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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community and faith-based initiatives

The Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. (Trust, Research, Understand, Teach, and Heal) Project—A Tribal Community–Academic Partnership for Understanding the Impact of Structural Factors on Perceived Cancer Risk in Rural Virginia
Provides an overview of the Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. Project, a community–academic partnership between the Virginia Chickahominy Indian Tribe and Virginia Commonwealth University. Designed to investigate perceived cancer risk in Charles City County, Virginia; assess cancer knowledge, care access gaps, and perceived risks; and develop culturally tailored cancer education and resource navigation. Based on data from 50 in-person interviews and water tests near an area with significantly elevated cancer incidence rates.
Additional links: Supplemental Materials
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Savannah Reitzel, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 262
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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A Participatory Trust-Building Model for Conducting Health Equity Research With Rural and Urban Native American, Black, and Latinx Communities: WEAVE NM (Wide Engagement for Assessing Vaccine Equity in New Mexico)
Highlights an intervention that aims to increase vaccine equity, engagement, and community trust among rural and urban Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people in New Mexico. The community-based participatory research initiative explores social and cultural elements that shape engagement with the broader community and the effect this has on public health outcomes.
Author(s): Lisa Cacari Stone, Anabel Canchola, Elroy Keetso, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 114(Suppl 1), S41–S44
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Educational Intervention to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Rural Patients with Chronic Diseases: Lessons Learned from An Innovative Academic–Community Partnership
Results of a study using an educational intervention to increase vaccine knowledge and vaccine acceptance in rural patients with chronic diseases in West Virginia. Uses data from an academic–community partnership comprising researchers, practitioners, community organizations, community-engaged partners, and patient stakeholders.
Author(s): Ranjita Misra, Brenna Kirk, Samantha Shawley-Brzoska, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), 71
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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A Community-Engaged Approach to Understanding Suicide in a Small Rural County in Georgia: A Two-Phase Content Analysis of Individual and Focus Group Interviews
Evaluates the need for suicide prevention and appropriateness of prevention efforts in a rural Georgia county by presenting analysis of 20 individual interviews and 2 focus groups conducted August 2021-June 2022. Covers individual and community contextual drivers of suicide, facilitators and barriers of medical and social support access, linkage gaps in mental health care services, and community response. Discusses schools, a military base, nonprofit and religious organizations, and other institutional supports for suicide prevention.
Author(s): Kimberly Beth Roth, Eleni Gaveras, Fatima Ghiathi, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(24), 7145
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Cultivating Education and Rural Communities - Exploring the Intersection of HBCUs and Food Insecurity
A recorded webinar that discusses the relationship between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and service to the community. Focuses on the history of food insecurity issues in rural areas with a HBCU. Transcript available below description.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Public Safety-Led Community-Oriented Overdose Prevention Efforts in Tribal Communities: Companion to the PS-COPE Toolkit
Toolkit supplement discusses community-based strategies for drug overdose prevention in tribal communities. Adapts PS-COPE framework to tribal communities social, cultural, and governing structures.
Additional links: PS-COPE Toolkit
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Partnering with Faith-Based Organizations to Improve Health and Equity
Provides a discussion among faith-based leaders in Wisconsin and Minnesota regarding their work collaborating with public health partners to promote social, economic, and racial justice. Includes strategies specific to rural areas and churches that assist in bridging cultural divides and creating impactful health policy for all citizens.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Presenter Biographies, Resource Guide
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Addressing Social Needs through Medicaid: Lessons from Planning and Early Implementation of North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots
Results of a study to generate findings and recommendations from the planning, capacity-building, and early implementation of the Healthy Opportunities Pilots program. Focuses on the health-related social needs of North Carolina Medicaid enrollees living in three primarily rural regions of the state.
Author(s): Katie M. Huber, William K. Bleser, Rebecca G. Whiteaker, et al.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Milbank Memorial Fund
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Association Between Insurer Connectivity in Appalachian Population Health Networks and Preventable Hospitalizations: Evidence from Kentucky
Examines insurer connectivity in community networks across regions in Kentucky, and the association between connectivity and the probability of experiencing a preventable hospitalization. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, rural non-Appalachian, and Appalachian locations.
Author(s): Rachel Hogg-Graham, Kelsey R. Gatton, Rick Ingram, Glen P. Mays
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 5(2), 15-31
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Eight Postpartum Support Programs in Rural Communities Across the United States
Highlights locally-focused organizations working to improve postpartum health for rural residents across the United States. Profiles 8 unique organizations serving rural communities in Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Phoebe Chastain, Julia D. Interrante, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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