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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Community engagement and volunteerism

Mar 26, 2024 - Highlights social engagement in rural Maine communities for older adults. Describes the community services that allow them to stay in their communities. Discusses concerns about healthcare access.
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
Mar 18, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is seeking comments on rules, regulations, and available training and technical assistance (TTA) supports impacting the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Head Start community. ACF seeks input on the following topics to improve the quality of Head Start services in areas of great need: eligibility; program options; quality environments; child health and safety; tribal language preservation, maintenance, revitalization, and restoration; family and community engagement; workforce; training and technical assistance; partnerships with state systems; facilities; fiscal operations; early childhood systems; and more. Comments are due by September 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 16, 2024 - Discusses uptake of the Rural Emergency Hospital designation that aims to prevent hospital closures. Notes that conversions have happened primarily in the South. Discusses challenges with implementation, community feedback, and policy efforts to make the designation more accessible to rural hospitals.
Source: NBC4 Washington
Mar 11, 2024 - Discusses rural Illinois food deserts and the rise of community-owned cooperative stores. Notes the challenges for rural cooperative development including community buy-in, competition with large chains, funding, and more.
Source: Barn Raising Media
Mar 1, 2024 - Discusses the challenges with search and rescue in rural communities, highlighting one Alabama community. Discusses community volunteers, training, and technology to aid rescue crews.
Feb 29, 2024 - Discusses the shortage of volunteer firefighters in rural areas, noting response times for emergencies can be very long. Discusses challenges with providing emergency services on farms due to the specialized equipment and unreliable cell service. Highlights safety measures on farms that can reduce the number of emergencies.
Source: Ambrook Research
Feb 20, 2024 - Highlights an oncology practice launching a community-based participatory research project related to breast and prostate cancer telehealth care in rural Tennessee. The project will address barriers to care and includes Community Advisory Boards (CABs) to identify challenges and best practices. Discusses disparities in telehealth access for rural residents and the importance of community engagement in the project.
Source: Victoria Advocate
Feb 14, 2024 - Offers highlights from the 2024 American Hospital Association Rural Health Care Leadership Conference. Includes discussion of workforce shortages and burnout, technology, and online community engagement.
Source: SmartBrief
Feb 9, 2024 - Highlights a partnership between the Texas A&M Medical School and a rural hospital to provide rural rotations to students in the rural medicine program. The program will focus not just on medical training but also integrating students into the local community.
Source: KLTV
Jan 30, 2024 - Profiles the Leadership in Rural Medicine Program, a rural training program for physicians in Michigan. Discusses the importance of community engagement, workforce shortages, and more recent programs also aiming to address physician shortages.
Source: The 'Gander