Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health
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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Cardiometabolic Outcomes and Program Participation in Prescription for Your Health: A Rural Hospital-Based Wellness Program in Appalachia
Examines the impact of a hospital-based wellness program on participant health in rural West Virginia. Analyzes data from 585 participants related to changes in selected cardiometabolic measures such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. Discusses how locally developed hospital-based wellness models can address population health in rural Appalachia.
Author(s): Adam Baus, Anthony Yeager, Julie Carr, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the impact of a hospital-based wellness program on participant health in rural West Virginia. Analyzes data from 585 participants related to changes in selected cardiometabolic measures such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. Discusses how locally developed hospital-based wellness models can address population health in rural Appalachia.
Author(s): Adam Baus, Anthony Yeager, Julie Carr, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
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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Contributing Factors to Rural Energy Use, Costs, and Affordability in the Early 2020s
Examines disparities in energy efficiency and costs in rural and urban households. Utilizes data from the U.S. Department of Energy's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey to analyze rural versus urban differences in energy use and burden, energy efficiency, extreme weather, housing quality, and energy insecurity according to household types, such as low-income, homes with children, mobile homes, and rentals. Discusses financial and health impacts of poor energy performance in rural areas.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Hannah Kamen, Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines disparities in energy efficiency and costs in rural and urban households. Utilizes data from the U.S. Department of Energy's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey to analyze rural versus urban differences in energy use and burden, energy efficiency, extreme weather, housing quality, and energy insecurity according to household types, such as low-income, homes with children, mobile homes, and rentals. Discusses financial and health impacts of poor energy performance in rural areas.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Hannah Kamen, Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Agriculture and Natural Resource Programming Has the Largest Share of Extension Personnel
Offers a pie chart depicting the share of extension staff in 5 U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System program areas between 2007 and 2018.
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Offers a pie chart depicting the share of extension staff in 5 U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System program areas between 2007 and 2018.
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Rural and Urban Health Center Patients and Financing
Reports on rural and urban community health centers' revenue sources, patient demographics, and patient health insurance coverage using 2025 Uniform Data System (UDS) data. Includes an interactive map showing shares of child and adult rural health center patients covered by Medicaid by state.
Author(s): Akash Pillai, Jennifer Tolbert
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Reports on rural and urban community health centers' revenue sources, patient demographics, and patient health insurance coverage using 2025 Uniform Data System (UDS) data. Includes an interactive map showing shares of child and adult rural health center patients covered by Medicaid by state.
Author(s): Akash Pillai, Jennifer Tolbert
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Food Access and Mobility Toolkit
A toolkit that discusses the relationship between food security and mobility on health outcomes, focusing on older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income or rural populations who may have limited access to transportation. Provides strategies to improve mobility and food security, such as transportation and program integration, healthy food initiatives, federal funding braiding, connecting people with benefits to services, and more. Includes links to resources and program examples focused on rural areas.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center
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A toolkit that discusses the relationship between food security and mobility on health outcomes, focusing on older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income or rural populations who may have limited access to transportation. Provides strategies to improve mobility and food security, such as transportation and program integration, healthy food initiatives, federal funding braiding, connecting people with benefits to services, and more. Includes links to resources and program examples focused on rural areas.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center
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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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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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