Rural Health Models and Innovations Funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
A collection of rural health projects that received support from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy:
Other Project Examples
Win With Wellness
Updated/reviewed October 2025
- Need: To reduce risk of obesity and chronic disease in rural northwest Illinois.
- Intervention: Win With Wellness (WWW) collaborated with community organizations and worksites to improve physical activity and eating behaviors and reduce weight among adults using a multi-component approach.
- Results: From 2015 to 2018, the two participating counties initiated 28 Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) groups with 367 participants. In the second round of funding, WWW recruited 183 participants for 9 TOPS groups and 8 community Heart-to-Heart sites.
Indiana Statewide Rural Health Network (InSRHN)
Updated/reviewed September 2025
- Need: To improve sustainability and financial viability for rural healthcare providers throughout Indiana.
- Intervention: A network of rural healthcare providers for Critical Access and other hospitals in Indiana that are dedicated to improving their ability to deliver efficient and high-quality healthcare for their rural residents.
- Results: The network has been leveraged to increase access to resources, coordinate services, and improve and expand healthcare access.
Cold Water Safety Children and Youth Educator Program
Updated/reviewed April 2025
- Need: Drowning was a leading cause of death for children in Alaska.
- Intervention: Cold Water Safety and Survival for Educators workshops were developed in 1998, with help from a 4-year federal grant, to train educators to provide education and hands-on skills for school children and members of the public.
- Results: The safety program was integrated into about 79% of Alaskan school curriculum and schools in other states, helping to train hundreds of educators and thousands of children on the importance of cold water safety.
Community Care Partnership of Maine Accountable Care Organization
Updated/reviewed April 2025
- Need: To increase access and quality of care for patients in rural Maine.
- Intervention: Community hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers in Maine formed the Community Care Partnership of Maine Accountable Care Organization (CCPM ACO).
- Results: CCPM serves about 120,000 patients in Maine. In addition, it has implemented shared savings arrangements/contracts with different Medicare Advantage and other private health payers.
ROAMS (Rural OB Access & Maternal Service)
Updated/reviewed April 2025
- Need: To improve maternal health in northeastern New Mexico.
- Intervention: The Rural OB Access & Maternal Service program provides obstetric and maternal fetal medicine telehealth, home telehealth kits, and free access to lactation consultants and family navigators.
- Results: ROAMS has worked with 2,000 unique individuals since July 2021.
Vermont Food Access in Health Care (FAHC) Consortium
Updated/reviewed April 2025
- Need: To integrate healthcare with access to nutritious food in rural Vermont.
- Intervention: The Bi-State Primary Care Association and three FQHCs created food programs: Medically Tailored Meals, Produce Prescriptions, and Social Grocery Store.
- Results: These programs screen people for food insecurity, distribute food, offer health education sessions, and help people complete applications for other food programs.
University of Virginia Diabetes Tele-Education Program
Updated/reviewed March 2025
- Need: To educate people in rural Virginia who either have diabetes or are considered at high risk for developing it.
- Intervention: Teleconferencing technology is used to offer diabetes education programs to people with diabetes or those at high risk for developing it. Health professionals are also indirectly trained in diabetes care and management.
- Results: Participants reported better prevention practices and/or self-management of diabetes after being thoroughly educated about this condition.
Utah Rural Independent Hospital Network (Rural 9 Network)
Updated/reviewed December 2024
- Need: To help ensure the viability of and improve quality at 9 rural, independent hospitals serving 11 Utah counties.
- Intervention: A network organization was created to allow member hospitals to communicate, network, and undertake projects together.
- Results: Members take advantage of cost savings, education, and networking opportunities through group projects and programs.
CMH Addiction Recovery Program
Updated/reviewed November 2024
- Need: To help people who use drugs and their families access treatment and counseling in rural Missouri.
- Intervention: The CMH Addiction Recovery Program provides medication-assisted treatment, counseling, peer and family support, and other related services through a Rural Health Clinic.
- Results: The program operates 5 days a week and sees 400 patients each month.
I-REACH (Improving Rural Enrollment, Access, and Healthcare in Rural Veterans)
Updated/reviewed November 2024
- Need: To improve veterans' access to healthcare in rural Michigan.
- Intervention: I-REACH connects veterans to healthcare services and other programs and helps healthcare facilities and providers become more veteran-friendly.
- Results: The program has received positive feedback from Veteran Service Officers in counties where there were outreach events.