Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Families
Home Visiting Partnerships Serving Native Families: An Extension of the Multi-Site Implementation Study of Tribal Home Visiting (MUSE)
Discusses the Multi-Site Study of State-Tribal Collaboration (MUSE-STC) that examines collaboration between State Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program awardees and organizations within tribal communities that provide home visiting services. Analyzes facilitators and barriers of collaborative partnerships and how they impact tribal home visiting services, including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Melina Salvador, William Voinot-Baron, Erin Geary, Nancy Whitesell, Kate Lyon
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Discusses the Multi-Site Study of State-Tribal Collaboration (MUSE-STC) that examines collaboration between State Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program awardees and organizations within tribal communities that provide home visiting services. Analyzes facilitators and barriers of collaborative partnerships and how they impact tribal home visiting services, including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Melina Salvador, William Voinot-Baron, Erin Geary, Nancy Whitesell, Kate Lyon
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Acceptability and Satisfaction of Eat My ABCs: A Mindful Eating Program for Preschoolers in Low-Income Families
Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation: The Reach of Summer Meals
Examines utilization of federal summer nutrition programs for children in 2024. Provides statistics on summer meals and information on the impact of the Rural Non-Congregate Option legislation implemented in Summer 2024.
Author(s): K. Boone, C. Hayes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Examines utilization of federal summer nutrition programs for children in 2024. Provides statistics on summer meals and information on the impact of the Rural Non-Congregate Option legislation implemented in Summer 2024.
Author(s): K. Boone, C. Hayes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Bridging the Gap: A Scoping Review of Family Caregiver Roles in Rural Health Settings
Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
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Connecting Caregivers to Each Other
Provides profiles of kinship practices aimed at connecting caregivers, providing support and resources, and offering strategies for replication. Examines Online Community for Kin, an online discussion group that promotes peer support across the state of West Virginia, including in rural areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center
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Provides profiles of kinship practices aimed at connecting caregivers, providing support and resources, and offering strategies for replication. Examines Online Community for Kin, an online discussion group that promotes peer support across the state of West Virginia, including in rural areas.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center
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Developing Rural & Multi-State Kinship Navigator Programs: Lessons, Models & Opportunities
A recorded webinar that describes the Kinship Navigator Collaborative (KNC), a collaboration among Maine, Montana, Vermont, and Wyoming to serve kinship families and children in foster care. Discusses successful partnership models between rural states, funding strategies, and evaluation tips. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Travis Bryant, Gabby McGuire, Chandra Ortiz, Peyton Vining
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center
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A recorded webinar that describes the Kinship Navigator Collaborative (KNC), a collaboration among Maine, Montana, Vermont, and Wyoming to serve kinship families and children in foster care. Discusses successful partnership models between rural states, funding strategies, and evaluation tips. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Travis Bryant, Gabby McGuire, Chandra Ortiz, Peyton Vining
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center
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How Local Food Policy Councils Can Strengthen Summer Meal Programs
Profiles the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium's (GC3) Food and Hunger Alliance in South Carolina, a Local Food Policy Council (LFPC) focused on improving food systems and providing non-congregate meal options for rural families and children. Discusses the purpose and impact of LFPCs and their role in addressing food insecurity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Profiles the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium's (GC3) Food and Hunger Alliance in South Carolina, a Local Food Policy Council (LFPC) focused on improving food systems and providing non-congregate meal options for rural families and children. Discusses the purpose and impact of LFPCs and their role in addressing food insecurity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Bridging the Gap: Tackling General and HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Rural and Low-Vaccination Areas to Improve HPV Vaccine Uptake
Examines HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy among parents of children aged 9-17 living in rural Virginia. Utilizes survey data from 249 parents and analyzes their perspectives on vaccine hesitancy, safety, efficacy, and more.
Author(s): Shillpa Naavaal, Joseph Boyle, Tegwyn Brickhouse, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13
Date: 01/2026
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Examines HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy among parents of children aged 9-17 living in rural Virginia. Utilizes survey data from 249 parents and analyzes their perspectives on vaccine hesitancy, safety, efficacy, and more.
Author(s): Shillpa Naavaal, Joseph Boyle, Tegwyn Brickhouse, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13
Date: 01/2026
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The North Central Quality Childcare Network: Innovative Approaches to Growing Quality Childcare
A recorded webinar that discusses the impact of childcare shortages on local economies. Examines the North Central Quality Childcare (NCQC) Network and its impact on promoting quality child care in rural North Central Region communities. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Amy Napoli, Courtney Aldrich, Rae Baker, Aileen Garcia, Kelsie Muller
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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A recorded webinar that discusses the impact of childcare shortages on local economies. Examines the North Central Quality Childcare (NCQC) Network and its impact on promoting quality child care in rural North Central Region communities. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Amy Napoli, Courtney Aldrich, Rae Baker, Aileen Garcia, Kelsie Muller
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Caregiver Perceptions of USDA Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals for Children in California
Presents results of survey on the benefits, accessibility, and practicality of SUN Meals To-Go, a USDA rural non-congregate summer meal program, in California among caregivers of children who received services in the summer of 2024. Provides data and interview excerpts highlighting caregiver perspectives.
Author(s): Emily Patten, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(2), 270
Date: 01/2026
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Presents results of survey on the benefits, accessibility, and practicality of SUN Meals To-Go, a USDA rural non-congregate summer meal program, in California among caregivers of children who received services in the summer of 2024. Provides data and interview excerpts highlighting caregiver perspectives.
Author(s): Emily Patten, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(2), 270
Date: 01/2026
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