Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Children and youth
Trends and Differences in Infant Mortality Rates in Rural and Metropolitan Counties in the United States, 2021-2023
Data brief offering mortality rates for infants for 3 levels of urbanization. Includes trends between 2014 and 2023 as well as analysis of data from 2021 to 2023 by various demographic factors.
Author(s): Danielle M. Ely
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Data brief offering mortality rates for infants for 3 levels of urbanization. Includes trends between 2014 and 2023 as well as analysis of data from 2021 to 2023 by various demographic factors.
Author(s): Danielle M. Ely
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Associations Between Screen Time Use and Health Outcomes Among US Teenagers
Examines screen use and its correlation to health outcomes in teenagers aged 12 to 17. Utilizes self-reported data from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey-Teen (NHIS-Teen) to analyze physical activity, sleep, weight, and mental health, further broken down by respondent demographics, including metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Examines screen use and its correlation to health outcomes in teenagers aged 12 to 17. Utilizes self-reported data from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey-Teen (NHIS-Teen) to analyze physical activity, sleep, weight, and mental health, further broken down by respondent demographics, including metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey Chartbook
State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Maintenance of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Behaviors Among Adolescents and Their Caregivers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Examines intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among rural, Central Appalachian students and their caregivers at 19 months after their participation in the Kids SIPsmartER behavior-change intervention, which focused on reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) via classroom-based lessons for middle school students and an SMS strategy for their caregivers.
Author(s): Annie Reid, Wen You, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240520
Date: 06/2025
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Examines intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among rural, Central Appalachian students and their caregivers at 19 months after their participation in the Kids SIPsmartER behavior-change intervention, which focused on reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) via classroom-based lessons for middle school students and an SMS strategy for their caregivers.
Author(s): Annie Reid, Wen You, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240520
Date: 06/2025
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2025
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Spotlighting Programs: A Panel Discussion on Exceptional Nutrition Service Delivery
A recorded webinar that focuses on successful nutrition service delivery in Head Start programs across the United States. Highlights actionable strategies from the various food delivery services, including programming specific to rural, remote, and geographically dispersed areas.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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A recorded webinar that focuses on successful nutrition service delivery in Head Start programs across the United States. Highlights actionable strategies from the various food delivery services, including programming specific to rural, remote, and geographically dispersed areas.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 05/2025
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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Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: Children
Fact sheet containing information on fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involving children 14 years of age and younger. Includes statistics on child traffic fatality rates per 100,000 child population and fatality rates by age group from 2014-2023, passenger vehicle occupants by survival status, age group, and restraint use in 2023, driver's blood alcohol level in fatal crashes, and percentages of child pedestrian and child pedalcyclist fatalities with breakdowns by urban and rural location. Features tables with child fatalities by state and age group in 2023.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Fact sheet containing information on fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involving children 14 years of age and younger. Includes statistics on child traffic fatality rates per 100,000 child population and fatality rates by age group from 2014-2023, passenger vehicle occupants by survival status, age group, and restraint use in 2023, driver's blood alcohol level in fatal crashes, and percentages of child pedestrian and child pedalcyclist fatalities with breakdowns by urban and rural location. Features tables with child fatalities by state and age group in 2023.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Federal and State Reimbursement for Youth Behavioral Health Services
Report details Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of behavioral health services for rural people under 21 years of age. Breaks down reimbursement eligibility for behavioral health providers in all 50 states and discusses barriers to access in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Report details Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of behavioral health services for rural people under 21 years of age. Breaks down reimbursement eligibility for behavioral health providers in all 50 states and discusses barriers to access in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Vitamin D Deficiency and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among American Indian Adolescents: The Strong Heart Family Study
Examines Vitamin D deficiency in adolescents from 12 tribal communities and the correlation with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Utilizes data from sovereign tribal nations located in multiple U.S. states and provides breakdowns on adolescents' demographic profiles, health status, and Vitamin D deficiency status.
Author(s): Jessica A. Reese, Erin Davis, Amanda M. Fretts, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 04/2025
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Examines Vitamin D deficiency in adolescents from 12 tribal communities and the correlation with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Utilizes data from sovereign tribal nations located in multiple U.S. states and provides breakdowns on adolescents' demographic profiles, health status, and Vitamin D deficiency status.
Author(s): Jessica A. Reese, Erin Davis, Amanda M. Fretts, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 04/2025
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