Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
Water Affordability Needs Assessment: Report to Congress
Reports on access to affordable, safe water across the United States. Discusses challenges faced by community water systems and household-level access challenges, and recommends policies to increase affordable water access. Highlights rural, tribal, and underserved communities throughout, including discussion of funding and program case studies.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Reports on access to affordable, safe water across the United States. Discusses challenges faced by community water systems and household-level access challenges, and recommends policies to increase affordable water access. Highlights rural, tribal, and underserved communities throughout, including discussion of funding and program case studies.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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The Loss of Rural Vital Places: A Case Study Using the Social Determinants of Health Framework
Interviews 26 residents of a rural Pennsylvania town to explore the impact of the loss of vital places (defined as sources of healthy food, recreational facilities, and social spaces) through a social determinants of health lens. Discusses built environments, economic stability, education, and transportation and their impacts on health and wellbeing.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant
Citation: Wellbeing, Space and Society, 7
Date: 12/2024
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Interviews 26 residents of a rural Pennsylvania town to explore the impact of the loss of vital places (defined as sources of healthy food, recreational facilities, and social spaces) through a social determinants of health lens. Discusses built environments, economic stability, education, and transportation and their impacts on health and wellbeing.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant
Citation: Wellbeing, Space and Society, 7
Date: 12/2024
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Water Fluoridation in the U.S.: The Federal Role in Policy and Practice
Examines water fluoridation across the United States, with a focus on policy, best practices, dental health impacts, and state-by-state percentages of people using community water systems (CWS) that receive fluoridated water. Discusses water fluoridation barriers in rural and small communities.
Author(s): Josh Michaud, Jennifer Kates, Nambi Ndugga
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Examines water fluoridation across the United States, with a focus on policy, best practices, dental health impacts, and state-by-state percentages of people using community water systems (CWS) that receive fluoridated water. Discusses water fluoridation barriers in rural and small communities.
Author(s): Josh Michaud, Jennifer Kates, Nambi Ndugga
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Staffing Shortages Limited IHS's Capacity To Effectively Administer Much-Needed Sanitation Projects Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Explores Indian Health Service (IHS) efforts to expand staffing and capacity to administer and oversee Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in fiscal year 2023. Identifies challenges IHS experienced that threatened its ability to complete projects and meet sanitation needs in a timely manner. Offers recommendations to IHS to related to recruitment, retention, and housing of SFC staff.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Explores Indian Health Service (IHS) efforts to expand staffing and capacity to administer and oversee Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in fiscal year 2023. Identifies challenges IHS experienced that threatened its ability to complete projects and meet sanitation needs in a timely manner. Offers recommendations to IHS to related to recruitment, retention, and housing of SFC staff.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Farm Bill Primer: Rural Broadband Provisions
Highlights selected rural broadband programs and provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill, including the Rural Broadband Program, Community Connect Grant Program, and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. Outlines considerations for Congress related to the ReConnect Program, rural health challenges, and expanding broadband to support increased telework opportunities.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Highlights selected rural broadband programs and provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill, including the Rural Broadband Program, Community Connect Grant Program, and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. Outlines considerations for Congress related to the ReConnect Program, rural health challenges, and expanding broadband to support increased telework opportunities.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Appalachian Regional Commission Performance & Accountability Report: Fiscal Year 2024
Provides an overview of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) projects from 2024 that develop economy, promote education and healthy living, invest in infrastructure, strengthen natural and cultural heritage, and build capacity in the Appalachian region. Includes healthcare-focused discussions about substance use, healthcare grants, healthcare workforce, and more.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Provides an overview of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) projects from 2024 that develop economy, promote education and healthy living, invest in infrastructure, strengthen natural and cultural heritage, and build capacity in the Appalachian region. Includes healthcare-focused discussions about substance use, healthcare grants, healthcare workforce, and more.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Rural Health Success Stories
Highlights USDA Rural Development-funded programs in each region of the United States. Highlights healthcare facilities and other uses of community development funding in Arizona, Maine, Louisiana, and South Dakota.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Highlights USDA Rural Development-funded programs in each region of the United States. Highlights healthcare facilities and other uses of community development funding in Arizona, Maine, Louisiana, and South Dakota.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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USDA Rural Development Rural Health: What We Do
Presents an overview of USDA Rural Development funding for rural health in fiscal year 2024. Covers telehealth and broadband, rural facilities, economic development, housing, infrastructure, mental health and substance use, and emergency medical services.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Presents an overview of USDA Rural Development funding for rural health in fiscal year 2024. Covers telehealth and broadband, rural facilities, economic development, housing, infrastructure, mental health and substance use, and emergency medical services.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Future Directions for Rural Population Research: Findings from RPRN's Listening Sessions
Summarizes 5 listening sessions with rural development practitioners aiming to identify areas of research need by rural population researchers. Discusses trends in agriculture and food systems, community and economic development, the environment and natural resources, and health, healthcare, and disability services. Offers recommendations related to information sharing, community involvement in research, data gathering, and best practices and evaluation.
Author(s): Kristina Brant, Paige, Kelly, Danielle Rhubart, et al.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Population Research Network
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Summarizes 5 listening sessions with rural development practitioners aiming to identify areas of research need by rural population researchers. Discusses trends in agriculture and food systems, community and economic development, the environment and natural resources, and health, healthcare, and disability services. Offers recommendations related to information sharing, community involvement in research, data gathering, and best practices and evaluation.
Author(s): Kristina Brant, Paige, Kelly, Danielle Rhubart, et al.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Population Research Network
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Texas Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan Progress Report, 2024
Reports on the progress, strategies, and milestones of the Texas Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan. Discusses strategies to support rural hospitals, covering policies and initiatives related to Medicaid reimbursements, hospital revenue opportunities, challenges providing care to patients covered by Medicare and other payers, use of state funds for hospital stabilization, and infrastructure development. Provides a map of rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Emergency Hospitals in Texas.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reports on the progress, strategies, and milestones of the Texas Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan. Discusses strategies to support rural hospitals, covering policies and initiatives related to Medicaid reimbursements, hospital revenue opportunities, challenges providing care to patients covered by Medicare and other payers, use of state funds for hospital stabilization, and infrastructure development. Provides a map of rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Emergency Hospitals in Texas.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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