1. Faith-Based Community Partnerships
Reaching Vulnerable Populations In
Rural Counties

2. Pennsylvania Rural Health Disparities
The demographic, geographic, economic and quality of life issues unique to rural areas can have a significant impact on the health status of rural residents
Disparities in educational status, employment and income may require the development of specialized approaches to health improvement.
A review of CDC Health Status Indicators show several areas with significant differences between urban and rural areas.
Pennsylvania’s public health worker per capita ratio is the lowest among states.
There are only ten independent health departments all located in urban areas.
Pennsylvania ranks poorly among states for high rates of infectious disease, poor physical health, infant mortality, preventable hospitalizations, cardiovascular and cancer deaths. (Pennsylvania Rural Health Care, Pennsylvania Rural Health Association, August 2010)
PA is the 6th most populous state, third for rural residents

3. Schuylkill County, PA Population 146,920 (2013)
Area square miles
Municipalities 67
School districts 12 public school districts
Population distribution
One city, Pottsville, has a population over 10,000
Five more communities have populations over 5,000
61 municipalities have populations under 5,000
Schuylkill County was just ranked 61st out of 67 Pennsylvania counties on health outcomes and 49th on health factors.
(Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 2016)
Primary Care Physician ratio: PA 1:1,220; Schuylkill County 1:1,710
Dentist ratio: PA 1:1,550; Schuylkill County: 1:2,430
Mental Health Providers: PA 1:580; Schuylkill County 1:1,550

4. Faith-Based Community Partnerships
There are 178 congregations in Schuylkill County
The Interfaith Health Network is a volunteer based coalition of 30 congregations and a number of health providers in Schuylkill County
IHN is a strategic partnership of Schuylkill County’s VISION
Schuylkill County’s VISION is a 501c(3) that convenes summits and builds coalitions to address critical issues in Schuylkill County
Major partners: local office of the PA DOH, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Services, Interfaith Health Network, Schuylkill County’s VISION, Immunization Coalition, VOAD
Additional Partners: Schuylkill Health, Christian and Islamic congregations, Penn State Schuylkill Campus, Child Development, Schuylkill Community Action, Meals-on-Wheels. And many other local agencies that send information and provide services

5. Issues and Assets Issues: Assets: Geographic isolation
Poverty and Low Education
Elderly Population
Churches closings
Defunding public health
Assets:
People
Partnerships/Collaboration/Mutual goals
Working across silos
Ability to get much done with little

6. Tips on getting started and sustaining
Engage those in the community with common goals
Convene a coalition around a specific issue
Keep the table open, span boundaries
Build trust, relationships and networks
Respect and address each’s reason for being there
Make meetings matter
Consider levels of participation
24 hour minutes
Backbone organization if possible