It’s 4 A.M. The Baby’s Coming. But the Hospital Is 100 Miles Away.
Jul 17, 2018 - Discusses the lack of access to obstetric care in much of the rural areas of the county, focusing on a community in Missouri where the local hospital recently closed and many surrounding hospitals have closed their obstetrics units, making the distance to care significant. Also touches on the impact to a rural community when it loses a hospital and when it loses this specific kind of care. (May require subscription to view full article.)
Source: The New York Times
view details

Mobile Food Banks Roll to Isolated, Rural Poor
Jul 16, 2018 - Highlights the work of the West Alabama Food Bank's mobile pantry which delivers food to people in nine rural counties in Alabama, many poor, aging, or disabled. With poverty levels higher in rural areas than in urban, food insecurity concentrated in rural areas, and more limited transportation options in rural areas, mobile food pantries are an attempt to bridge the gap.
Source: Stateline, Pew Charitable Trusts
view details

In Rural Wyoming, Women Must Often Travel Great Distances for Prenatal Care
Jul 15, 2018 - Details the barriers to accessing obstetrical care in rural areas of Wyoming, including a lack of providers, transportation issues, and the costs associated with travel. Also touches on some efforts to improve access within the state.
Source: Caspar Star Tribune
view details

Connections to Care: Combating Rural Homelessness — with Cell Phones
Jul 8, 2018 - Details the ways science-based cell phone apps are being used to connect homeless populations with services, including case management and transportation. Touches on Oklahoma to discuss how this could potentially be useful in rural areas where people may be more dispersed or where homelessness may present less typically.
Source: The Daily Ardmoreite
view details

RBS: Inviting Applications for the Rural Business Development Grant Program To Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems Federal Register
Jun 27, 2018 - USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service invites applications for grants to provide technical assistance for rural transportation systems grant program. Applications should support recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report. Applications are due by September 25, 2018.
Source: Federal Register
view details

Counties Have a Chance to Dent Rural Poverty Rates
Jun 11, 2018 - Overview of a presentation given at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference on ways for rural counties to combat poverty. Includes considerations like access to childcare and transportation, as well as ways centering human service delivery in rural schools and tapping into existing entrepreneurial efforts can impact a community.
Source: National Association of Counties
view details

VA: Fund Availability Under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Federal Register
Jun 5, 2018 - Announcement from the Department of Veterans Affairs that grant renewal funds are available for the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program. Funds are designed to support innovative approaches to transportation of veterans in highly rural areas to VA medical centers for healthcare appointments. Applications are due by July 30, 2018.
Source: Federal Register
view details