Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) receives 2006 Award of Merit from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
October 2, 2006
The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) received the 2006 Award of Merit from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) during the organization's Annual Membership Meeting at the Eastland Park Hotel in Portland, Maine on September 26.
NOSORH was created in 1995 to serve as an influential voice for state rural health concerns and to promote a healthy rural America through state and community leadership. The organization presents its Award of Merit each year to the state office of rural health that has made outstanding contributions, developed innovative programs and/or conducted significant activities that advance the missions of the state offices of rural health and improve the health status of rural Americans.
"The [Pennsylvania] Office or Rural Health has been a model for pushing the boundaries of rural health projects and sharing that knowledge with others," said Denny Berens, director of the Nebraska State Office of Rural Health who nominated PORH for the award and presented it to the office. "This has been the office that has shown a tremendous amount of courage in instituting innovative new programs; this is the office that has worked hard to have us understand the importance of strategic planning; this has been the office that when something needs to be done, they step up and say ' we'll help."'
PORH was established in 1991 to improve the health status of rural Pennsylvania communities and their residents. PORH compiles, analyzes and disseminates information to health providers, educators, policymakers and administrators; develops new and strengthens existing network of rural providers, planners and advocates; and serves as a liaison between academia, state government., professional associations and the general public in order to increase awareness of rural health issues throughout the Commonwealth.
PORH is located administratively in the Penn State Department of Health Policy and Administration and supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Penn State Outreach and Penn State Cooperative Extension.