Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Developing Community Partnerships and Authentically Engaging Youth to Prevent Substance Use: Successes from the Pyramid Coalition in Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Explores the Pyramid Coalition, a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program initiative, in rural Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Discusses the coalition's work in preventing youth substance use and highlights best practices for engaging youth in rural and frontier communities.
Author(s): Christina Johnson, Joni Kerr
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S181-S184
Date: 11/2026
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Explores the Pyramid Coalition, a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program initiative, in rural Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Discusses the coalition's work in preventing youth substance use and highlights best practices for engaging youth in rural and frontier communities.
Author(s): Christina Johnson, Joni Kerr
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S181-S184
Date: 11/2026
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Building a Rural, Coalition-Based Approach to Youth Substance Use Prevention: The Drug Free Dickson Coalition Model
Presents a rural coalition-based initiative to address youth substance use in Dickson County, Tennessee. Details a coalition, including local government, schools, healthcare providers, faith-based institutions, and law enforcement, among others, that works to engage youth across the county using evidence-based strategies.
Author(s): Karrie R. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S185-S188
Date: 11/2026
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Presents a rural coalition-based initiative to address youth substance use in Dickson County, Tennessee. Details a coalition, including local government, schools, healthcare providers, faith-based institutions, and law enforcement, among others, that works to engage youth across the county using evidence-based strategies.
Author(s): Karrie R. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S185-S188
Date: 11/2026
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How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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America's Health Rankings 2026 Health of Women and Children Report
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Cancer Risk Factors, Screening, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation Across the U.S. Urban-to-Frontier Continuum
Presents a study on geographic variation in cancer risk behaviors and screening across the metropolitan-to-frontier continuum. Identifies demographic characteristics and cancer-related behaviors and screening access in rural, urban, and frontier areas. Explores rates of alcohol use, tobacco use, and physical activity, among other factors, by geography.
Author(s): Brody Gibson, Laurie Grieshober, Rachel M Ceballos, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, lgag021
Date: 10/2026
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Presents a study on geographic variation in cancer risk behaviors and screening across the metropolitan-to-frontier continuum. Identifies demographic characteristics and cancer-related behaviors and screening access in rural, urban, and frontier areas. Explores rates of alcohol use, tobacco use, and physical activity, among other factors, by geography.
Author(s): Brody Gibson, Laurie Grieshober, Rachel M Ceballos, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, lgag021
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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Regional Highlights: Changes in Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in the US, 2010-2024
Describes changes in availability of obstetric services at hospitals in the 4 U.S. census regions, including hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Describes changes in availability of obstetric services at hospitals in the 4 U.S. census regions, including hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Utility of Psychological Capital Theory in Rural Adolescent Mental Health Research
Explores the psychological capital (PsyCap), or one's sense of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, and mental health among rural adolescents. Bases findings on a survey of 59 adolescents in rural Texas. Discusses the utility of PsyCap as a model for evaluating rural adolescent mental health.
Author(s): Angela J. Preston, Lynn Rew, Cara C. Young, John Lowe, Huaxin Song
Citation: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31(4), 1374-1388
Date: 10/2026
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Explores the psychological capital (PsyCap), or one's sense of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, and mental health among rural adolescents. Bases findings on a survey of 59 adolescents in rural Texas. Discusses the utility of PsyCap as a model for evaluating rural adolescent mental health.
Author(s): Angela J. Preston, Lynn Rew, Cara C. Young, John Lowe, Huaxin Song
Citation: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31(4), 1374-1388
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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The Financial Impact of Pregnancy and Childbirth Among Louisiana Medicaid Beneficiaries
Examines the relationship between pregnancy and financial health of women in Louisiana. Analyzes 2017-2020 Medicaid claims data and credit reports of 76,468 patients and provides breakdowns of credit scores, medical debt, and nonmedical debt by demographics, pregnancy status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Brigham Walker, Ethan Tsai, Andrew Anderson, Melissa Evans, Kevin Callison
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70166
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the relationship between pregnancy and financial health of women in Louisiana. Analyzes 2017-2020 Medicaid claims data and credit reports of 76,468 patients and provides breakdowns of credit scores, medical debt, and nonmedical debt by demographics, pregnancy status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Brigham Walker, Ethan Tsai, Andrew Anderson, Melissa Evans, Kevin Callison
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70166
Date: 10/2026
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