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 providers to communities in rural areas. Based on the USDA, this funding is supplied to assist rural communities join with one another and past as they search to beat the impacts of their distant places and low populations.
That can assist you study extra concerning the USDA’s DLT program, you’re invited to observe our current webinar on Empowering Rural Communities by means of Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) the place we discover the alternatives DLT holds on your group.
“I wrote my first DLT utility in 1998 to construct distance studying capabilities within the rural space the place I reside. Within the early 2000s, our household was immediately impacted by the life-saving energy of telemedicine made attainable by DLT. It’s a program that could be very close to and pricey to my coronary heart.”
—Jen Messinger, Public Funding Advisor
How the DLT program works for you
DLT enhances schooling providers by:
- Creating entry to twin enrollment or early school curriculum.
- Giving college or school educators the flexibility 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 providers in rural areas by:
- Connecting rural hospitals to urbanized specialists in instances of disaster.
- Offering sufferers entry to specialists from their location.
- Enhancing the flexibility for healthcare professionals to entry coaching and schooling particular to their job.
- Making certain distant sufferers have entry to high quality care.
How are you aware when you’re mission is an efficient match for DLT?
When you’ve got an upcoming mission, there are two key questions you possibly can ask to see if the DLT program may be the best selection for you:
- First, is the mission in a rural space?
- Second, is there a excessive degree of poverty?
DLT makes use of census knowledge to evaluate rurality and poverty to make sure mission advantages are going to rural areas. Moreover, the USDA assigns particular issues to geographies. Annually, the particular issues change, however previously Tribal lands, Enterprise Zones, STEM, and Opioid Disaster Response have been areas of particular consideration. The USDA hasn’t printed 2024 steerage but. Once they do, try to be conscious that it’s going to embrace particulars on particular issues for 2024.
Basically, there are some things you are able to do to arrange on your journey, together with:
- Decide in case your mission goes to concentrate on schooling or healthcare (the USDA requires candidates to pick out a major space of focus).
- Discuss to your companions concerning the disparities they’re going through when delivering (or receiving) providers in rural areas.
- Evaluation the DLT steerage and workbook to delegate motion gadgets along with your workforce.
- Establish the communities the place it is advisable to present providers.
- Decide what know-how it is advisable to make the mission and go for it.
Funding quantity and timing
The DLT funds initiatives between $50,000 and $1,000,000. Candidates want to offer a 15% match. And it’s by no means too early to begin making ready. In truth, now could be the time to go to the USDA DLT web site to study concerning the utility course of, see previous funded initiatives, and monitor this system for upcoming bulletins. Though, as of at this time’s date, this system is closed it can have an utility window in 2024.
Bear in mind, we’re right here to assist!
We urge you to reap the benefits of our workforce’s public funding consultants so you possibly can maximize your alternatives. The Cisco Public Funding Workplace has years of expertise in consulting with organizations that must pursue grants for know-how. It’s straightforward to attach with us and we’ll be glad to indicate you the way we are able to help with DLT and different grants. And make sure to watch Empowering Rural Communities by means of Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) at this time!
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