Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
An Active Roadmap: Best Practices in Rural Mobility
Provides a literature review and cases studies related to the ways rural communities encourage health-focused infrastructure, multimodal transportation, economic development, and environmentally safe practices. Describes the typology and demographics of rural areas and discusses how transportation is linked to wellness and community health outcomes.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Smart Growth America, The National Complete Streets Coalition
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Provides a literature review and cases studies related to the ways rural communities encourage health-focused infrastructure, multimodal transportation, economic development, and environmentally safe practices. Describes the typology and demographics of rural areas and discusses how transportation is linked to wellness and community health outcomes.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Smart Growth America, The National Complete Streets Coalition
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Developing a National-Scale Exposure Index for Combined Environmental Hazards and Social Stressors and Applications to the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort
Discusses the process of building an index to assess environmental hazards and social stressors on pregnancy. Utilizes factors such as pollution, lack of green space, social economic status, social vulnerability, race/ethnicity, metro versus non-metro location, and more to define exposure risk.
Author(s): Sheena E. Martenies, Mingyu Zhang, Anne E. Corrigan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6339
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Discusses the process of building an index to assess environmental hazards and social stressors on pregnancy. Utilizes factors such as pollution, lack of green space, social economic status, social vulnerability, race/ethnicity, metro versus non-metro location, and more to define exposure risk.
Author(s): Sheena E. Martenies, Mingyu Zhang, Anne E. Corrigan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6339
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Advancing Economic Development in Persistent-Poverty Communities
Examines census tracts to identify areas of "persistent poverty," defined as an area with at least a 20% poverty rate for at least 30 years. Discusses the distribution of the persistently poor population between rural and urban areas and highlights specific regions such as the Southeast, Tribal areas, and Appalachia. Outlines contributors to persistent poverty including workforce development, lack of infrastructure, race and ethnicity, economic conditions, and more. Presents 4 case studies, including 2 rural studies, to highlight overall themes and make recommendations for improving conditions in persistently poor locations. Interactive map provides information and data on persistent poverty counties.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Interactive Map
Author(s): August Benzow, Kenan Fikri, Joanne Kim, Daniel Newman
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Economic Innovation Group
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Examines census tracts to identify areas of "persistent poverty," defined as an area with at least a 20% poverty rate for at least 30 years. Discusses the distribution of the persistently poor population between rural and urban areas and highlights specific regions such as the Southeast, Tribal areas, and Appalachia. Outlines contributors to persistent poverty including workforce development, lack of infrastructure, race and ethnicity, economic conditions, and more. Presents 4 case studies, including 2 rural studies, to highlight overall themes and make recommendations for improving conditions in persistently poor locations. Interactive map provides information and data on persistent poverty counties.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Interactive Map
Author(s): August Benzow, Kenan Fikri, Joanne Kim, Daniel Newman
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Economic Innovation Group
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How a Black Community Brought Affordable Health Care and Clean Water to Rural South Carolina in the 1970s
Reports on a predominately Black rural community in South Carolina that worked together to provide indoor plumbing, build a health center, and improve health outcomes of their citizens in the 1970s.
Author(s): Olivia Lewis
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Reports on a predominately Black rural community in South Carolina that worked together to provide indoor plumbing, build a health center, and improve health outcomes of their citizens in the 1970s.
Author(s): Olivia Lewis
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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The Built Environment and Social and Emotional Support among Rural Older Adults: The Case for Social Infrastructure and Attention to Ethnoracial Differences
Evaluated 110,850 rural older adults to determine the connection between social infrastructure and social and emotional support (SaES). Looks for variance across race and ethnicity and discusses the implication for mental health.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Logan Wincott
Citation: Rural Sociology 88(3), 731-762
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Evaluated 110,850 rural older adults to determine the connection between social infrastructure and social and emotional support (SaES). Looks for variance across race and ethnicity and discusses the implication for mental health.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Logan Wincott
Citation: Rural Sociology 88(3), 731-762
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Maximizing New Federal Investments in Broadband for Rural America
Policy brief covering the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program with recommendations for stakeholders on how to close the digital divide for rural America. Discusses transparency and accountability, capacity building and community engagement, and implementation.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Laura Landes, Zoe Swarzenski
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Policy brief covering the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program with recommendations for stakeholders on how to close the digital divide for rural America. Discusses transparency and accountability, capacity building and community engagement, and implementation.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Laura Landes, Zoe Swarzenski
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Elevating Equity in Economic Development: Inclusive Recovery Toolkit and Inclusive Recovery Guide
Presents a framework for communities to elevate equity and inclusivity in economic development and recovery projects. Explores post-COVID-19 economic recovery strategies that support inclusive growth and equitable outcomes. Highlights example projects throughout the country. Features considerations for rural communities, including rural transportation and childcare projects.
Additional links: Interactive Toolkit
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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Presents a framework for communities to elevate equity and inclusivity in economic development and recovery projects. Explores post-COVID-19 economic recovery strategies that support inclusive growth and equitable outcomes. Highlights example projects throughout the country. Features considerations for rural communities, including rural transportation and childcare projects.
Additional links: Interactive Toolkit
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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Small and Disadvantaged Community Water Funding Roadmap
Provides information and background about water systems in the United States for rural and disadvantaged areas, such as solutions in water innovation, best practices for utilizing funding, and outlining policies needed to build water infrastructure. Includes contact information for regions and organizations working to build capacity in water infrastructure.
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: The Water Center, University of Pennsylvania, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Veolia
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Provides information and background about water systems in the United States for rural and disadvantaged areas, such as solutions in water innovation, best practices for utilizing funding, and outlining policies needed to build water infrastructure. Includes contact information for regions and organizations working to build capacity in water infrastructure.
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: The Water Center, University of Pennsylvania, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Veolia
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Considerations for a National Drinking Water Quality Compliance Assessment
Outlines what an assessment of compliance related to safe drinking water in the United States would look like in 4 phases: quality compliance definition and identification, spatial location considerations, compliance solutions and their costs, and solution funding and gaps. Includes considerations for tribal and rural areas.
Author(s): Gregory Pierce, Laura Landes, Grace Harrison, Lena Schlichting, Lauren Dunlap
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Community Assistance Partnership, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
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Outlines what an assessment of compliance related to safe drinking water in the United States would look like in 4 phases: quality compliance definition and identification, spatial location considerations, compliance solutions and their costs, and solution funding and gaps. Includes considerations for tribal and rural areas.
Author(s): Gregory Pierce, Laura Landes, Grace Harrison, Lena Schlichting, Lauren Dunlap
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Community Assistance Partnership, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
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Mapping a New Terrain: 5 Principles for Equitable Rural Outdoor Recreational Economies
Offers suggestions for rural communities and Native nations looking at ways to improve economic prosperity, and population health and well-being through the development of natural assets and rural outdoor recreation. Topics cover ownership and control of recreation assets, building a resilient infrastructure, coordinating assets and stakeholder engagement, respect for the landscape, people and culture during the development process, and designing for equitable access and participation for all residents. Includes recommendations for community organizations, local government, and philanthropic organizations.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Aspen Institute, Community Strategies Group
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Offers suggestions for rural communities and Native nations looking at ways to improve economic prosperity, and population health and well-being through the development of natural assets and rural outdoor recreation. Topics cover ownership and control of recreation assets, building a resilient infrastructure, coordinating assets and stakeholder engagement, respect for the landscape, people and culture during the development process, and designing for equitable access and participation for all residents. Includes recommendations for community organizations, local government, and philanthropic organizations.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Aspen Institute, Community Strategies Group
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