Rural Project Examples Addressing Children and youth

Updated/reviewed December 2019

Need: To educate youth about obesity and healthy lifestyle choices.
Intervention: An educational program about healthy living was implemented in Lincoln and Claiborne Parishes in Louisiana for youth ages 9-18.
Results: Youth4Health program produced greater awareness and participation in healthier lifestyles by target youth and their families, as well as church congregations.

Added August 2026

Need: To improve children's physical health and social emotional well-being in early care and education (ECE) settings.
Intervention: Go NAPSACC is a web-based delivery program that helps ECE programs complete self-assessments, create an action plan, and complete trainings.
Results: Go NAPSACC is currently in 21 states.

Updated/reviewed August 2026

Need: Children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN) face many barriers to coordinated, comprehensive healthcare.
Intervention: The North Carolina Innovative Approaches (IA) Initiative provides funding so communities can make systems changes to better support CYSHCN and their families.
Results: IA has impacted 22 counties and has had a positive impact on increasing family engagement and community capacity for systems changes.

Updated/reviewed August 2026

Need: Child care programs across Wisconsin continue to face serious business, staffing, financial, and operational pressures that affect program stability and families' access to care.
Intervention: The Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network helps regulated child care programs strengthen business practices, access coaching and technical assistance, use shared resources, and connect with supports that reduce administrative burden.
Results: WEESSN has grown from a regional pilot into a statewide shared services model, currently serving over 3,000 programs and maintaining an active coaching caseload of up to 300 programs per year.

Updated/reviewed June 2026

Need: To reduce youth suicide rates.
Intervention: First begun in Utah, Hope Squad is a nationwide program that trains youth to identify peers' signs of distress and connect them to help. Hope Squads educate the entire student body to increase connectedness and reduce stigma.
Results: Studies suggest that Hope Squad schools' students with suicidal thoughts are more likely than non-Hope Squad schools' students to solicit help. In addition, stigma surrounding mental illness is decreasing.

Updated/reviewed June 2026

Need: To improve students' access to behavioral health services in rural North Carolina.
Intervention: North Carolina Project ACTIVATE provides three tiers of behavioral health supports in the school setting.
Results: The six pilot sites (Cohorts 1 and 2) have created or revised 91 mental health policies, and 53,170 school-based and related employees have received training in different topics and protocols.

Updated/reviewed April 2026

Need: Drowning was a leading cause of death for children in Alaska.
Intervention: Cold Water Safety and Survival for Educators workshops were developed in 1998, with help from a 4-year federal grant, to train educators to provide education and hands-on skills for school children and members of the public.
Results: The safety program was integrated into about 79% of Alaskan school curriculum and schools in other states, helping to train hundreds of educators and thousands of children on the importance of cold water safety.

Updated/reviewed March 2026

Need: More emergency medical service professionals in rural northwestern Wisconsin.
Intervention: In 2015, a collaborative effort of a State Office of Rural Health and a regional nonprofit job training agency created a pipeline program offering 6-8th grade girls participation in a summer camp that provided an experiential setting demonstrating emergency medical services career opportunities.
Results: With a 10-year record of success and community support, in 2026, the program continues into its next decade with 20 participants per year.

Updated/reviewed December 2025

Need: Impact healthcare workforce shortages in rural Wisconsin.
Intervention: The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, leveraging evidence-informed grow-your-own pipeline activities to generate interest in health-related professions, partnered with the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health to create the Club Scrub program for 7th and 8th graders.
Results: The original 2006-2007 program results revealed that participants gained a better understanding of career options in the healthcare industry and annual Club Scrub events continue to be sponsored by several Wisconsin rural healthcare delivery systems.

Updated/reviewed September 2025

Need: An increased interest among young people to pursue a medical career in rural North Carolina
Intervention: Two medical students started a program that gives high school seniors medical academic training, mentor relationships, and hands-on experience in rural North Carolina facilities.
Results: Project PROMISE has 40 high school completers, 19 of whom are pursuing an undergraduate degree with an interest in studying medicine. Two students are currently in medical school, with plans to work in a rural area once finished.

Rural Project Examples: Children and youth