Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

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

Social Determinants of Health in the Age of COVID: Effects of Social Isolation Among Adults 62+ in Rural Pennsylvania
Results of a study analyzing the extent of social isolation among rural Pennsylvanians aged 62 or older during the pandemic, evaluating determinants of social isolation, identifying programs and services that minimize social isolation, and assessing potential replicability in Pennsylvania. Includes sections on factors such as mental health access, faith-based organizations, transportation, technology use, and housing options.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Christopher Harris, FangHsun Wei, Mary Rita Weller, Kelly Smith
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Exploration of Multilevel Barriers and Strategies That Affected Early COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing in Rural Latino Communities in Southwest Florida
Examines barriers and strategies affecting COVID-19 vaccination and testing uptake in rural Latino communities in southwest Florida. Uses data from interviews conducted between March-April 2021 with 25 key stakeholders including rural Latino community members, local leaders, and community health workers.
Author(s): Acadia W. Buro, Kevin Roman Candelaria, Rocio Bailey, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11785
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
view details
Rural Health in Connecticut A Comprehensive Review of Social Determinants, Community Resources, Health Outcomes, and Wellbeing
Documents the nature of public health for Connecticut's rural populations with a focus on trends, to understand how these populations are changing. Features chapters on social determinants of health, healthcare systems, health risks and behaviors, and health outcomes.
Author(s): Kelly Davila, Camille Seaberry
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: DataHaven
view details
Rural Community Organizations Building Inclusive Environments for LGBTQ+ Residents
Highlights community-based organizations working to create more inclusive environments and programming for LGBTQ+ residents. Discusses the activities of organizations in Ohio, Virginia, and Washington supporting the improvement of LGBTQ+ health and quality of life.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Robert Libal, Madeleine Pick, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
A Rural Community's Perspective on the Causes of and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis in Southern Virginia: A Qualitative Study
Results of a study to gain insight into the perceptions, knowledge, and experiences of members of a southern Virginia rural community affected by the opioid crisis, to inform the development of local strategies to address the problem. Examines barriers and facilitators to treatment programs and offers recommendations for targeting populations at risk.
Author(s): Angelina J. Hargrove, Carlin Rafie, Emily Zimmerman, Dawn E. Moser
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 22(2), 7152
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
view details
Evaluation of a Family Connects Dissemination to Four High-Poverty Rural Counties
Results from the Family Connects postpartum home visiting program, conducted in 4 high-poverty rural eastern North Carolina counties from September 2014 through December 2015. Features statistics on Family Connects' impact on infant and parental health and well-being, with breakdowns by intervention group and comparison group.
Author(s): W. Benjamin Goodman, Kenneth A, Dodge, Yu Bai, Robert A. Murphy, Karen O'Donnell
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 26(5), 1067-1076
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
view details
Community Clergy Training to Support Rural Veterans' Mental Health
Report discusses a mental health training program for clergy to support the mental health of rural veterans. Discusses the focuses of the training program and highlights outcomes from the increase of access to mental health support for rural veterans.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details
Expanded Naloxone Distribution to Reduce Rural Opioid Overdose Mortality
Discusses a study on the effect community-based and pharmacy-initiated naloxone distribution has had on rates of rural opioid overdose mortality. Highlights an intervention that expands naloxone access points in rural communities and pharmacies in addition to traditional provider-based treatment.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
view details
Evaluating the Dissemination and Implementation of a Community Health Worker-Based Community Wide Campaign to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Physical Activity among Latinos along the U.S.-Mexico Border
Describes a culturally tailored community-wide program to augment fruit and vegetable consumption and promote physical activity among 5,686 low-income Latinos of Mexican descent living in Texas. Features demographics and statistics on changes in fruit and vegetable consumption over the course of the intervention.
Author(s): Paul Gerardo Yeh, Belinda M. Reininger, Lisa A. Mitchell-Bennett, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4514
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
view details
A Descriptive Analysis of Food Pantries in Twelve American States: Hours of Operation, Faith-Based Affiliation, and Location
Describes the development and content of a charitable food dataset, including geographic information for 3,777 food pantries in 12 states. Features statistics including food insecurity in 2013-2015 and numbers of food pantries and faith-based food pantries, with breakdowns by state and urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Natalie D. Riediger, Lindsey Dahl, Rajeshwari A. Biradar, Adriana N. Mudryj, Mahmoud Torabi
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 525
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
view details