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New York State EMS Council This week, Alicia and I, along with several REMSCO members, attended the New York State EMS Council meeting in Troy, New York. Our participation ensures that programs like STEMS continue to have a strong voice at the state level. It also allows us to hear important updates and stay informed on statewide initiatives that impact EMS across our region. Attending these meetings strengthens STHCS’s role as an advocate for EMS providers and the communities we serve. A special thank you to Dr. Eugene Heslin, MD, First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, for attending this and future meetings. His presence helps ensure we close the loop with the DOH Commissioner’s Office. Dr. Heslin has also been engaged with the Rural Health Council, and I believe he is a true advocate for rural health. 1115 Medicaid Waiver Convenings This week, I attended the Western Regional Convening while Jordan represented us at the Finger Lakes session. These meetings, hosted by United Hospital Fund and Capital Fund, focused on aligning statewide goals, reviewing progress, and prioritizing both health and social needs. Much of the discussion highlighted the 1115 waiver as an opportunity to strengthen services and drive innovation across New York State, especially in rural regions like ours. Our participation ensures that the unique challenges of our communities are included in the conversation and that STHCS continues to have a strong voice in shaping statewide health priorities. Thank you to Jordan for her commitment and for representing our region so well.

At STHCS, we are always looking for ways to connect with resources that strengthen our work. This week, I spoke with Cristian Romero, Assistant Director for the Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services. His office is dedicated to supporting nonprofit leaders across New York State, including guidance on navigating the Statewide Financial System (SFS). If your organization needs essential information, assistance accessing state grants, or support to strengthen its capacity, please reach out to  ofnds@dos.ny.gov or (646) 561-1003. They also offer a monthly newsletter with helpful resources for nonprofits . STHCS will continue to share opportunities like this to ensure nonprofits in our region have the tools and connections they need to succeed. Celebrating Family Milestones at STHCS This week was a very special one for our STHCS family—our team member Lindsey finalized the adoption of her son Kevin! Surrounded by friends, classmates, and family, the celebration was filled with joy. Kevin even received his adoption bear and got to celebrate his 9th birthday the same day. Moments like this remind us that supporting families—both in our community and among our staff—is at the heart of our mission. Please join us in celebrating Lindsey and her family on this unforgettable milestone.

Youth Learn Skills to Keep Kids Safe Congratulations to Lindsey on successfully leading her first babysitting course, and thank you to Sydney for serving as her mentor. This hands-on program, designed for youth ages 11–18, provides participants with a two-year CPR certification, along with training in basic first aid, choking relief, child care, safety awareness, and emergency response. Students also gain practical skills in finding babysitting jobs and planning safe games, meals, and activities for children. We are proud to see local youth gaining skills that not only make them more confident babysitters but also help keep children in our community safe. Safe Sleep Site Visit We were honored to welcome Warren Greatbatch, long-time funder and board member of the East Hill Foundation, for a site visit this week. East Hill has been a strong supporter of our Safe Sleep program, and it was Warren who suggested that every crib donation include sheets—a practice we continue today. Thanks to this support, our Safe Sleep program has had outstanding success, with no unsafe sleep incidents reported among participating families. We are grateful for East Hill’s continued partnership in keeping our community’s infants safe.

Highmark Blue Fund Summit On Thursday, I attended the Highmark Blue Fund Summit at Seneca One in Buffalo. The event featured valuable discussions on community engagement, funding priorities, and capacity building, along with breakout sessions on AI, fundraising, and communications. It was also a great opportunity to connect with regional leaders, and I thank Highmark for the invitation to participate. Pathways to Care I want to thank Kevin D. Watkins, MD, MPH , Public Health Director, Cattaraugus County Health Department, Brett Lawton, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Primary Care/Southern Tier Community Health Center Network, Mary O’Leary, Community Services Director, Cattaraugus County, and Melissa Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, HomeCare & Hospice - Total Senior Care for taking the time this week to share their perspectives on how community paramedicine can enhance care rather than duplicate existing services. Their input is invaluable as we continue shaping Pathways to Care to better connect patients with resources, strengthen partnerships, and meet community needs.

