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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community engagement and volunteerism

Rural Communities and Building Social Connection for Older Adults and People with Disabilities
Discusses social isolation in rural contexts for older adults and people with disabilities. Notes opportunities and resources for social engagement in the areas of transportation, access to healthcare, technology, and community partnerships. Includes examples of social engagement programs.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commit to Connect
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Rural Heart Health and Community Partnerships, with Jennifer Conner, Jessica Black, and Dianne Connery
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring the American Heart Association's Jennifer Conner and Jessica Black, along with Dianne Connery, Director of the Pottsboro Texas Area Public Library. Focuses on rural heart health, the impact of several recent AHA national initiatives, and the value of local and regional health partnerships.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Sharing Your Success: Using Photovoice to Document and Communicate the Impact of Independent Living Services
Offers step by step guidelines and best practices for using Photovoice to share impact of a project or service. Includes relevant example release forms, tools, and links to rural example projects.
Author(s): Lillie Greiman, Rayna Sage
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Produce Prescription Programs Offer 'A Holistic Approach' to Addressing Rural Food Insecurity and Diet-Related Disease
Features produce prescription programs serving rural Mississippi, New Mexico, and Vermont that are helping improve access to healthy foods for those with diet-related chronic conditions. Describes how produce Rx programs can support local food systems and discusses funding and sustainability considerations.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The Task Force on Maternal Mental Health's Report to Congress
A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on maternal mental health including barriers to care, federal programs doing relevant work, identifying best practices, and offering suggestions to improve federal infrastructure. Topics discussed include substance use, mortality, social determinants of health, data gathering, community engagement, telehealth, screening, violence, policy, access to care, stigma, and more. Highlights programs across the country addressing maternal mental health issues including some in rural areas. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Pre-Implementation Adaptation of Suicide Safety Planning Intervention Using Peer Support in Rural Areas
Using a community-based participatory research process, study aimed to identify adaptable components of a veteran-focused suicide intervention as well as barriers and facilitators for implementation in rural Arkansas using peer support. Includes discussion of the benefits of community input early in the research process.
Author(s): Eva N. Woodward, Amanda Lunsford, Rae Brown, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Health Services, 3
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Health Equity: A Native American Perspective
Discusses health equity from a Native American perspective. Highlights a model of equity that goes beyond overcoming barriers around access and incorporates cultural knowledge, spiritual well-being, and community involvement, among other factors.
Author(s): John Lowe
Citation: Milbank Quarterly
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Leading State Approaches and Communication Strategies to Support Health Equity
Describes how state and territory leaders have created effective health equity practices and communication strategies. Outlines three themes that emerged through research and roundtable discussions as top health equity priorities for states. Profiles initiatives and policies from nine states and Guam to address health equity and reflect these themes.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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When Communities Keep Flooding: A Rural Environmental Justice Case Study
Presents discussion of repeated flooding by representatives of affected rural communities and organizations engaged with the topic. Emphasizes identifying barriers and implementing community-driven solutions. Highlights rural, low-wealth areas and communities of color, including Appalachia and predominantly Native and Black communities.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Community Health Partners in Unexpected Places
Examines how health systems partner with community services such as libraries, barber shops, dollar stores, and others to improve access and reduce health disparities in minority and rural populations. Discusses strategies to increase the use of community health partners, such as co-designing with input from the community, procuring funding, building awareness of available programs, and utilizing novel means to conduct day-to-day operations.
Author(s): Michael K. Hole, Sunjay Letchuman, Allister Chang, Leonard L. Berry
Citation: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 98(12), 1883-1841
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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