CEO Update: August 7, 2026

Preparing to Hit the Ground Running on RCHI

This week, I shared an Organizational Capacity & Role Planning Survey with our regional partners to better understand where organizations have the expertise, capacity, and interest to participate across all five deliverables. The survey asks partners to identify how they may be able to contribute and what resources may be needed.

My goal is simple: if we are awarded the NYS Rural Community Health Integration Funding, I do not want to spend the first month trying to figure out who can do what, especially since all work must be completed by June 30, 2027. The responses will help us better understand our regional capacity, begin putting the right teams together, and be ready to move quickly if funding is awarded.

Supporting Mothers and Babies Across Our Region

August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time to recognize the importance of supporting mothers and families as they make feeding decisions that are best for them and their babies. Families need education, encouragement and access to support throughout pregnancy and after delivery.

We are fortunate to have hospitals across our region committed to maternal and infant health. Olean General Hospital and UPMC Chautauqua have both earned Gold-level national Safe Sleep certification, and Jones Memorial Hospital is working toward achieving the same Gold-level designation. Thank you to their maternity teams and all of our regional partners who work each day to give babies and families a healthy and safe start.

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