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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Networking and collaboration

Rural America Placemaking Toolkit
Provides information and strategies for rural community placemaking through public spaces, community arts, downtown revitalization, and design. Discusses processes for community and cultural assessments, and covers food access initiatives and healthcare in the Cross-Sector Partnerships module. Includes directories of organizations offering technical assistance and financial assistance.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organizations: Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, USDA Rural Development
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Thrive Rural Framework
Provides information resources to support rural community prosperity through asset-based approaches and collaboration. Publications cover strategies to empower rural communities and facilitate economic development, support community equity, and rural development and health.
Additional links: Assessment Worksheet, Thrive Rural Framework Foundational Element, Thrive Rural Framework Overview, Thrive Rural Framework: Local-Level Building Blocks, Thrive Rural Framework: Systems-Level Building Blocks
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Public Health Strategies to Help Cancer Survivors in Rural Communities
Resource guide that describes the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, highlighting key steps to improving care for rural cancer survivors. Modules cover lessons learned regarding collaboration, tailoring program services to local needs, recruitment and education of healthcare providers, and monitoring and program evaluation.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE)
A statewide program in Indiana to address health disparities among minority and rural citizens. Collaborates with various partners to improve nutrition, affordable housing, transportation, childcare issues, and employment, among others. Details funding opportunities for community projects and offers program resources such as contact information for regional field teams and interactive maps related to program goals.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organizations: Indiana Department of Health, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University
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Healthy Aging in Rural Towns (HeART) Toolkit
A toolkit for community leaders in rural areas that contains resources to conduct needs-and-assets assessments and develop strategies to strengthen community supports for aging adults. Offers 10 modules focused on planning, data collection and analysis, developing strategies, and building coalition and community support. Contains tips and anecdotes from rural Wisconsin communities who implemented HeART projects. Toolkit is free to download with registration.
Author(s): Sharon Schumacher, Eileen Whalen Partridge, Molly Schwebach, Kim Nolet, Barbara Bowers
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Aging Research and Education (CARE) at the UW-Madison School of Nursing
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Healthy Aging in Rural Towns (HeART)
A project that focuses on strengthening support networks for older adults and their caregivers to promote healthy aging in place in rural Wisconsin. Focuses on pedestrian and home safety, technology training, and partnerships. Includes online resource directories for a few select locations.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Center for Aging Research and Education (CARE) at the UW-Madison School of Nursing
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Resources for Rural Healthcare Providers
Provides information about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for providers in rural areas, including training opportunities, educational resources, and networking groups.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: American Lung Association
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Urban Indian Health Institute COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Provides information resources to address COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy in Native American communities. Tools include vaccination messaging and conversation guides, fact sheet, social media resources, and video interviews.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Urban Indian Health Institute
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Local Initiatives to Address Opioid Use Disorder
Describes opioid prevention and treatment research collaboratives in 6 communities, some of which are rural. Provides links to articles profiling each program in detail.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
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A Primer for Multi-Sector Health Partnerships in Rural Areas and Small Cities
Provides an overview of community-level investments in rural communities and small cities to support healthy lives through multi-sector efforts. Discusses the roles of healthcare, rural philanthropy, and community development organizations in supporting community health. Provides a toolbox that explores key terms, offers case studies, data sources, and links to national and local partners.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Build Healthy Places Network
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