Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Children and youth
Rural-Urban Trends in Pediatric Emergency Department Visits for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions from 2016-2019
Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Acceptability and Satisfaction of Eat My ABCs: A Mindful Eating Program for Preschoolers in Low-Income Families
Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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The Weight of Our Children: New Mexico Childhood Obesity 2025 Update
Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation: The Reach of Summer Meals
Examines utilization of federal summer nutrition programs for children in 2024. Provides statistics on summer meals and information on the impact of the Rural Non-Congregate Option legislation implemented in Summer 2024.
Author(s): K. Boone, C. Hayes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Examines utilization of federal summer nutrition programs for children in 2024. Provides statistics on summer meals and information on the impact of the Rural Non-Congregate Option legislation implemented in Summer 2024.
Author(s): K. Boone, C. Hayes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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NSDUH Short Report: Substance Use Disorder and Major Depressive Episode among Females
Report explores rates of substance use disorder (SUD) and major depressive episode (MDE) among women from 2022-2024. Breaks down data by a number of factors, such as demographic factors, adolescents versus adults, SUD/MDE severity, and rurality, among other measures.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report explores rates of substance use disorder (SUD) and major depressive episode (MDE) among women from 2022-2024. Breaks down data by a number of factors, such as demographic factors, adolescents versus adults, SUD/MDE severity, and rurality, among other measures.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2021 and 2022 — National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2022–2024
Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2021-2022. Supplementary Table 2 includes data on vaccine coverage for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(11), 146-155
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Rural Health Transformation Program: State Focus on Maternal and Child Health
Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Missouri: Update
Reports on 2024 health insurance coverage in Missouri, comparing both rural and urban residents within the state and against national averages. Includes analysis of health insurance type, by age groups, and changes since 2023.
Author(s): Sarah A. Eisenstein, Timothy D. McBride
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington University in St. Louis Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research
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Reports on 2024 health insurance coverage in Missouri, comparing both rural and urban residents within the state and against national averages. Includes analysis of health insurance type, by age groups, and changes since 2023.
Author(s): Sarah A. Eisenstein, Timothy D. McBride
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington University in St. Louis Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research
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Connecting Caregivers to Each Other
Provides profiles of kinship practices aimed at connecting caregivers, providing support and resources, and offering strategies for replication. Examines Online Community for Kin, an online discussion group that promotes peer support across the state of West Virginia, including in rural areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center
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Provides profiles of kinship practices aimed at connecting caregivers, providing support and resources, and offering strategies for replication. Examines Online Community for Kin, an online discussion group that promotes peer support across the state of West Virginia, including in rural areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2026
Reports on four aspects of Medicaid of interest to Congress: 1) the home- and community-based services (HCBS) workforce, 2) behavioral health in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), 3) Medicaid for justice-involved youth, and 4) Medicaid for children in foster care.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reports on four aspects of Medicaid of interest to Congress: 1) the home- and community-based services (HCBS) workforce, 2) behavioral health in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), 3) Medicaid for justice-involved youth, and 4) Medicaid for children in foster care.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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