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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community engagement and volunteerism

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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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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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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How Counties Can Use Evidence-Based Policymaking to Achieve Better Outcomes
Examines county-level efforts to promote evidence-based policymaking and looks at ways in which counties engage in this work. Also identifies ways that counties support and sustain their success. Includes examples of several behavioral health initiatives.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organizations: MacArthur Foundation, National Association of Counties, Pew
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Looking Back But Leaning Forward: New Opportunities and Challenges for North Carolina's Rural Communities
Issue brief describing efforts among local and state leaders to promote community engagement in rural North Carolina and to address shortages of physicians and advanced practitioners. Also examines challenges faced by rural North Carolina hospitals, uses of telemedicine, plans to promote quality care for children and families, and recommendations for the future.
Author(s): Thomas G. Irons, Margaret L. Sauer
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 79(6), 366-371
Date: 11/2018
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Counting Rural America: A Guide to 2020 Census Operations
Discusses the U.S. Census Bureau's special operations for counting populations in remote rural areas, including locations without mailing addresses, with high seasonal vacancies, or areas recovering from national disasters. Addresses the challenges of limited internet access and cell phone service, and methods to improve the count in these areas. Identifies specific Hard-to-count (HTC) populations, and ways local governments, businesses, and service providers can ensure an accurate count in rural areas.
Author(s): Cara Brumfield, Sophie Khan
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality
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Addressing Social Determinants of Health Needs of Dually Enrolled Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage Plans: Findings from Interviews and Case Studies
Examines structures and approaches used by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans for dually enrolled and other high-cost beneficiaries. Includes case studies showcasing care models and how organizations are addressing social determinants of health for these beneficiaries. Discusses some challenges for rural areas and small community partnerships.
Author(s): Melony E. Sorbero, Ashley M. Kranz, Kathryn E. Bouskill, et al.
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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