Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce
Addressing Behavioral Health Needs in Rural North Carolina: A Community Paramedicine Approach
Profiles a mobile integrated healthcare-community paramedicine (MIH-CP) model in rural western North Carolina that supports rural residents with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs. Discusses the MIH-CP's behavioral healthcare staffing, funding, and services, providing implementation strategies for rural areas interested in expanding sustainable community paramedicine services.
Author(s): Ashley Jasko
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Profiles a mobile integrated healthcare-community paramedicine (MIH-CP) model in rural western North Carolina that supports rural residents with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs. Discusses the MIH-CP's behavioral healthcare staffing, funding, and services, providing implementation strategies for rural areas interested in expanding sustainable community paramedicine services.
Author(s): Ashley Jasko
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Leveraging the Community-Based Workforce to Strengthen Behavioral Health Care in Rural Tennessee
Profiles River Valley Health (RVH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) that serves rural communities in eastern Tennessee. Discusses how a community-based workforce can provide more accessible and responsive behavioral healthcare in rural areas. Includes staffing models and funding strategies for sustainability.
Author(s): Christopher Menschner
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Profiles River Valley Health (RVH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) that serves rural communities in eastern Tennessee. Discusses how a community-based workforce can provide more accessible and responsive behavioral healthcare in rural areas. Includes staffing models and funding strategies for sustainability.
Author(s): Christopher Menschner
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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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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South Dakota Department of Health - Maternal and Infant Health Task Force Strategic Plan
Report provides an overview of maternal and infant health outcomes and needs in South Dakota. Discusses access challenges in rural counties, particularly in counties with hospitals that lack obstetric units, and compares obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals. Details maternal and infant health initiatives throughout the state.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Report provides an overview of maternal and infant health outcomes and needs in South Dakota. Discusses access challenges in rural counties, particularly in counties with hospitals that lack obstetric units, and compares obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals. Details maternal and infant health initiatives throughout the state.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Survey of the Availability of Neurology Services on Hawaiʻi Island
Examines access to neurology services via a survey of 28 primary care physicians on Hawaii Island, covering topics including the prevalence of neurological complaints or diagnoses among patients, the ability of physicians to manage or refer patients for neurological conditions, and more. Discusses access challenges related to Hawaii's rurality throughout.
Author(s): Jan Augustine E. Aurelio, J. Douglas Miles
Citation: Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, 85(10), 299-306
Date: 10/2026
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Examines access to neurology services via a survey of 28 primary care physicians on Hawaii Island, covering topics including the prevalence of neurological complaints or diagnoses among patients, the ability of physicians to manage or refer patients for neurological conditions, and more. Discusses access challenges related to Hawaii's rurality throughout.
Author(s): Jan Augustine E. Aurelio, J. Douglas Miles
Citation: Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, 85(10), 299-306
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 and Urban Differences in the Trends in Supply of Home Care Workers From 2015 to 2024
Examines how the supply of direct care workers varies by rural or urban location using 2015-2024 American Community Survey data. Includes data comparisons by pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.
Author(s): Diogo Miguel Goncalves Fortes, Katherine Miller
Citation: Journal of Applied Gerontology
Date: 10/2026
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Examines how the supply of direct care workers varies by rural or urban location using 2015-2024 American Community Survey data. Includes data comparisons by pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.
Author(s): Diogo Miguel Goncalves Fortes, Katherine Miller
Citation: Journal of Applied Gerontology
Date: 10/2026
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School Nurses' Perceptions of Mental Health Responsibilities Within School Nursing Practice: A Q Methodology Study
Examines the perspectives of school nurses on addressing mental health needs of students in rural schools. Analyzes feedback from 70 school nurses working in eastern North Carolina on issues such as nursing responsibilities, mental health, suicide risk, crisis response, and more.
Author(s): Travis E. Lewis, Deby E. Tyndall, Mitzi C. Pestaner
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(10), e70242
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the perspectives of school nurses on addressing mental health needs of students in rural schools. Analyzes feedback from 70 school nurses working in eastern North Carolina on issues such as nursing responsibilities, mental health, suicide risk, crisis response, and more.
Author(s): Travis E. Lewis, Deby E. Tyndall, Mitzi C. Pestaner
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(10), e70242
Date: 10/2026
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Power of Partnerships Between Health Centers & Rural Hospitals
Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities.
Additional links: Case Studies at a Glance, July 2026
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Impact! Communications, Inc., National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities.
Additional links: Case Studies at a Glance, July 2026
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Impact! Communications, Inc., National Association of Community Health Centers
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Scope of Practice Laws Affecting Team-Based Heart Disease Care in Rural America: Policy Challenges and Opportunities
Evaluates how scope of practice laws influence team-based heart disease care and reimbursement via legal analysis of a variety of health professions and service categories across 11 states and 2 federal healthcare systems, and highlights health policy opportunities to strengthen team-based care. Discusses how team-based care can address rural workforce shortages and improve access to care.
Author(s): Jeff Lane, Signe Burchim, Amanda Li, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 15(9), e049493
Date: 09/2026
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Evaluates how scope of practice laws influence team-based heart disease care and reimbursement via legal analysis of a variety of health professions and service categories across 11 states and 2 federal healthcare systems, and highlights health policy opportunities to strengthen team-based care. Discusses how team-based care can address rural workforce shortages and improve access to care.
Author(s): Jeff Lane, Signe Burchim, Amanda Li, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 15(9), e049493
Date: 09/2026
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