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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Human services

Helping Older Adults Age Well in Rural America
Provides an overview of strategies that mitigate challenges related to aging in rural communities. Provides data on healthcare access in rural areas and presents successful models that focus on transportation, social services, and alternative care models, such as paramedicine and hybrid care.
Author(s): Martha Hostetter, Sarah Klein
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Houselessness and Syringe Service Program Utilization among People Who Inject Drugs in Eight Rural Areas Across the USA: A Cross-sectional Analysis
Examines the relationship between houselessness and syringe service program (SSP) use among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural areas. Analyzes survey data from self-identified PWID across 10 states and explores data on PWID demographic profile, related drug use, proximity to SSPs, and more. Discusses housing instability in rural areas and potential barriers to SSP use.
Author(s): April M. Ballard, Dylan Falk, Harris Greenwood, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 20, 157
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 6-8, 2023
Summarizes the 93nd meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Presents an overview of national and state perspectives on disability and independence in rural communities.
Additional links: Lincoln County Human Services Site Visit Summary
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Iowa Community Action Association 2023 Annual Report
Provides information on the Iowa Community Action Association's 2023 impact related to housing assistance programs, disaster aid, and support to children and pregnant women through Head Start. Includes county-level map indicating local community action agencies.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Community Action Association
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Report to Congress on the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019
Provides an overview of the primary activities and services implemented by the Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees between fiscal years 2018-2019. Provides an introduction to programs, performance standards and youth characteristics, basic center program, transitional living and maternity group home program, street outreach program, program performance monitoring, and service provision data. Includes information on the Rural Host Home Demonstration Project.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, Family & Youth Services Bureau
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Association Between Insurer Connectivity in Appalachian Population Health Networks and Preventable Hospitalizations: Evidence from Kentucky
Examines insurer connectivity in community networks across regions in Kentucky, and the association between connectivity and the probability of experiencing a preventable hospitalization. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, rural non-Appalachian, and Appalachian locations.
Author(s): Rachel Hogg-Graham, Kelsey R. Gatton, Rick Ingram, Glen P. Mays
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 5(2), 15-31
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Portfolio of Research in Welfare and Family Self-Sufficiency
Provides an overview of the efforts of the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation to support families and promote self-sufficiency. Focuses on capacity building, strategies to improve program/participant outcomes, knowledge building and communication, and related family welfare resources and publications. Discusses nuances of specific environments and human services in rural contexts.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Strengthening Two-Generation Initiatives that Support Child Development and Improve Family Economic Security: Insights from the Next Steps for Rigorous Research on Two-Generation Approaches Project
Provides an overview of the two-generation initiative meant to strengthen families through targeted human services that support child development and family economic security. Provides an overview of 4 organizations engaged in the formative evaluation stage of the initiative, focusing on research and implementation, built capacity to improve evaluations, and measurements used to evaluate and improve learning. Includes a case study of the Garrett County Community Action Committee in rural Maryland and their work with the two-generation initiative.
Author(s): Scott Baumgartner, Christine Ross, Emily Sama-Miller, et al.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, Mathematica
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Welfare and Family Self-Sufficiency Learning Agenda
Provides background and information on the development of the Welfare and Family Self Sufficiency Learning Agenda (WFSSLA) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Focuses on the structure of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), capacity building, and strategies for improving programs. Includes discussion on administering human services programs in rural contexts.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE – Preventing Readmissions
Podcast episode discussing the varied approaches used by quality leaders from three Critical Access Hospitals to reduce readmissions. Covers community partnerships and collaboration with local health and human services providers, including emergency medical services (EMS).
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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