Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Families
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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Identifying the Unique Determinants Influencing Rural Families' Engagement with an Existing Tele-assessment Approach for Autism Identification: A Qualitative Study
Examines perceptions of tele-assessment for autism identification among caregivers of children with autism and community service providers in the rural Southeast. Identifies discussion themes and presents interview excerpts related to the validity, trustworthiness, feasibility, and privacy of tele-assessment for rural families.
Author(s): Liliana Wagner, Tori Foster, Kemberlee Bonnet, et al.
Citation: Autism, 29(6), 1458-1468
Date: 12/2025
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Examines perceptions of tele-assessment for autism identification among caregivers of children with autism and community service providers in the rural Southeast. Identifies discussion themes and presents interview excerpts related to the validity, trustworthiness, feasibility, and privacy of tele-assessment for rural families.
Author(s): Liliana Wagner, Tori Foster, Kemberlee Bonnet, et al.
Citation: Autism, 29(6), 1458-1468
Date: 12/2025
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Impact of Food Accessibility on Eating and Anthropometric Outcomes among Rural Parent-Child Dyads: A Secondary Data Analysis of a Mindful Eating Intervention
Examines the relationship among food insecurity, food behaviors, and health outcomes in rural children and parents enrolled in a mindful eating intervention trial. Utilizes data from 154 parent-child dyads recruited from Head Start childcare centers in the U.S. and includes breakdowns according to sociodemographics, food accessibility, eating habits, health status, and more.
Author(s): Jiying Ling, Tsui-Sui Annie Kao, Xining Yang
Citation: BMJ Open, 15(12), e108076
Date: 12/2025
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Examines the relationship among food insecurity, food behaviors, and health outcomes in rural children and parents enrolled in a mindful eating intervention trial. Utilizes data from 154 parent-child dyads recruited from Head Start childcare centers in the U.S. and includes breakdowns according to sociodemographics, food accessibility, eating habits, health status, and more.
Author(s): Jiying Ling, Tsui-Sui Annie Kao, Xining Yang
Citation: BMJ Open, 15(12), e108076
Date: 12/2025
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Adapting Family-Based Treatment for Primary Care (FBT-PC) for Treating Child and Adolescent Restrictive Eating Disorders in Rural Settings: A Case Series
Explores the adaptation of Family-Based Treatment for Primary Care (FBT-PC), an intervention focused on eating disorder treatment for adolescents, for rural settings. Describes FBT-PC implementation and case histories of 6 patients treated at primary care clinics in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Author(s): Jocelyn Lebow, Ivana Croghan, Jennifer St. Sauver, et al.
Citation: Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 275
Date: 11/2025
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Explores the adaptation of Family-Based Treatment for Primary Care (FBT-PC), an intervention focused on eating disorder treatment for adolescents, for rural settings. Describes FBT-PC implementation and case histories of 6 patients treated at primary care clinics in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Author(s): Jocelyn Lebow, Ivana Croghan, Jennifer St. Sauver, et al.
Citation: Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 275
Date: 11/2025
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Community-Engaged Dissemination and Implementation of an Evidence-Based Health Promotion Intervention for Native American Families: "Delivery of Turtle Island Tales to Promote Family Wellness" Protocol
Study protocol for the implementation and assessment of Turtle Island Tales, a culturally-grounded obesity prevention intervention for Native American families, in rural and frontier counties in Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Author(s): Emily J. Tomayko, Alexandra K. Adams, Teresa Warne, James L. Merle, Paul A. Estabrooks
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 126
Date: 11/2025
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Study protocol for the implementation and assessment of Turtle Island Tales, a culturally-grounded obesity prevention intervention for Native American families, in rural and frontier counties in Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Author(s): Emily J. Tomayko, Alexandra K. Adams, Teresa Warne, James L. Merle, Paul A. Estabrooks
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 126
Date: 11/2025
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Utilization of Home- and Community-Based Services among Rural Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: The Role of the Area Deprivation Index
Examines the association between utilization of home- and community-based services and area-level factors as measured by the Area Deprivation Index, utilizing survey data of 361 rural family caregivers of people with dementia. Analyzes the relationship between home or community service use and level of area deprivation, U.S. region, and other individual factors.
Author(s): Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson, Kenneth E. Covinsky, Jing Cheng, Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Veronica Yank
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1688161
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the association between utilization of home- and community-based services and area-level factors as measured by the Area Deprivation Index, utilizing survey data of 361 rural family caregivers of people with dementia. Analyzes the relationship between home or community service use and level of area deprivation, U.S. region, and other individual factors.
Author(s): Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson, Kenneth E. Covinsky, Jing Cheng, Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Veronica Yank
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1688161
Date: 10/2025
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Supporting Individuals With Cognitive Impairment and Family Members in Rural Communities: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Digital Health Study
Study protocol for the Northern Arizona Memory Study (NAZMS), which will support dementia risk identification and promote understanding of cognitive health needs and supports via surveys and interviews of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) caregiver and care-receiver dyads in rural Northern Arizona. Details study design and implementation, and highlights the importance of culturally-tailored, accessible, and practical ADRD care supports and interventions for rural and tribal families in Arizona.
Author(s): Eric S. Cerino, Megan C. McCoy, Margarita Martinez, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14, e77958
Date: 10/2025
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Study protocol for the Northern Arizona Memory Study (NAZMS), which will support dementia risk identification and promote understanding of cognitive health needs and supports via surveys and interviews of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) caregiver and care-receiver dyads in rural Northern Arizona. Details study design and implementation, and highlights the importance of culturally-tailored, accessible, and practical ADRD care supports and interventions for rural and tribal families in Arizona.
Author(s): Eric S. Cerino, Megan C. McCoy, Margarita Martinez, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14, e77958
Date: 10/2025
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2024 National Summer EBT Family Survey
Examines participation in and impact of Summer EBT (S-EBT), or SUNBucks, during the summer of 2024. Provides data on food insecurity, experiences using S-EBT, and S-EBT information and communications, with information specific to rural parents and families.
Author(s): David Metz, Lucia del Puppo, Denny Han
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Examines participation in and impact of Summer EBT (S-EBT), or SUNBucks, during the summer of 2024. Provides data on food insecurity, experiences using S-EBT, and S-EBT information and communications, with information specific to rural parents and families.
Author(s): David Metz, Lucia del Puppo, Denny Han
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Food Insecurity and Rural Child and Family Functioning
Examines the relationship between food security and family well-being in rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes feedback from 61 caregivers regarding household food insecurity, child mental health issues, parent-child conflict, and more.
Author(s): Merelise R. Ametti, Hannah E. Frering, Kierian Huang, Katya Marsh, Robert R. Althoff
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(9), e2530691
Date: 09/2025
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Examines the relationship between food security and family well-being in rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes feedback from 61 caregivers regarding household food insecurity, child mental health issues, parent-child conflict, and more.
Author(s): Merelise R. Ametti, Hannah E. Frering, Kierian Huang, Katya Marsh, Robert R. Althoff
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(9), e2530691
Date: 09/2025
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