Hepatitis C Rural Health Focus Group STHCS is proud to partner with the NYS Department of Health Charles D. Cook Office of Rural Health and the AIDS Institute’s Bureau of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology (BHHCE) to host a regional focus group on September 16 at 8:30 am at our facility. This in-person focus group is part of a statewide effort to better understand the challenges and strengths rural communities face related to hepatitis C testing, treatment, and cure. The goal is to support New York State’s plan to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health issue by 2030. BHHCE will facilitate the session and provide light refreshments. This will be limited to approximately 10 people, and I ask anyone who would be interested in participating to reach out to me immediately to ensure we can make them part of the focus group. We are honored to help bring providers and community members together to inform future public health efforts. Thankful from the Lake This week, I’m spending some much-needed time with my family at Cuba Lake. It’s one of my favorite places to relax, reflect, and recharge. While I’m away, it brings me so much peace knowing that everything at STHCS is running smoothly — and that’s entirely because of the incredible team we have in place. Thank you all for the dedication, professionalism, and heart you bring to your work each and every day. I’m truly grateful to work alongside such a committed group of people.

Building the EMS Workforce: EMT-B Academy Milestone I’m excited to share that our EMT-B Academy achieved a 100% pass rate on the PSE (hands-on portion)! Based on their strong performance, I’m confident we’ll see the same success on the written exam. A special thank you to Ellie S. for her dedication to the program and for working toward her CLI certification throughout this process. Her commitment has been instrumental in supporting our students and their success! This accomplishment is a great example of how STHCS continues to strengthen the EMS workforce in our region, ensuring well-trained providers are ready to serve our communities. Improving Health Equity Through 1115 Waiver Engagement I’m pleased to share that Lacey recently conducted outreach at a local food pantry to help educate community members about the 1115 Medicaid Waiver. The 1115 Waiver is designed to transform how care is delivered in New York State by focusing on social drivers of health, improving access to services, and reducing health disparities. Connecting with residents in trusted community spaces like the food pantry is an important step in helping individuals understand the resources available to them. This outreach is another way STHCS is actively engaging with our community to improve health equity and ensure that those who need support most are informed and connected to care.

Continuing Our Commitment to Accessible Care I’m excited to share some great news! We have once again joined forces with Healthy Community Alliance to extend our navigation grant. This partnership allows us to continue delivering vital support and resources to those who need them most across the Southern Tier. I’m also pleased to announce that Lacey has joined our team as a navigator, helping us meet the growing demand for services and reach even more individuals and families in our region. I want to give special recognition to our navigators, Bethany and Toni, who continue to earn praise for their exceptional work. Their dedication and compassion are truly making a difference in the lives of so many families. These accomplishments highlight the strength of our team and our ongoing commitment to providing accessible care and support to the communities we serve. Halfway There: Paramedic Students Back in Action! I hope all our paramedic students enjoyed their summer break! We officially started back up on Thursday, July 31, by reviewing progress reports with each student and covering “What Should Be in a Jump Bag.” With the first six months of the program now complete, we’re excited to continue working with our students over the coming months as they prepare to become NYS-certified paramedics. A big shout-out to the dedicated faculty for the time and effort they invest in this program. Their commitment plays a vital role in shaping the future of our EMS workforce.

Preparing Providers to Serve Every Community Member This week in our EMT-B Academy, we had the privilege of welcoming five incredible guest speakers who brought critical insight to the classroom. Dr. Brian South, PsyD, and Erin Delgado, RN, from Intandem, along with Amy Mann, MSEd, LMHC-D, Clinic Program Director at Cattaraugus County Community Services, led discussions on responding to emergencies involving individuals with mental health needs or intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We also welcomed LAPS (Leadership and Peer Support for Teams), with a special focus on wellness for first responders. Thank you to Jonah Crump, Trauma-Informed Care Coordinator from Ardent, and Brent Schlafer, Wellness Coordinator for the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department. Their time, knowledge, and commitment help prepare our future EMS providers to respond with compassion and care—no matter the call. A huge thank you to Dr. South, Erin, Amy, Jonah, Brent, and their organizations for being champions of this work and for their continued support of our programs. These community partnerships strengthen the EMT trainings and offer insight into all aspects of emergency care. Beat the Heat This week, we had the chance to connect with local families at the City of Olean Fire Department’s “Beat the Heat” event. It was a great way to support our first responders while sharing important safety messages. STHCS set up alongside the fire trucks and cooling stations to promote our Safe Kids programming. We distributed safety resources, shared information on preventing heat-related illness, and reinforced water safety tips as summer continues. Big thanks to the City of Olean Fire Department for inviting us and for all they do to keep our community safe!

