1000: Rural Health Transformation Program, Youth Suicide Rates

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the 1,000th episode of the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, September 29, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

CATHERINE JONES: 

Rural residents face higher rates of mortality from heart disease, chronic disease, unintentional injury, and maternal complications compared to urban residents.

JOHNSON: 

On September 15, the application for the Rural Health Transformation Program went live. The program was established through HR-1, the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, to provide $50 billion in funding to the states for rural health care over the next five years. ASTHO's Catherine Jones breaks down the program's two main goals.

JONES: 

The first is to stabilize vulnerable rural hospitals, health centers, clinics, and their workforces, and the second is to improve access, affordability, modernization, and health outcomes for rural residents who, on average, experience higher rates of chronic disease and shorter lifespans compared to urban populations.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO recently partnered with Cornerstone Government Affairs to host two expert guest panels that would help states navigate the program.

JONES: 

One of the main goals was to help states and state health officials better understand how to apply and utilize these rural health funds. Another goal was to offer perspectives from different stakeholders.

JOHNSON: 

Jones says the program's application timeline is tight.

JONES: 

It's a very short runway. Applications are due to CMS by November 5, and awards will be decided by December 31, 2025.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO's recent blog article details the two panels and highlights what states need to know moving forward with their applications. Read more by clicking the link in the show notes.

The youth suicide rate in Colorado has fallen to its lowest level since 2007. Dr. Lena Heilmann, with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, shares some of the suicide prevention strategies that her State's Office of suicide prevention has deployed to bring that rate down.

LENA HEILMANN: 

The Office of Suicide Prevention works collaboratively with other state and local partners in order to align and implement youth suicide prevention programs that support communities, schools, hospitals and providers, families, and youth-serving spaces like afterschool clubs.

JOHNSON: 

Heilmann says one strategy that her department has found to be critical to their success is improving connectedness among youth.

HEILMANN: 

Young people who feel connected to their schools, their peers, and to caring adults in their lives are less likely to feel suicidal, and if they do feel suicidal, are more likely then to have the supports in place to help them navigate that crisis.

JOHNSON: 

Colorado has also worked closely with youth by inviting them to serve on an advisory council within its Suicide Prevention Commission.

HEILMANN: 

Young people have helped the Commission develop recommendations that include addressing disordered eating and suicide, and most recently, improving access to peer support programs.

JOHNSON: 

To learn more about the initiatives taking place in Colorado, you can visit coosp.org, or for easy access, head to the show notes, where we'll also link some additional suicide prevention resources, including ASTHO's Legal Mapping Center.

And coming up on October 7 at 2 p.m. Eastern, for any public health agency thinking about applying to Wave 2 of the PHIG Partners Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program, you won't want to miss their Q&A session on applications, selection timelines, and more. Those who are interested in applying are encouraged to attend. You can find a link with more information in the show notes.

SCOTT HARRIS: 

You don't always know who has the expertise or who's learned the lessons that you're trying to learn yourself. And so, you know, many times I'll hear someone speak on a subject and go, "Oh, gee, I didn't know somebody else was having to think through that same problem. And it's just a good way to, you know, maintain your awareness.

JOHNSON: 

That's ASTHO President and state health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Dr. Scott Harris and his thoughts about this newscast. Today marks the 1,000th episode of the Public Health Review Morning Edition. In 2021, ASTHO brought a new channel to its busy members so every single morning you would have the latest on what was happening in the public health community and access to the resources to help you do your job. The show has become the newscast for public health. In 1,000 episodes, we've covered our members making news, like Dr. Nirav Shah.

NIRAV SHAH: 

Making sure the vast laboratories at the CDC are doing what they need to do to be prepared for the next pandemic.

JOHNSON: 

Hosted influential names in public health on important issues, like Dr. Jerome Adams, former surgeon general of the United States.

JEROME ADAMS: 

I believe that everywhere there is an AED, an automated external defibrillator, there should also be a naloxone.

JOHNSON: 

And former CDC director, Dr. Mandy Cohen.

MANDY COHEN: 

We need to show that data is a shared asset to protect this country.

JOHNSON: 

The show has also brought members' perspectives on of-the-minute public health issues from the highest level of government, including Dr. Rahul Gupta, former director of national drug control policy at the White House.

RAHUL GUPTA: 

We found that fentanyl deaths that involved xylazine had increased almost 300% between 2019 and 2022.

JOHNSON: 

From all of us at ASTHO, we want to thank you for making this show a part of your morning routine.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.