Time to Leverage the USDA’s Distance Studying and Telemedicine Program

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Have you ever heard concerning the USDA’s Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) program? In 2023 the U.S. Congress appropriated $60 million to DLT to be used by organizations that present schooling and healthcare companies to communities in rural areas. In keeping with the USDA, this funding is offered to assist rural communities join with one another and past as they search to beat the impacts of their distant areas and low populations.

That can assist you study extra concerning the USDA’s DLT program, you’re invited to look at our latest webinar on Empowering Rural Communities by means of Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) the place we discover the alternatives DLT holds to your group.

“I wrote my first DLT software in 1998 to construct distance studying capabilities within the rural space the place I reside. Within the early 2000s, our household was instantly impacted by the life-saving energy of telemedicine made doable by DLT. It’s a program that could be very close to and expensive to my coronary heart.”

—Jen Messinger, Public Funding Advisor

How the DLT program works for you

DLT enhances schooling companies by:

Creating entry to twin enrollment or early school curriculum.
Giving college or school educators the power to succeed in their college students at distant campuses.
Permitting college districts to collaborate with one another, share instructors, and improve pupil entry to studying alternatives.

DLT enhances healthcare companies in rural areas by:

Connecting rural hospitals to urbanized specialists in occasions of disaster.
Offering sufferers entry to specialists from their location.
Enhancing the power for healthcare professionals to entry coaching and schooling particular to their job.
Making certain distant sufferers have entry to high quality care.

How have you learnt if you happen to’re undertaking is an effective match for DLT?

You probably have an upcoming undertaking, there are two key questions you may ask to see if the DLT program is perhaps the correct selection for you:

First, is the undertaking in a rural space?
Second, is there a excessive degree of poverty?

DLT makes use of census information to evaluate rurality and poverty to make sure undertaking advantages are going to rural areas. Moreover, the USDA assigns particular concerns to geographies. Every year, the particular concerns change, however previously Tribal lands, Enterprise Zones, STEM, and Opioid Disaster Response have been areas of particular consideration. The USDA hasn’t printed 2024 steering but. After they do, you need to be conscious that it’s going to embrace particulars on particular concerns for 2024.

Generally, there are some things you are able to do to organize to your journey, together with:

Decide in case your undertaking goes to give attention to schooling or healthcare (the USDA requires candidates to pick a major space of focus).
Discuss to your companions concerning the disparities they’re going through when delivering (or receiving) companies in rural areas.
Assessment the DLT steering and workbook to delegate motion gadgets along with your group.
Determine the communities the place you could present companies.
Decide what expertise you could make the undertaking and go for it.

Funding quantity and timing

The DLT funds tasks between $50,000 and $1,000,000. Candidates want to supply a 15% match. And it’s by no means too early to begin getting ready. The truth is, now could be the time to go to the USDA DLT website to study concerning the software course of, see previous funded tasks, and monitor this system for upcoming bulletins. Though, as of in the present day’s date, this system is closed it’ll have an software window in 2024.

Bear in mind, we’re right here to assist!

We urge you to benefit from our group’s public funding consultants so you may maximize your alternatives. The Cisco Public Funding Workplace has years of expertise in consulting with organizations that have to pursue grants for expertise. It’s simple to attach with us and we’ll be glad to indicate you ways we will assist with DLT and different grants. And you should definitely watch Empowering Rural Communities by means of Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) in the present day!