in 12 States
A policy brief comparing the distribution of nurse practitioners (NPs) in rural and urban areas through the analysis of license records and the National Provider Identifier (NPI) data from 12 states.
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2015
Running a Food Hub: A Business Operations Guide
The USDA report, Running a Food Hub: A Business Operations Guide, was just released and provides ample resources to the ins and outs of food hub operations. The second report in a 3-part series, this 'how to' guide provides in-depth guidance on starting and running a food hub enterprise, including classifications, operations, marketing, products and servicing, and risks. Check out the recently released report, or take a look at Volume 1: Lessons Learned From the Field.
Measuring the Impact of Public Markets and Farmers Markets on Local Economies.
During GoodGreens meetings we’ve often referenced studies that show the economic impact of farmers markets on local retailers and local economies.
Food Stamp Spending at Farmers Markets Increased 500% in Seven Years. Natural News, 09/07/2015.
The USDA has prioritized making farmers markets SNAP user-accessible. Since 2008, the number of SNAP-authorized markets has increased from 753 to more than 6400 and SNAP spending has increased by more than 500%. At farmers markets, local producers share growing techniques, build community with shoppers, and promote food self-reliance.
TOOLS:
Illinois Food and Agribusiness Guide by the Illinois Department of Agriculture lists any company or farm that either produces, processes, packages, or is headquartered in Illinois. This guide can help connect producers to restaurants and buyers.
LEARNING:
University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (with examples from the Midwest) – probably the best website about co-ops in the English language (they used to get 100,000 hits a month).
http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/whatisacoop/
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives has similar information, but with some nice examples from the South.
http://www.federationsoutherncoop.com/coopinfo/cooparchive.htm
The Cooperative Development Institute provides co-op development in the Northeast (excellent organization). They have an informative section called “Ask Co-op Cathy” for in-depth issues.
http://www.cdi.coop/resource-center/about-co-ops/
The California Center for Cooperative Development provides similar information, but with interesting examples of housing co-ops, student co-ops, and day care co-ops (a shout out to Scott).
http://www.cccd.coop/info
Northwest Cooperative Development Center is an excellent center and concentrates services on sectors that are of interest to CED (but their website isn’t as strong on the basics of what is a co-op). Click on “sectors” for an overview of their focus areas.
http://nwcdc.coop/
The Census Bureau's poverty, income and health insurance release:
Income and Poverty in the United States: 2014: http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p60-252.pdf
Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2014: http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p60-253.pdf
Census Bureau's presentation slides with data points: http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/press-kits/2015/20150916_ip_slides_plot_points.pdf
Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2014: http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p60-254.pdf
Basics: official poverty numbers flat - disappointing. Supplemental poverty measure shows decrease overall, very big decrease and much lower poverty numbers for children - in part owing to anti-poverty effectiveness of programs that assist children.
Full recording of CHN webinar: http://chn.peachnewmedia.com/streaming/interface-v7.php?topic=117260&band=1&stream=1&id=&semid=46565&provider=106&custid=&static=1
CHN Webinar slides: http://chn.peachnewmedia.com/store/streaming/seminar-launch.php?key=8zAjCtMLul8oewvEeVHnozOPumWr5FNHwKeHuDZJtJQ%3D#