Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Child care
Rural Dependency Ratios Higher Than Urban Ratios in 2023, Indicating a Greater Need in Rural Areas for Caregiving for Children and Older Adults
Bar graph showing dependency ratios comparing the number of youth or older people for every 100 working-age people in 2023. Features breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bar graph showing dependency ratios comparing the number of youth or older people for every 100 working-age people in 2023. Features breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Non-Health Care Costs Associated with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Visitation
Summarizes household expenses associated with neonatal intensive care unit visitation including transportation, lost wages, lodging, childcare, and more. Includes metropolitan and non-metropolitan comparisons in Appendix Table 2.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Gourevitch, Evan Ellicott, Christina Kim, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Summarizes household expenses associated with neonatal intensive care unit visitation including transportation, lost wages, lodging, childcare, and more. Includes metropolitan and non-metropolitan comparisons in Appendix Table 2.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Gourevitch, Evan Ellicott, Christina Kim, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Private Childcare Establishments per 1,000 Children in Rural Areas Have Increased but Are Now Less than in Urban Areas
Bar chart comparing the number of private childcare establishments in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, Kelsey L. Thomas (Conley)
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bar chart comparing the number of private childcare establishments in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, Kelsey L. Thomas (Conley)
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Washington's Health Workforce Sentinel Network Findings Brief: Small Hospitals
Describes reasons for long vacancies, high turnover, and retention problems at Washington hospitals with 25 beds or fewer. Examines problems such as lack of child care and housing, and workplace violence. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Describes reasons for long vacancies, high turnover, and retention problems at Washington hospitals with 25 beds or fewer. Examines problems such as lack of child care and housing, and workplace violence. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Washington's Health Workforce Sentinel Network Findings Brief: Rural Health Clinics
Describes reasons for long vacancies and high turnover and retention problems at Washington Rural Health Clinics, based on survey responses collected from 2022-2025. Examines problems such as lack of child care, housing, delays in licensing, and workplace violence.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Describes reasons for long vacancies and high turnover and retention problems at Washington Rural Health Clinics, based on survey responses collected from 2022-2025. Examines problems such as lack of child care, housing, delays in licensing, and workplace violence.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Stressors for Farmworker Parents During Wildfire Season
Outlines themes identified during interviews and town hall discussions with farmworker parents in 2 Washington counties about childcare, work, and concerns about children's exposure to wildfire smoke and the impact on absenteeism in the workplace. Discusses the informational needs for farmworkers and the role of community-based organizations.
Author(s): Savannah M. D'Evelyn, Isabel Nerenberg, Maria Blancas, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3314
Date: 11/2024
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Outlines themes identified during interviews and town hall discussions with farmworker parents in 2 Washington counties about childcare, work, and concerns about children's exposure to wildfire smoke and the impact on absenteeism in the workplace. Discusses the informational needs for farmworkers and the role of community-based organizations.
Author(s): Savannah M. D'Evelyn, Isabel Nerenberg, Maria Blancas, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3314
Date: 11/2024
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State of Childcare in Rural North Carolina
Addresses childcare access and affordability in North Carolina, as well as factors that contribute to childcare challenges. Explores what is being done to address these challenges. Features statistics including percent of residents living in childcare deserts, with breakdowns by rural, urban, and suburban location, and a county-level map showing locations of childcare deserts.
Author(s): Dalton Bailey
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: NC Rural Center
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Addresses childcare access and affordability in North Carolina, as well as factors that contribute to childcare challenges. Explores what is being done to address these challenges. Features statistics including percent of residents living in childcare deserts, with breakdowns by rural, urban, and suburban location, and a county-level map showing locations of childcare deserts.
Author(s): Dalton Bailey
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: NC Rural Center
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"The Source of All My Joy and All My Stress": Children and Childcare as Underappreciated Sources of Stress That Affect Farm Women
Identifies themes from focus groups and photovoice with 101 farm women showing the intersections of mental well-being, children and farm safety, farm work, and household responsibilities. Discusses the triple burden of farm women and how expectations of care work on a farm.
Author(s): Florence Becot, Shoshanah Inwood, Hannah Budge
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 30(1), 114-131
Date: 11/2024
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Identifies themes from focus groups and photovoice with 101 farm women showing the intersections of mental well-being, children and farm safety, farm work, and household responsibilities. Discusses the triple burden of farm women and how expectations of care work on a farm.
Author(s): Florence Becot, Shoshanah Inwood, Hannah Budge
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 30(1), 114-131
Date: 11/2024
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Rural America at a Glance: 2024 Edition
Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, child care and elder care, broadband, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Brandon Genetin, Austin Sanders, et al.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, child care and elder care, broadband, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Brandon Genetin, Austin Sanders, et al.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Assessing the Need to Convert Head Start Enrollment Slots to Early Head Start
Examines the process of converting Head Start funding/enrollment slots to Early Head Start services for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. Analyzes case studies from 6 Head Start programs that converted enrollment slots in 2022 and 2023 and discusses motivation to convert slots based on program and community needs, including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Carly Morrison, Kate Stepleton, Diane Schilder, Catherine Kuhns
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, MEF Associates, Urban Institute
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Examines the process of converting Head Start funding/enrollment slots to Early Head Start services for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. Analyzes case studies from 6 Head Start programs that converted enrollment slots in 2022 and 2023 and discusses motivation to convert slots based on program and community needs, including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Carly Morrison, Kate Stepleton, Diane Schilder, Catherine Kuhns
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, MEF Associates, Urban Institute
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