Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services CROPS, is a nonprofit, 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization that was founded to “revitalize rural communities by empowering intergenerational groups of individuals and organizations in rural communities to work together to solve rural problems.”  Having a neutral third party organization, such as CROPS, serve as an intermediary for rural health networks may result in the development of a national model for replication.   Since 2005, CROPS has been working on a highly collaborative project to revitalize the unincorporated town of San Pierre. In just three short years, CROPS has expanded collaborative partnerships from three in 2005 to 44 in 2008.

The mission of HealthLinc is to provide affordable, quality health care services to the uninsured and underinsured. It provides primary and preventive medical, dental, and mental health care for the underserved in Northwest Indiana. HealthLinc cares for anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Many of its patients have Medicaid coverage and many are uninsured and pay on a sliding fee scale basis. HealthLinc began as a small, free clinic, as part of Hilltop Neighborhood House in 1994, and then expanded in 2001 to become Hilltop Community Health Center, adding Medicaid-eligible patients to an already growing roster of uninsured and underinsured patients.  In 2006, HealthLinc received the designation of Federally Qualified Health Center which means that it receives some government grants, can bill for the services provided and must meet standards for financial prudence and quality of care. HealthLinc will take the lead role in bringing TelePharmacy to Starke County and providing distance learning opportunities for the project. 

Dr. Byron Holm, a licensed family medicine physician, operates a private practice in Plymouth, Indiana called the Holm Medical Clinic that has been serving patients of all ages since 1974. Dr. Holm’s role in the CROPS Health Network Center project is to serve as the network’s Medical
Director, and to participate as a network member to recruit and convene other health care network partners, maintain an updated business plan, and assist with future funding/sustainability. Holm has expertise in medical technology and will assist network partners in establishing a program that has the most current technology available. In addition, Holm Medical Clinic will provide basic health care services such as screenings and educational programs described in this proposal.

The Fitness Forum is a medical fitness center that offers a variety of services to the CROPS Health Network Center, including meeting space and free health and fitness screenings. The “medical fitness difference” is based upon a number of factors which positively impact the consumer and the affiliated health care organization. A medical fitness center identifies and utilizes an individual’s unique medical profile. This enables qualified medical fitness professionals to design a dynamic, safe and medically supervised fitness program as a necessary component to achieving optimal health, preventing and treating disease through the incorporation of exercise based therapies. Consumer success is significantly enhanced through medical supervision, clinical integration, and the support services of the affiliated health care organization, which allows medical fitness professionals to concentrate on producing positive client outcomes. The Fitness Forum will assist with baseline assessments and screenings.

As a network partner, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) provides a wealth of medical and community educational programs and resources geared to wellness and health care responder issues. The ISDH is an invaluable asset to the network, providing assistance in a myriad of support functions. This state agency offers education and preparedness for natural and health-related incident management. ISDH’s role will be to help facilitate distance learning health education programs through video conferencing capabilities.

Indiana University South Bend is a regional campus of Indiana University that offers 100 degree programs.  South Bend is IU’s largest regional campus with a student enrollment of more than 8,000.  80% of the award-winning faculty hold the highest degree offered in their field.  The School of Health and the Nursing Professions is one of the finest programs in the country and works to address the critical shortage of nurses and other health care professionals in the U.S.  The Division of Dental Education at IUSB trains Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists, granting both Associate and Bachelor Degrees in Dental Hygiene.  Community collaboration is a hallmark of the University, with students engaging in countless service projects throughout their collegiate careers.  Because it is a regional campus, IUSB faculty often form valuable partnerships with various segments of the community and involve their students directly in real life problem solving projects.  Entrance into the Dental Hygiene program at IUSB is highly competitive, resulting in a student body that performs at an above average level.  The students that will be involved in the CROPS Health Network Center will be actively engaged in the internal evaluation process under the supervision of Associate Faculty member Cathy Alwine.

The Art  Circle  Institute,  Inc. is an organization that provides support on behalf of fine art  education, services, and programs.  Established in 2004, the Art Circle Institute strives to inhibit the increasing void of fine arts linked with underpopulated and/or insufficiently funded regions. Its mission is to foster the arts and enrich the lives of artists, students, and patrons within rural communities. The Art Circle provides activities, studio workshops, internships, and educational programs for artists and communities.  Services also include publication and distribution of literature concerning artists and the arts.  The Art Circle facilitates juried art competitions and fine art exhibitions open to the public.  Its main focus is on the visual arts while incorporating extended support for the performing arts. The role of the Art Circle Institute in the CROPS Health Network Center Project is to assist with marketing and to train youth to produce health education and marketing materials for network programs. 

Starke Memorial Hospital (LaPorte Regional Health System)is a 53-bed acute care facility with an in-patient Life Skills Rehabilitation Unit. Starke has 90 staff physicians to meet the varied needs of the communities they serve. Starke Memorial Hospital has assembled an array of community health care services for individuals and families to access quality services including routine check-ups and family-based care geared toward treatment of life-changing illnesses and health episodes. Starke Memorial Hospital’s role is to participate as a network member to recruit and convene other health care network partners, maintain an updated business plan, and assist with future funding/sustainability. In addition, Starke Memorial Hospital will provide health education programs at the Breakfast Club events and collaborate in the planning and implementation of health fairs.

Indiana State Senator, Ed Charbonneau and Railroad Township Trustee, Katherine Chaffins are two elected officials that represent the area and who have a high degree of interest and responsibility to their constituents in the target area. Charbonneau and Chaffins participate in meetings and planning local events, as well as help make connections with other local, state and national organizations.

Peggy Rose, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Purdue University North Central