Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
Leveraging the Built Environment for Health Equity: Promising Interventions for Small and Medium-Size Cities
Examines changes small and medium-size cities can make to the built environment to promote health. Identifies promising practices related to developing interventions and overcoming implementation challenges. Includes discussion of the needs of small rural cities.
Author(s): Martha Fedorowicz, Joe Schilling, Emily Bramhall, et al.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Examines changes small and medium-size cities can make to the built environment to promote health. Identifies promising practices related to developing interventions and overcoming implementation challenges. Includes discussion of the needs of small rural cities.
Author(s): Martha Fedorowicz, Joe Schilling, Emily Bramhall, et al.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Private Well Stewardship Within a Rural, Agricultural Latino Community: A Qualitative Study
Identifies key factors such as well water testing, treatment, and maintenance in relationship to well stewardship in rural Lower Yakima Valley. Reports on challenges Latino communities face regarding well usage, including home repair experience, financial limitations, and uncertainty over who is responsible for well water safety practices among landlords and neighbors.
Author(s): Kori VanDerGeest, Linda K. Ko, Catherine Karr, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20(863)
Date: 06/2020
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Identifies key factors such as well water testing, treatment, and maintenance in relationship to well stewardship in rural Lower Yakima Valley. Reports on challenges Latino communities face regarding well usage, including home repair experience, financial limitations, and uncertainty over who is responsible for well water safety practices among landlords and neighbors.
Author(s): Kori VanDerGeest, Linda K. Ko, Catherine Karr, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20(863)
Date: 06/2020
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An Evaluation of Appalachian Regional Commission Funding of Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects: Fiscal Year 2009-Fiscal Year 2016
Assesses 379 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to FY 2016 to benefit communities in all 13 Appalachian states. Offers discussion on the impact of ARC-funded projects on communities, including increased employment opportunities, household benefits, improved public health, and more. Provides background information, challenges, and outcomes for various projects completed before the end of FY 2018.
Author(s): Jeff Hughes, Maureen Berner, Austin Thompson, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, The University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center
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Assesses 379 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to FY 2016 to benefit communities in all 13 Appalachian states. Offers discussion on the impact of ARC-funded projects on communities, including increased employment opportunities, household benefits, improved public health, and more. Provides background information, challenges, and outcomes for various projects completed before the end of FY 2018.
Author(s): Jeff Hughes, Maureen Berner, Austin Thompson, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, The University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center
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Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America's Heartland
Examines rural transportation challenges, including decreased state transportation revenues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, higher traffic fatality rates compared to urban settings, poor road and bridge conditions, and more. Comments on the importance of rural transportation for the nation's economy, emphasizing its role in transferring goods and helping rural communities access healthcare, education, job opportunities, and social services.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Transportation Research Nonprofit (TRIP)
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Examines rural transportation challenges, including decreased state transportation revenues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, higher traffic fatality rates compared to urban settings, poor road and bridge conditions, and more. Comments on the importance of rural transportation for the nation's economy, emphasizing its role in transferring goods and helping rural communities access healthcare, education, job opportunities, and social services.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Transportation Research Nonprofit (TRIP)
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Lack of In-Home Piped Water and Reported Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages among Adults in Rural Alaska
Examines associations between availability of in-home piped water service and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in rural Alaska using data from 2013 and 2015. Assesses health outcomes such as obesity and self-reported poor health as related to SSBs. Includes statistics broken down by age, sex, household income, and education level, among other things.
Author(s): Emily Mosites, Sara Seeman, Andrea Fenaughty, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 23(5), 861-868
Date: 04/2020
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Examines associations between availability of in-home piped water service and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in rural Alaska using data from 2013 and 2015. Assesses health outcomes such as obesity and self-reported poor health as related to SSBs. Includes statistics broken down by age, sex, household income, and education level, among other things.
