Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Child care
The Cost of Living in Minnesota: Highest in the Metro, Rising Fastest in Rural Areas
Examines cost of living across Minnesota counties and the economic variables driving costs. Utilizes Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) data to analyze hourly wages, housing, transportation, child care, and more. Provides interactive county-level maps to show cost of living changes.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Examines cost of living across Minnesota counties and the economic variables driving costs. Utilizes Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) data to analyze hourly wages, housing, transportation, child care, and more. Provides interactive county-level maps to show cost of living changes.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Snapshot of Rural Health in Colorado, 2026
Provides an overview of rural health in Colorado. Includes data and statistics on a variety of indicators, such as education, poverty, rural economy, healthcare coverage and access, rural health information technology, behavioral health, oral health, and workforce shortages. Includes five regional snapshots from around the state that are free to download with name and organization affiliation.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Health Center
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Provides an overview of rural health in Colorado. Includes data and statistics on a variety of indicators, such as education, poverty, rural economy, healthcare coverage and access, rural health information technology, behavioral health, oral health, and workforce shortages. Includes five regional snapshots from around the state that are free to download with name and organization affiliation.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Health Center
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The North Central Quality Childcare Network: Innovative Approaches to Growing Quality Childcare
A recorded webinar that discusses the impact of childcare shortages on local economies. Examines the North Central Quality Childcare (NCQC) Network and its impact on promoting quality child care in rural North Central Region communities. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Amy Napoli, Courtney Aldrich, Rae Baker, Aileen Garcia, Kelsie Muller
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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A recorded webinar that discusses the impact of childcare shortages on local economies. Examines the North Central Quality Childcare (NCQC) Network and its impact on promoting quality child care in rural North Central Region communities. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Amy Napoli, Courtney Aldrich, Rae Baker, Aileen Garcia, Kelsie Muller
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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In Rural Communities, Where Child Care Is Often Scarce, Healthcare Organizations Are Finding Creative Ways to Help
Features rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin that have partnered with childcare providers, schools, and other organizations to support affordable child care in their communities.
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin that have partnered with childcare providers, schools, and other organizations to support affordable child care in their communities.
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Lost Opportunity: Afterschool in Demand, But Out of Reach for Many
Provides information about afterschool programs and their demand, affordability, accessibility, and availability. Discusses benefits of afterschool programs and policy to support them. Includes rural, suburban, and urban comparisons related to program enrollment and perceived benefits.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Afterschool Alliance
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Provides information about afterschool programs and their demand, affordability, accessibility, and availability. Discusses benefits of afterschool programs and policy to support them. Includes rural, suburban, and urban comparisons related to program enrollment and perceived benefits.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Afterschool Alliance
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The HBCC-NSAC Toolkit Study Final Report
Examines the home-based child care nurturing school-age children (HBCC-NSAC) toolkit which focuses on ensuring quality in HBCC contexts. Examines the usefulness of the the HBCC-NSAC measures in evaluating different HBCC providers, including those in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Annie Li, Yange Xue, Natalie Reid, et al.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Examines the home-based child care nurturing school-age children (HBCC-NSAC) toolkit which focuses on ensuring quality in HBCC contexts. Examines the usefulness of the the HBCC-NSAC measures in evaluating different HBCC providers, including those in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Annie Li, Yange Xue, Natalie Reid, et al.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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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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