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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community engagement and volunteerism

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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Tennessee Health Equity Plan, 2023-2028
Outlines strategies, timelines, and the steps to be taken to ensure equitable health services, meaningful partnerships, engaged communities, and a diverse, skilled workforce in Tennessee. Includes statistics on obesity with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and maternal care and food deserts.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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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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Racial and Ethnic Variances in Preparedness for Aging in Place among US Adults Ages 50-80
Surveys 2,277 adults between 50 and 80 to explore preparations being made for aging in place and identify disparities among various demographic and geographic variables. Discusses the intersection of rurality with race and social engagement access.
Author(s): Sheria G. Robinson-Lane, Florence U. Johnson, Marie Jeanne Tuyisenge, et al.
Citation: Geriatric Nursing, 54, 357-364
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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The Medical Reserve Corps: Two Decades of Service - The Medical Reserve Corps 2022 Network Profile
Reports on aspects of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a national network of disaster-response volunteers, for the year 2022. Presents data and discussion on MRC demographics and distribution, volunteer management, unit capabilities, funding, and the future of the MRC. See Figure 2 for data on MRC units' geographic jurisdictions.
Author(s): Evelyn Zavala, Katherine Deffer, Beth Hess, et al.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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The Magic of APRIL
Photovoice project from the 2023 Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) Conference. Project highlights APRIL's conference, describes Photovoice principles, and identifies themes that emerged from the Photovoice exercise in addition to the Photovoice project.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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