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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community and economic development

Human Services in Rural Contexts: Comprehensive Report
Provides an overview of human services in rural areas, with information focused on human services programs and benefits, economic and social well-being, persistent poverty communities, and adaptations to overcome access barriers in rural areas. Includes tables, graphs, and county-level U.S. maps depicting human services needs.
Author(s): Emily Brimsek, James Murdoch, Emma Ward, Neel Chakraborti, Ashton Cain
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: 2M Research, Administration for Children and Families, Urban Institute
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Building a Better Wisconsin: Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Wisconsinites - 2023 Governor's Health Equity Council Report
Provides an overview of the Wisconsin Governor's Health Equity Council 2023 recommendations which are focused on upstream health interventions related to the economic, social, and physical environment, with specific attention to health and community services, education and housing, justice, governance, and family-sustaining fiscal policy. Includes strategies specific to rural communities as well as county-level maps on health outcomes and percentage of children in poverty.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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Community Sociodemographics and Rural Hospital Survival Analysis
Policy brief highlights the specific sociodemographic characteristics of rural communities that correlate with hospitals that are in financial distress. Examines the community factors for 985 rural hospitals in financial distress according to the Financial Distress Index from 2010 to 2019.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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The State of Healthcare in North Carolina: 2022 Impact Report
Examines contributions to the people and economy of North Carolina by the North Carolina Healthcare Association's 130 member hospitals and hospitals systems. Describes key issues facing North Carolina health systems, including access and innovation, workforce development and retention, health equity, and behavioral health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Healthcare Association
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The Health Equity & Access for Rural Dually Eligible Individuals (HEARD) Toolkit: Raising Rural Voices from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to Create Action
Provides an overview on the access barriers and health disparities of Medicaid and Medicare dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas. Presents research and stakeholder feedback from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to provide information to policymakers. Discusses topics such as community planning related to equity and infrastructure, workforce capacity and community health workers (CHWs), and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, Susan McGeehan, Rebecca Kellenberg, Andrea Maresca
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health Management Associates
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HUD Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing (RCB) Program
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing program (RCB). Outlines the program structure and administration, eligibility for primary grantees and their activities, and fiscal year 2019 and 2020 RCB award amounts.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Access to Jobs, Economic Opportunities, and Education in Rural Areas
Provides an overview of the challenges experienced in rural communities such as connectivity issues; access to goods, social services, and healthcare; and a lack of educational and economic opportunities. Includes implementation strategies for rural communities to evaluate, plan for, and improve accessibility, along with related case studies.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organizations: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Transportation Research Board
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Michigan's Roadmap to Healthy Communities Phase II: 2022-2024
Expands on Phase I of a plan to address the social determinants of health (SDOH) to advance equity, provide social and economic opportunities, and improve health outcomes in Michigan. Focuses on health equity, community information exchange, community health workers (CHWs), chronic disease initiatives, population health, and a partnership with the Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH).
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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The Economic Contributions of North Carolina's Health Systems and Hospitals
Presents information for 137 hospital facilities in North Carolina, including number of jobs, wage income, total value added, taxes that result from health system and hospital operations, and community benefits such as reduced cost care. Features statistics including numbers of hospitals and beds, with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Additional links: Two-Page Summary
Author(s): Sara Nienow, Rizwaan Lakhani, Michael Hogan, Chrystall Davis, Jared Woollacott,
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Healthcare Association
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Broadband Availability vs. Adoption: Which Matters More for Economic Development?
Evaluates research on broadband availability and adoption in order to understand their relevance to economic development. Identifies impacts on business, employment, household and farm outcomes, and more. Highlights rural-specific studies and findings.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre, Roberto Gallardo
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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