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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

May 8, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) modifying the Older Americans Act of 1965 regulations by adding a new subpart D regarding adult protective services (APS). This rule establishes mandatory minimum federal standards to govern APS program policies, procedures, and practices for state APS systems and programs that receive federal Elder Justice Act funding. Among other things, this rule includes definitions for foundational terms used in APS practices and requires state APS entities to define in their policies and procedures processes for receiving, screening, prioritizing, and referring cases based on the risk and nature of the adult maltreatment or self-neglect. This rule is effective on June 7, 2024. Regulated entities must fully comply with these regulations by May 8, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
May 5, 2024 - Covers the ongoing syphilis epidemic in South Dakota and the state's efforts to intervene through increased education, screening, and prenatal care. Highlights disproportionate impacts on Indigenous populations and the launch of a mobile outreach program designed to increase testing and treatment availability in rural communities.
Source: South Dakota Searchlight
May 3, 2024 - Notice from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announcing the formation of the Substance Use Prevention Workforce subcommittee within the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention National Advisory Council (CSAP NAC). The subcommittee is expected to exist for approximately one year and hold virtual meetings monthly. Information about CSAP NAC, including future public meetings and a roster of Council members, can be accessed on the CSAP NAC website.
Source: Federal Register
May 2, 2024 - Spotlights a partnership in between EMS and a non-profit recovery center in Bennington, Vermont. Describes the creation of an email-based referral system, harm reduction strategies, and steps taken to ensure patient confidentiality.
Source: The Daily Yonder
May 2, 2024 - Outlines new opioid response funding available to states, territories, and tribes. Describes major goals of the investment, including expanded access to overdose reversal medication and recovery programs for youth and young adults.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
May 2, 2024 - Profiles two rural Minnesota farmers - one baby boomer and one millennial - and their respective approaches to mental health. Discusses generational differences in stigma and willingness to seek mental health care.
Source: The Farmer
Apr 30, 2024 - Highlights a USDA-funded initiative offering free, locally-sourced foods to residents of Unalaska Island, Alaska. Discusses barriers to food access on the island and efforts to support local producers.
Source: Unalaska Community Broadcasting
Apr 30, 2024 - Summarizes the proceedings of the Alaska Association of Student Government Spring Conference, held in the remote community of Utqiagvik. Highlights student resolutions, including support for Naloxone training and increased mental health resources in rural schools.
Source: The Arctic Sounder
Apr 29, 2024 - The Advisory Committee to the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACD, CDC) will hold a public meeting on June 6, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern. CD advises the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Director of the CDC on policies and strategies that will enable the CDC to fulfill its mission of protecting health through health promotion, prevention, and preparedness. Agenda items will include an update on CDC priorities from the CDC Director, discussions on CDC's work to address equity and social determinants of health, lab readiness and response improvement efforts, programmatic updates, and updates from the ACD Data and Surveillance Workgroup and the Communications and Public Engagement Workgroup. Information on how to join the meeting virtually will be posted on the ACD website prior to the meeting.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 26, 2024 - Highlights 2 tools from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track heat and air quality data. Discusses potential uses of the tools for Community Health Centers and outreach to farm workers.
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting, PBS, NPR