Rural Public Health Agencies – Resources

Public Health Response to the Initiation and Spread of Pandemic COVID-19 in the United States, February 24–April 21, 2020
Identifies factors that contributed to the spread of COVID-19 in early 2020. Discusses transmission due to travel, large gatherings (including a funeral in rural Georgia), high-risk workplaces such as rural meatpacking facilities, densely populated areas, and unrecognized transmission related to limited testing and asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread.
Author(s): Anne Schuchat
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(18), 551-556
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Opportunities for Rural Organizations to Become Host Sites for the Public Health Associates Program
A recorded webinar discussing the Public Health Associates Program (PHAP), a training program offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and how the program can serve rural communities. Features a presentation by a representative from the CDC who breaks down the mission and structure of the PHAP program.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Presentation Slides, Webinar Transcript
Date: 03/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Funding and Service Delivery in Rural and Urban Local US Health Departments in 2010 and 2016
Uses nationally representative data from 2010 and 2016 to explore rural/urban differences in local health department (LHD) funding and service delivery. Includes data and statistics on LHD characteristics, sources of revenue, and types of services provided by LHDs, with information broken down by rurality.
Author(s): Kate Beatty, Megan Heffernan, Nathan Hale, Michael Meit
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1293-1299
Date: 2020
Type: Document
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Taney County Health Department: Accreditation and Holding to a Higher Standard
Describes how Missouri's Taney County Health Department has used voluntary national and state accreditation to help meet their county's public health needs. Offers tips for other rural public health departments considering accreditation.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Understanding Rural Health Departments: Do They Have Unique Accreditation Needs?
Discusses how governance, organizational size, and other factors impact rural local health departments' ability to pursue voluntary accreditation.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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It's Possible: Voluntary Accreditation for Rural Public Health Departments
Provides an overview of the public health department accreditation process. Discusses service differences between rural and urban public health departments. Offers advice for rural departments pursuing accreditation.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Improving the Health and Well-Being of Rural Communities Through Collaboration
Webinar recording discusses the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's report on care coordination between hospitals, health centers, and public health agencies. Features presentations from representatives from the Health Care Collaborative of Rural Missouri and the Sakakawea Medical Center.
Additional links: Audio Recording, PowerPoint Handout, Webinar Transcript
Date: 08/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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A Rising Tide: Increasing Rural Local Health Department Capacity to Address the Social Determinants of Health
Describes unique challenges faced by rural local health departments (LHDs), as well as assets such as community connectivity and trusted local institutions. Explores the ways in which partnerships, leadership, community engagement, data and evaluation, and community health improvement planning function as foundational elements in addressing social determinants of health in rural communities.
Author(s): Karla Feeser, Melissa Mayer, Ashley Edmiston
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Local Health Department Approaches to Opioid Use Prevention and Response: An Environmental Scan
Summarizes the results of an environmental scan of 198 local health departments (LHDs) regarding their local opioid overdose prevention and response activities. Reports and compares statistics by governance and the size of the population the LHD serves. Discusses efforts and activities related to workforce, clinical and programmatic services, policy, communication, partnership, and data collection. Includes LHD stories from the field.
Author(s): Kamya Raja, Francis Higgins
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Member Spotlight Interview: Health Director Emily Brown Discusses the Importance of Rural Health Representation
Interview with the health director for Rio Grande County Public Health, serving 6 rural counties in Colorado. Highlights the importance of rural health representation at all levels of government and explores how the Rio Grande County health department addresses inequities in health as related to poverty.
Citation: NACCHO Voice
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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