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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community and economic development

Thrive Rural Framework
Provides information resources to support rural community prosperity through asset-based approaches and collaboration. Publications cover strategies to empower rural communities and facilitate economic development, support community equity, and rural development and health.
Additional links: Assessment Worksheet, Thrive Rural Framework Foundational Element, Thrive Rural Framework Overview, Thrive Rural Framework: Local-Level Building Blocks, Thrive Rural Framework: Systems-Level Building Blocks
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Broadband Resources for Regional Development Organizations
Provides examples of broadband feasibility plans for several states. Includes links to conference presentations, case studies, and reports, and federal resources for broadband expansion.
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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A Primer for Multi-Sector Health Partnerships in Rural Areas and Small Cities
Provides an overview of community-level investments in rural communities and small cities to support healthy lives through multi-sector efforts. Discusses the roles of healthcare, rural philanthropy, and community development organizations in supporting community health. Provides a toolbox that explores key terms, offers case studies, data sources, and links to national and local partners.
Sponsoring organization: Build Healthy Places Network
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Rural Community Toolbox: Funding & Resources for Rural Communities to Address Substance Abuse
Provides access to federal funding programs and information resources related to substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), to help rural communities and stakeholders address SUD, OUD, and issues related to substance misuse in their communities. Features an overdose mapping tool that provides state- and county-level data on overdose deaths.
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Justice
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Addressing the Health Needs of Rural Communities
A collection of Social Determinants of Health Academy trainings recorded in 2018 that explore issues impacting health in rural communities. Topics include collecting data in rural health centers and financing infrastructure development in rural areas.
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership
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MiCareMatters: Stories
Collection of articles highlighting the stories of rural Michiganders and their community hospitals.
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Health & Hospital Association
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Life and Health in Rural America
Series of articles based on reports by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on life and health in rural America.
Sponsoring organizations: NPR, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Oklahoma Community Health Needs Assessments by County
Lists final needs assessment reports by county for Oklahoma for most counties. Addresses health indicators, use of healthcare services, primary care physician demand, economic impact of healthcare, and demographics for hospital service areas, as required for nonprofit hospitals under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Focuses on how the hospitals can and do serve their respective communities.
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma Office of Rural Health
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The Impact of a Rural Hospital Closure
Discusses the impacts of hospital closures with a focus on Texas. Addresses how access issues can result in mortality, challenges with reopening hospitals, and the economic impact of rural hospitals and hospital closures.
Sponsoring organization: Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals
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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Rural Health
Features rural health initiatives, articles, and other related content to demonstrate the connection between health, rural community and economic development.
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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