Author(s): Emily Mosites, Sara Seeman, Andrea Fenaughty, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 23(5), 861-868
Date: 04/2020
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The Exchange Feature Issue: Preparing for and Responding to Wildfires and Planned Outages
Newsletter issue focusing on lessons learned by medical facilities and communities in Colorado and California during the wildfires of 2017 and 2019. Covers information useful for rural hospital emergency managers and administration, including mass sheltering, hospital evacuation, managing stress and compassion fatigue among workers, and community recovery.
Citation: Issue 10
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Newsletter issue focusing on lessons learned by medical facilities and communities in Colorado and California during the wildfires of 2017 and 2019. Covers information useful for rural hospital emergency managers and administration, including mass sheltering, hospital evacuation, managing stress and compassion fatigue among workers, and community recovery.
Citation: Issue 10
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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2020 NACo Legislative Conference: Rural Grants 101: How County Officials Can Tap Into USDA Programs
Audio recording of National Association of Counties (NACo) panel discussion presented on March 2, 2020 in Washington, DC, describing ways in which counties can access USDA funding programs. Topics include rural electric cooperatives, rural telecommunications, and rural water and wastewater systems. Transcript available by clicking the More tab.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Audio recording of National Association of Counties (NACo) panel discussion presented on March 2, 2020 in Washington, DC, describing ways in which counties can access USDA funding programs. Topics include rural electric cooperatives, rural telecommunications, and rural water and wastewater systems. Transcript available by clicking the More tab.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Can Age-Friendly Planning Promote Equity in Community Health Across the Rural-Urban Divide in the US?
Utilizes the AARP Livability Index to explore differences in physical and built environment and social environment when comparing rural/urban counties. AARP Livability Index includes data breakdowns such as neighborhood, housing, transportation, and engagement, among others. Discusses additional factors such as income and population that impact community health in rural areas. Explores age-related community planning and its relationship to health challenges and community livability.
Author(s): Xue Zhang, Mildred E. Warner, Elaine Wethington
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1275
Date: 02/2020
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Utilizes the AARP Livability Index to explore differences in physical and built environment and social environment when comparing rural/urban counties. AARP Livability Index includes data breakdowns such as neighborhood, housing, transportation, and engagement, among others. Discusses additional factors such as income and population that impact community health in rural areas. Explores age-related community planning and its relationship to health challenges and community livability.
Author(s): Xue Zhang, Mildred E. Warner, Elaine Wethington
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1275
Date: 02/2020
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Understanding the True State of Connectivity in America
Provides an overview of the TestIT mobile app, developed to study cellular and broadband internet services, and the data collected from app users. Examines download speeds by county compared to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards. Discusses challenges rural and underserved communities with a limited broadband infrastructure face, including economic development, education and workforce development, and access to health and human services.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Farm Credit, Land O'Lakes, National Association of Counties, National Association of Development Organizations, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation
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Provides an overview of the TestIT mobile app, developed to study cellular and broadband internet services, and the data collected from app users. Examines download speeds by county compared to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards. Discusses challenges rural and underserved communities with a limited broadband infrastructure face, including economic development, education and workforce development, and access to health and human services.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Farm Credit, Land O'Lakes, National Association of Counties, National Association of Development Organizations, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation
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Implementing Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Through Community Coalitions and Extension Partnerships to Address Obesity in Rural Louisiana
Program evaluation brief describing obesity prevention programs implemented by community coalitions in 3 rural parishes with obesity rates of 40% or higher. Examines implications for public health.
Author(s): Denise Holston, Jessica Stroope, Melissa Cater, Michelle Kendall, Stephanie Broyles
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 02/2020
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Program evaluation brief describing obesity prevention programs implemented by community coalitions in 3 rural parishes with obesity rates of 40% or higher. Examines implications for public health.
Author(s): Denise Holston, Jessica Stroope, Melissa Cater, Michelle Kendall, Stephanie Broyles
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 02/2020
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