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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community engagement and volunteerism

Strategies for Rural Communities for Addressing Substance Misuse among Families Involved with the Child Welfare System
Describes nine programs across seven states that have addressed challenges to serving child welfare-involved parents with substance use issues through mentoring, case management, providing access to treatment and affordable housing, and other support services. Discusses considerations for expanding and replicating these programs in rural communities.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Jung Kim, Elizabeth Clary, Christina Ribar, Sarah Palmer, Elizabeth Weigensberg
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Engaging With Communities - Lessons (Re)Learned From COVID-19
Discusses health disparities in the U.S. and offers recommendations for community engagement and partnerships in public health to achieve and maintain improved health outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations. Offers examples of community, local health department, and other partner's efforts to respond to COVID-19, including activities implemented in tribal and rural settings.
Author(s): Lloyd Michener, Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, Philip Alberti, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
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Developing and Implementing Farm Stress Training to Address Agricultural Producer Mental Health
Offers an overview of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency online training program for agribusiness professionals to offer mental health resources to farmers and ranchers. Describes issues of mental healthcare access for rural and farm populations and the process of developing the training program, as well as challenges, successes, and practical implications of the program.
Author(s): Courtney Cuthbertson, Alison Brennan, John Shutske, et al.
Citation: Health Promotion Practice, 1524839920931849
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
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Rides to Health and Wealth: A Driving Force for Rural Health Network Action Webinar
Webinar featuring the Health and Wealth Network in Missouri, which increases access to transportation for rural residents through community coordination and scheduling. Discusses impacts of transportation and mobility on health and healthcare access for rural Missourians. Transcript available by clicking the three dots (menu) below video image, then selecting Show Transcript.
Author(s): Kelly Ast
Date: 06/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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COVID-19's Current Impact on Rural Healthcare Delivery: Q&A with Brock Slabach
An interview with Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association's Senior Vice President for Member Services. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 on rural healthcare facilities, policy changes impacting rural providers, collaboration among rural communities to help share solutions, and the use of telehealth during the pandemic.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Scope of Practice for Extension Agents Delivering Health Programs
Outlines procedures and processes useful when recruiting, hiring, training, and evaluating extension agents and their activities in health program delivery to low-resource and rural communities. Describes South Carolina's Rural Health and Nutrition Extension Program.
Author(s): Michelle Parisi
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Clemson Cooperative Extension
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Cross-Sector Collaboration for Vulnerable Populations Reduces Utilization and Strengthens Community Partnerships
Describes the process and outcomes of a cross-sector, interprofessional collaborative strategy to address the needs of vulnerable community members, in a rural area, who are high utilizers of emergency services, social service providers, criminal justice departments, and healthcare systems. Discusses approaches shown to reduce challenges during the collaborative process, and offers insights to communities wishing to pursue similar projects.
Author(s): Lauran Hardin, Shelly Trumbo, Dawn Wiest
Citation: Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 18
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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MPH Students Tackle Real-Life Problems at Oklahoma's Critical Access Hospitals
Presents an overview of an Oklahoma State University (OSU) program that enables public health students, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health (OORH), to address challenges facing Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Oklahoma. Projects are selected based on priorities from Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs), with past efforts addressing mental health first aid, healthy eating, substance use, physical activity, and more.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Suppers in Virginia Give Rural Folks a Chance to Meet and Share Information
Describes community suppers, which are events organized by the Virginia State Office of Rural Health (VA SORH) to encourage health-related discussion among rural community members. Topics include wellness, examples of community success, and suggestions for improvement.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Preventing Opioid Overdose with Peer-Administered Naloxone: Findings from a Rural State
Highlights a study on the efficacy of peer-administered naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths. Bases conclusions on interviews with individuals who have received the training and the naloxone kits from a program in rural Alaska.
Author(s): Bridget L. Hanson, Rebecca R. Porter, Amanda L. Zöld, Heather Terhorst-Miller
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 17(1), 4
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
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