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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community and faith-based initiatives

Expanded Naloxone Distribution to Reduce Rural Opioid Overdose Mortality
Discusses a study on the effect community-based and pharmacy-initiated naloxone distribution has had on rates of rural opioid overdose mortality. Highlights an intervention that expands naloxone access points in rural communities and pharmacies in addition to traditional provider-based treatment.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Evaluating the Dissemination and Implementation of a Community Health Worker-Based Community Wide Campaign to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Physical Activity among Latinos along the U.S.-Mexico Border
Describes a culturally tailored community-wide program to augment fruit and vegetable consumption and promote physical activity among 5,686 low-income Latinos of Mexican descent living in Texas. Features demographics and statistics on changes in fruit and vegetable consumption over the course of the intervention.
Author(s): Paul Gerardo Yeh, Belinda M. Reininger, Lisa A. Mitchell-Bennett, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4514
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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A Descriptive Analysis of Food Pantries in Twelve American States: Hours of Operation, Faith-Based Affiliation, and Location
Describes the development and content of a charitable food dataset, including geographic information for 3,777 food pantries in 12 states. Features statistics including food insecurity in 2013-2015 and numbers of food pantries and faith-based food pantries, with breakdowns by state and urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Natalie D. Riediger, Lindsey Dahl, Rajeshwari A. Biradar, Adriana N. Mudryj, Mahmoud Torabi
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 525
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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They Built My Soul: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impacts of Home Repairs in Rural Tennessee
Reports results of 28 interviews with rural Tennessee residents who received housing repairs from the Appalachia Service Project, a nonprofit ministry focused on housing improvement. Identifies discussion themes and comments related to environmental risk, physical health, mental health, financial well-being, and willingness to receive assistance from service organizations. Discusses housing as a social determinant of health, and highlights rural and Appalachian housing and health needs.
Author(s): Bethesda O'Connell, Ada Sloop, Nicole Intagliata, Melisa Miller, Megan Quinn
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(1), 9-19
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
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Community Power in Population Health Improvement: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a January 2021 workshop exploring issues related to community-driven power-building efforts to improve population health. Summarizes workshop presentations and discussions on community-led action around different population health improvement topics such as education, transportation, environmental health, healthy eating, and active living, among others. Chapter 6 includes examples of rural and tribal initiatives.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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How Becoming a "Blue Zone" Advanced the Health of Klamath Falls, Oregon
Case study featuring Sky Lakes Medical Center, a not-for-profit, community-owned, acute-care teaching hospital in rural Oregon. Describes a variety of community partnerships underway to help meet the needs of the community, including the Healthy Klamath Coalition, Klamath Works, and the Blue Zones Project.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Rural Community Health Initiative: Compendium of Best Practices
Presents a collection of community-based health initiatives, including a school health initiative, a COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education program, and telehealth consortia, among others. Describes successful outcomes and sources of funding for each program.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural COVID-19 Innovations
Brief summaries of promising practices, lessons learned, and other examples of rural communities addressing COVID-19 healthcare and health-related concerns, collected from March 2020 through December 2021. Includes efforts related to vaccination, health service provision, help for community members, and more.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Planning a Reentry Program: A Toolkit for Tribal Communities
Toolkit provides information and guidance for developing a reentry program for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are transitioning from the criminal justice system to civilian life. Highlights evidence-based practices for reentry programs, including partnerships to connect returning citizens to housing, job training and placement, and medical, mental health, and/or substance use treatment, among other services.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Center for Court Innovation, Community Justice & Safety For All, U.S. Department of Justice
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Peer-Based Recovery Support Services Delivered at Recovery Community Organizations
Discusses the efficacy of peer-based recovery support programs in rural communities. Features a study on peer-based recovery support services are used in conjunction with clinical treatment for substance use disorder.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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