Advancing Obstetric Emergency Training at STHCS We’re excited to share that we’ve added the PROMPT Flex ECOSystem birthing simulator to our training resources. This advanced tool supports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Emergencies in Clinical Obstetrics (ECO) course and is designed to help providers prepare for high-risk, low-frequency birth emergencies, including: Shoulder dystocia Postpartum hemorrhage Breech vaginal delivery Umbilical cord prolapse To maximize the impact of this simulator, we’re developing a train-the-trainer model, starting with a small group of staff who will lead ongoing sessions across the region. Limbs & Things, the manufacturer, will provide on-site instruction to get us started. If the trainer has EMS experience, they’ll bring valuable insight from both prehospital and clinical perspectives. This addition reflects our continued commitment to supporting our healthcare workforce with innovative tools and collaborative training opportunities. EMT-B Academy Launches: Building Tomorrow’s Healthcare Workforce We’re excited to kick off our next EMT-B Academy class! This group includes students who are not only training to become EMTs but also working toward careers in nursing and as physician assistants. Some will join Trans Am and MTS, while others are choosing to volunteer with Allegany and other local EMS services. It’s inspiring to see these students take their first steps into the EMS and healthcare fields. We’re proud to support them and help grow the future of our local workforce

Health Foundation for Western & Central New York Awards STHCS $50,000 I am excited to share with you that we have been awarded $50,000 from the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York to support and grow our healthcare workforce development efforts. This funding will enhance our distance learning programs, including Step Into Healthcare and our Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) course—both designed to prepare individuals for meaningful careers in healthcare. The grant also provides critical matching funds to unlock additional support from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation. This investment is part of over $500,000 in funding the Health Foundation is distributing this year to help address ongoing healthcare workforce shortages across our region. With roles like nurses, aides, and home health workers in high demand, especially in rural communities, this support is a key step toward building a stronger, more accessible healthcare system. A New Look for Our Website I’m excited to share that we’ve officially transitioned the Southern Tier Health Care System website to a new platform—WIX! This move is part of our ongoing effort to enhance accessibility and improve the experience for everyone we serve. Whether you're a partner organization, a community member looking for local health resources, or an EMS provider navigating training opportunities, our new site is designed to be easier to navigate, more mobile-friendly, and better organized. We encourage you to visit the site and explore the updated layout and features. Our goal is to make it as simple as possible for users to find the information they need—and we welcome feedback as we continue to make improvements. Visit us at: www.sthcs.org

Strategic Planning with FeedMore WNY On Monday, I participated in FeedMore WNY’s Strategic Planning Working Session as a member of their Board of Directors. It was a powerful opportunity to collaborate with board and staff leaders on a bold, future-focused roadmap to end hunger across our region. I especially want to recognize Tara Ellis, FeedMore’s CEO, whose leadership and vision continue to inspire me. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Tara through the Health Leadership Fellows program (Cohort 5), and it’s been an honor to now serve alongside her in this important work. I'm also grateful to the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York for their continued investment in leadership through the Fellows program—it’s connections like these that make long-term regional impact possible. Babysitter Training Course This week, we hosted a Babysitter Training Course for 12 local youth. All participants successfully earned certification in Infant, Child, and Adult CPR, as well as basic First Aid. A big thank you to Sydney for leading this important training and to Lindsey, who is learning to lead future classes. We’re proud to help prepare the next generation of responsible caregivers in our community!

STHCS is Featured in a National Article STHCS was recently featured in a national article by Reward Gateway that highlights how we’re using our wellness grant to strengthen community health—starting with our own team. We know that to truly support the wellness of the Southern Tier, we have to model it ourselves. This initiative is just one part of our broader approach to community wellness, focusing on connection, mental health, and accessible resources. We’re proud to be recognized for this work and excited to keep growing it with your support. Take a minute to check out the story here: STHCS Community Wellness Success Story Click here to join us on the Wellbeing+ app! Summer Momentum As we approach the end of June, I want to take a moment to recognize the ongoing efforts across our EMS system. This week, our team continued supporting providers across the region with critical program guidance, technical assistance, and coordination. Being the program agency for the Southwestern Region of New York means we’re not only a resource, but also an advocate — making sure the needs of rural EMS are heard at the State level. I also want to thank everyone who has contributed to our summer programming and outreach efforts. From Safe Kids initiatives to our EMT-B Academy prep, it’s clear that when we work together — providers, educators, and community partners — we’re creating real access to care. Looking ahead, we’ll be sharing more about our building renovation progress and how it supports workforce development. Stay tuned — and thank you for continuing to champion this work with us.