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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community engagement and volunteerism

Improving the Health of Alaska Native People Through Use of a Policy Change Model and Capacity Building
Examines efforts by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in 2014-2017 to promote health and wellness through policy, systems, and environmental strategies. Describes a model outlining steps for policy change, including engaging the community, building support, and assessing education and outreach needed for decision makers and the public.
Author(s): Diane Redwood, Kristen Mitchell-Box, Erin Peterson, Ellen Provost
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 05/2019
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Opportunities to Advance Complex Care in Rural and Frontier Areas
Examines obstacles rural and frontier healthcare organizations face in providing complex care based on interviews with experts around the U.S. Focuses on rural social determinants of health, workforce shortages, and rural community relationships. Includes examples of models related to community collaboration, care coordination, social determinants of health, the health workforce, technology, and payment.
Author(s): Jim Lloyd
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Making Informed Decisions about Rural EMS
Provides an overview of the Informed Self-Determination Process, which can help a rural community make an informed decision about the level of emergency medical services (EMS) response the community wants and will support. Highlights how this approach was used in St. George, Maine.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Promising Practice: Community Cafes in Alaska Give People a Say in Their Health Care
Provides an overview of the first community cafe sponsored by the Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) in Petersburg, Alaska, and facilitated by the Alaska State Office of Rural Health (AK-SORH). Covers the thought process behind the AK-SORH's idea to facilitate community cafes across the state. Describes the goals of community cafes: to educate and receive feedback on a topic chosen by the community, and learn more about the community's health needs.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Redesigning Care: A How-to Guide for Hospitals and Health Systems Seeking to Implement, Strengthen and Sustain Telebehavioral Health
Describes strategies and actions for hospitals and health systems that want to start, strengthen, and sustain telebehavioral health programs. Details six elements for successful telebehavioral health implementation: leadership commitment; organizational policies and clinical workflows; staff education and training; patient, family, and caregiver engagement; measurement; and community partnerships. Provides tools and resources for each element of success.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, National Quality Forum
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Planting TREES in Rural Places: Training and Rural Health Professions Education that is Community Engaged and Sustainable
Outlines a process for academic-community engagement and decision-making for residency education. Details benefits to hospitals and local communities, and contains tools and other resources to promote exploration and consideration of the perspectives of many people and interested parties.
Author(s): Randall Longenecker, David Schmitz
Date: 01/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly the RTT Collaborative)
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Community-Wide Efforts to Improve the Consumer Food Environment and Physical Activity Resources in Rural Kentucky
Highlights the efforts of a community project in Kentucky to increase access to healthy foods and opportunities to be physically active. Details the project's work with grocery store managers to increase the availability of healthy food and with community members to develop and improve physical activity resources.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Margaret McGladrey,Tammy Stephenson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16:180322
Date: 01/2019
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Examining Civic Engagement Links to Health: Findings from the Literature and Implications for a Culture of Health
Reports findings from a literature review focused on the relationship between health and civic engagement. Covers studies from the U.S. as well as other countries. Includes some discussion of findings from studies conducted in rural areas.
Author(s): Christopher Nelson, Jennifer Sloan, Anita Chandra
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Survey Development: Community Involvement in the Design and Implementation Process
Highlights how the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council Epidemiology Center (RMTEC) worked with one tribal community to develop a health priorities survey. Describes the importance of community involvement in public health activities and planning for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Includes practice and policy implications.
Author(s): Allyson Kelley, Christopher Piccione, Aryn Fisher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 25(suppl 5), S77-S83
Date: 2019
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2018 National Survey of Health Attitudes: Description and Top-Line Summary Data
Results of a survey designed to provide insight into how people in the U.S. think about, value, and prioritize health and issues of health equity. Appendix A shows survey results comparing populations by city size, with breakdowns by rural areas, small towns, midsized cities, and large cities, and Appendix B features statistics comparing urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Appendix A: Survey Results Comparing Populations by City Size, Appendix B: Survey Results Comparing Urban and Rural Populations
Author(s): Katherine Grace Carman, Anita Chandra, Sarah Weilant, Carolyn Miller, Margaret Tait
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: RAND Corporation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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