Nebraska Ag News Headlines USDA Funds to Strengthen Rural Health Education Nebraska Ag Connection - 05/18/2017 The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Wednesday announced $2.8 million in available funding to health education projects for individuals and families living in rural areas. Funding is made through NIFA's Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) Competitive Grant Program. "Many rural communities face a vicious cycle of poverty, inadequate access to resources, and geographic isolation," NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. "Implementing effective preventative educational programs and resources is a key step in promoting a healthier rural America." The Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grant Program seeks to address the needs of rural Americans through individual and family health education programs delivered through cooperative extension. The program supports effective, evidence-based, non-formal education programs and services informed by the human social and behavioral sciences to promote and enhance rural health, strengthen economic vitality and, in the long run, mitigate the effects of rural poverty. Projects may develop or implement individual and family health education programs that focus on chronic disease prevention and management or the prevention and reduction of opioid abuse, both issues that have significantly affected rural communities. The application deadline is June 30. Applications may be submitted by eligible applicants. Previously funded projects include a Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (link is external) initiative that offers diabetes prevention and maintenance education to local communities. Through a University of Maine project, trained volunteers offer interactive cooking demonstrations to encourage food insecure, food pantry users to choose and consume local produce by improving cooking and food storage self-sufficiency skills. Send this article to a friend Other Nebraska Headlines Nebraska Highlights Value-Added Ag Investments, Growth Strategies Testing Bats for Rabies at its Peak Nebraska Extension Seeks Citizen Scientists for Eclipse Why People Get Hit by Trains and Union Pacific's Safety Tips Animal Scientist Joins NCTA Faculty Nebraska Trade Leaders Outline Principles for NAFTA Modernization Nebraska Ag Teachers Closing the Gap Copyright © 2017 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.