New York State Association of County Health Officials

New York’s rural counties face unique challenges: declining and aging populations; increasing hospital closures; shrinking labor forces and shortages of health care providers; and limited infrastructure. These issues are compounded by stagnant reimbursement rates, restrictive funding, and administrative barriers. County health departments play an essential role in addressing these challenges , but remain underfunded, understaffed, and burdened by leadership transitions. n 2024, NYHealth awarded a grant to the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) to equip rural county health departments with the tools and resources needed to address critical rural health challenges. 

Under this grant, NYSACHO will help local leaders take action on a pressing issue of their choice. It will provide tailored technical assistance and communications training to engage local decisionmakers and convey their needs and requests effectively; develop an online repository of public health resources; provide technical assistance and coaching to support succession planning; and integrate annual “enumeration report” learnings into rural-focused recommendations. NYSACHO will also partner with the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Association of Counties to advance key recommendations.