Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition
Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2024
Presents an overview of the SNAP Program eligibility requirements and benefit levels. Provides detailed tables showing comparisons in rural-urban areas. Coverage includes October 2023 through September 2024.
Author(s): Ben Ward, Mia Monkovic
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Presents an overview of the SNAP Program eligibility requirements and benefit levels. Provides detailed tables showing comparisons in rural-urban areas. Coverage includes October 2023 through September 2024.
Author(s): Ben Ward, Mia Monkovic
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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From Pickup to Porch: Best Practices for Diverse Rural Non-Congregate Meal Distribution
A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to successfully implement rural non-congregate (RNC) meal distribution programs. Provides RNC program examples focused on grab-and-go options, mobile meal routes, and home delivery across geographically dispersed areas. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): McKenzie Suitter, Lorinda El Aouita, Christy Lawson
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to successfully implement rural non-congregate (RNC) meal distribution programs. Provides RNC program examples focused on grab-and-go options, mobile meal routes, and home delivery across geographically dispersed areas. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): McKenzie Suitter, Lorinda El Aouita, Christy Lawson
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Economic Stability of Children, a Key Social Determinant of Health, in the United States: Differences by Rurality
Presents a study exploring economic security as a social determinant of health for rural children. Compares rates of economic security for rural and urban children by three different measures: housing instability, food insecurity, and income inadequacy.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Emma Boswell, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70164
Date: 05/2026
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Presents a study exploring economic security as a social determinant of health for rural children. Compares rates of economic security for rural and urban children by three different measures: housing instability, food insecurity, and income inadequacy.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Emma Boswell, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70164
Date: 05/2026
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Amplifying Impact: Advocacy Strategies for Rural, Non-Congregate Programs
A recorded webinar that focuses on creating effective collaborations among community stakeholders to promote successful rural non-congregate (RNC) summer meal programs. Discusses policy, advocacy efforts, and building community support for RNC programs.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): Heather Senecal, Petra Colindres, Aaron Goldstein
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that focuses on creating effective collaborations among community stakeholders to promote successful rural non-congregate (RNC) summer meal programs. Discusses policy, advocacy efforts, and building community support for RNC programs.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): Heather Senecal, Petra Colindres, Aaron Goldstein
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Feasibility Study of a Screening Decision Tool for Allocating Adults into Food Is Medicine Programs as an Effective Approach to Target Clinical and Dietary Outcomes among Rural and Urban Adults
Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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USDA FY 2027 Annual Performance Plan / FY 2025 Annual Performance Report
Outlines a strategic plan for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in fiscal year (FY) 2027, and reports on USDA's performance in FY 2025. Discusses topics including rural community development, chronic disease, nutrition, and more.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Outlines a strategic plan for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in fiscal year (FY) 2027, and reports on USDA's performance in FY 2025. Discusses topics including rural community development, chronic disease, nutrition, and more.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Associations Between Income and Coping Strategies among Households at Risk of Food Insecurity in a High Cost-of-Living Region
Surveys 1,021 food insecure adults in a rural, high cost of living region of Colorado to explore the associations between receiving charitable food and making economic tradeoffs for basic needs including medicine, housing, utilities, childcare, education, and transportation. Highlights trends within different ranges of the 2022 federal poverty level.
Author(s): Ana Altares, Laura L. Bellows, Rebecca Cleary, Carrie Chennault, Megan P. Mueller
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Surveys 1,021 food insecure adults in a rural, high cost of living region of Colorado to explore the associations between receiving charitable food and making economic tradeoffs for basic needs including medicine, housing, utilities, childcare, education, and transportation. Highlights trends within different ranges of the 2022 federal poverty level.
Author(s): Ana Altares, Laura L. Bellows, Rebecca Cleary, Carrie Chennault, Megan P. Mueller
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Social Determinants of Sleep Health Inequities Among Rural Appalachian Adults
Evaluates the sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors of 327 rural Appalachian adults to identify associations with insufficient sleep duration, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea risk.
Author(s): Mairead E. Moloney, Emily Slade, Joon Chung
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Evaluates the sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors of 327 rural Appalachian adults to identify associations with insufficient sleep duration, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea risk.
Author(s): Mairead E. Moloney, Emily Slade, Joon Chung
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Rural Community Perspectives on Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina
Assesses community perspectives of long-term recovery in two rural western North Carolina counties severely affected by Hurricane Helene. Focuses on housing, communication, transportation, mental health, and food insecurity.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Horney, Lilly Moreau
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 60-68
Date: 04/2026
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Assesses community perspectives of long-term recovery in two rural western North Carolina counties severely affected by Hurricane Helene. Focuses on housing, communication, transportation, mental health, and food insecurity.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Horney, Lilly Moreau
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 60-68
Date: 04/2026
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Impact of Food Literacy Education on Rural, Uninsured Patients With Diabetes
Examines changes in food literacy among 140 diabetic or prediabetic adults without insurance participating in the Fresh Start Food is Medicine (FIM) + Food Literacy intervention, which provided group classes on food literacy, direct provision of produce, and health coaching in rural, eastern North Carolina. Provides data on racial and ethnic disparities in food literacy before and after participation.
Author(s): Raven Breinholt, Brandon J. Stroud, Lauren R. Sastre
Citation: Journal of Nutrition and Behavior, 58, 379-393
Date: 04/2026
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Examines changes in food literacy among 140 diabetic or prediabetic adults without insurance participating in the Fresh Start Food is Medicine (FIM) + Food Literacy intervention, which provided group classes on food literacy, direct provision of produce, and health coaching in rural, eastern North Carolina. Provides data on racial and ethnic disparities in food literacy before and after participation.
Author(s): Raven Breinholt, Brandon J. Stroud, Lauren R. Sastre
Citation: Journal of Nutrition and Behavior, 58, 379-393
Date: 04/2026
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