As a member-led non-profit broadband connectivity services provider, we are dedicated to continuing to advocate for the providers we serve AND their patients! Keep reading to learn more about our recent Champion Grant Award and how we plan to use the funds to facilitate access to telehealth in rural libraries.
Background on the Champion Grant
NC COMMUNITIES AWARDED $30M TO HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
(Excerpts from NCBroadband.Gov June 18, 2024 Press Release)
Across North Carolina, 63 community service, nonprofit, higher education, and regional organizations will get $30 million in Digital Champion grants to help North Carolinians access and use high-speed internet. The grant program, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, will expand digital equity programming and advance digital inclusion and opportunity across North Carolina.
Program grantees will partner with the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Office of Digital Equity and Literacy to help people from target populations identified in the Digital Equity Act, including low-income households; rural residents; aging residents; incarcerated or justice involved people; veterans; individuals with disabilities; individuals with a language barrier; and individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group.
The Digital Champion grants are part of Governor Cooper’s plan to close the digital divide by expanding access to high-speed internet and addressing issues of affordability and digital literacy. For more information, please visit ncbroadband.gov.
Telehealth in Rural Libraries Pilot
NCTNA/NCHBC WILL WORK TO FACILITATE TELEHEALTH ACCESS IN LIBRARIES WITH $400,000 CHAMPION AWARD
NCTNA/NCHBC, in partnership with the Land of Sky Regional Council, will be utilizing this $400,000 Champion Grant award to host a pilot project designed to expand rural access to the best healthcare.
NCTNA/NCHBC and Land of Sky will partner with selected healthcare providers, libraries, and other allied organizations to establish a telehealth service located in participating rural libraries. Essentially, the service will include the provision of private, securely connected spaces for telehealth consultations, diagnoses, and treatment activities. In addition, we’ll provide lending, distribution and technical assistance to promote telehealth adoption at patient’s homes.
KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PILOT PROJECT WILL INCLUDE:
- Digital and healthcare literacy training for patients, healthcare providers (with CEU & CME credits), train-the-trainer sessions for library staff, and community volunteers.
- A device refurbishment and recycling program to provide refurbished devices for lending or donation to patients in need.
More information to follow in future updates!
Interested in Getting Involved?
If you’d like to learn more about NCTNA/NCHBC’s newest pilot project, please reach out to John Graham or Jordan Rogers.
John Graham
President of NCTNA/NCHBC
Phone: 919-360-3000
jwgraham0001@gmail.com
Jordan Rogers
Director of Relationship Marketing
Phone: 336-740-2660
Jordan.Rogers@nctna.org
