Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community health workers
Integration of Behavioral Health by Community Health Workers Into a Lifestyle Intervention That Addresses Reduction of Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Rural Communities
Discusses the impact of having community health workers (CHWs) integrate behavioral healthcare into a rural lifestyle change intervention focused on reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Analyzes CHW visits with participants in the Colorado Heart Healthy Solutions (CHHS) program from 2019-2023 and provides data on completed behavioral health screening assessments, connections to care, and CHW-delivered health coaching interventions. Discusses sustainability and feasibility of integrating behavioral health into CHW-led programs in rural communities.
Author(s): Stephanie Coronel-Mockler, Nick Flattery, Ashley Ambrose, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 10/2026
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Discusses the impact of having community health workers (CHWs) integrate behavioral healthcare into a rural lifestyle change intervention focused on reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Analyzes CHW visits with participants in the Colorado Heart Healthy Solutions (CHHS) program from 2019-2023 and provides data on completed behavioral health screening assessments, connections to care, and CHW-delivered health coaching interventions. Discusses sustainability and feasibility of integrating behavioral health into CHW-led programs in rural communities.
Author(s): Stephanie Coronel-Mockler, Nick Flattery, Ashley Ambrose, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 10/2026
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Behavioral Health's Place in the Alaskan Health Aide Workforce, with Xiomara Owens and Tonya Horn
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Xiomara Owens, PhD, of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Tonya Horn, PhD, of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Focuses on how Alaska's Behavioral Health Aide program meets behavioral health needs in rural communities.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Xiomara Owens, PhD, of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Tonya Horn, PhD, of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Focuses on how Alaska's Behavioral Health Aide program meets behavioral health needs in rural communities.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural Initiatives Aim to Reach 'Overlooked' Patients in Multiple Sclerosis Deserts
Highlights programs to improve care for people with multiple sclerosis living in rural areas. Describes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and challenges accessing specialty care. Features an online training program for primary care providers, a pilot program focused on community health workers, and a Veterans Administration telehealth program providing neurologist consultations.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights programs to improve care for people with multiple sclerosis living in rural areas. Describes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and challenges accessing specialty care. Features an online training program for primary care providers, a pilot program focused on community health workers, and a Veterans Administration telehealth program providing neurologist consultations.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Increasing Access to Rural Behavioral Health Care Through a Community-Based Workforce
Provides examples for improving access to behavioral healthcare via a community-based workforce in rural areas. Discusses behavioral health workforce needs in rural communities, prioritizing relationship building alongside formal training, promoting conditions for peer support specialists to thrive, integrating community-based roles into clinical teams and community settings, and leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and other time-limited funds to build long-term sustainability.
Author(s): Hadley Fitzgerald, Ashley Jasko
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Provides examples for improving access to behavioral healthcare via a community-based workforce in rural areas. Discusses behavioral health workforce needs in rural communities, prioritizing relationship building alongside formal training, promoting conditions for peer support specialists to thrive, integrating community-based roles into clinical teams and community settings, and leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and other time-limited funds to build long-term sustainability.
Author(s): Hadley Fitzgerald, Ashley Jasko
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Voices From the Field: Informing Maternal Child Health Navigator Training Through Rural Practice Insights
Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 07/2026
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Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 07/2026
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A National Virtual Peer Support Group for Women Veterans Living with Breast Cancer: Lessons from the Field
Discusses implementation and findings from a Veterans Health Administration virtual peer support specialist-led support group for women veterans with breast cancer. Discusses experiences of rural program participants.
Author(s): Jenny K. Cohen, Kara Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(6), 817
Date: 06/2026
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Discusses implementation and findings from a Veterans Health Administration virtual peer support specialist-led support group for women veterans with breast cancer. Discusses experiences of rural program participants.
Author(s): Jenny K. Cohen, Kara Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(6), 817
Date: 06/2026
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Community Health Workers: An Overview
Discusses the roles of community health workers (CHWs) and provides evidence of their effectiveness. Focuses on Arkansas's plans for a CHW certification process and reimbursement pathway, and other policy considerations. Features state-level maps showing state approaches to funding mechanisms for CHWs.
Author(s): Elizabeth Montgomery, Jennifer Wessel
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Discusses the roles of community health workers (CHWs) and provides evidence of their effectiveness. Focuses on Arkansas's plans for a CHW certification process and reimbursement pathway, and other policy considerations. Features state-level maps showing state approaches to funding mechanisms for CHWs.
Author(s): Elizabeth Montgomery, Jennifer Wessel
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Tennessee's Community Health Worker Strategy Is Succeeding. Which State Will Be Next?
Discusses the role community health workers (CHWs) can play in improving healthcare outcomes and addressing unmet needs in both rural and urban communities. Details Tennessee's state-funded implementation of a evidence-based CHW infrastructure, and highlights the outcomes over the first two years of the program. Explores how this approach could be implemented in other states.
Author(s): Victor Wu, Brea Burke, Nikayla Boyd, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 05/2026
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Discusses the role community health workers (CHWs) can play in improving healthcare outcomes and addressing unmet needs in both rural and urban communities. Details Tennessee's state-funded implementation of a evidence-based CHW infrastructure, and highlights the outcomes over the first two years of the program. Explores how this approach could be implemented in other states.
Author(s): Victor Wu, Brea Burke, Nikayla Boyd, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 05/2026
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North Carolina Mental Health & Substance Use Services Workforce Data 2024 Snapshot: Certified Community Health Workers
Presents statistics on numbers of community health workers (CHWs) in North Carolina with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro areas, statistics on certification level, and a county-level map showing numbers of CHWs per 10,000 population as of 2024.
Author(s): B.M. Lombardi, J. Headley, M.P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Presents statistics on numbers of community health workers (CHWs) in North Carolina with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro areas, statistics on certification level, and a county-level map showing numbers of CHWs per 10,000 population as of 2024.
Author(s): B.M. Lombardi, J. Headley, M.P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Opportunities to Transform Care for Rural Older Adults: Using the Rural Health Transformation Program to Create Sustainable, Age-Friendly Healthcare
Recording of a March 2026 webinar discussing opportunities for including rural age-friendly care in Rural Health Transformation Program work. Includes information on PACE and community health workers.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: John A. Hartford Foundation
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Recording of a March 2026 webinar discussing opportunities for including rural age-friendly care in Rural Health Transformation Program work. Includes information on PACE and community health workers.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: John A. Hartford Foundation
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