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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations

COVID-19: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Accountability and Program Effectiveness of Federal Response
Discusses the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of federal actions on healthcare and economic policy areas through September 2021, including data on COVID-19 relief spending, testing, worker health and safety, and child nutrition programs. Offers 16 new recommendations to federal agencies regarding the proper use of relief funding, occupational health and safety, and fraud risks to unemployment insurance programs that would improve the federal response and preparation for future public health emergencies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Veterans Community Care Program: Background and Early Effects
Provides an overview of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), and discusses the impact of the program on veterans' access to care and the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) spending on community care. Explores other effects of VCCP, including care coordination, healthcare quality, and utilization of VHA facilities.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Budget Office
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Behavioral Health Equity Report 2021
Provides a breakdown and discussion of data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019. Details youth and adult mental health and substance use indicators by race and ethnicity, income level, and metro or nonmetro county, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Substance Use, Substance Use Disorders, and Substance Use Treatment Utilization among People Aged 12 or Older (2015-2019)
Report showing rates of substance use, substance use disorders, and substance use treatment utilization by race and ethnicity, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Breaks down data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use among Adults and Adolescents (2015-2019)
Report showing rates of mental health service use by race and ethnicity, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Breaks down data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Menthol Smoking and Nicotine Dependence among Black/African American Women Smokers Living in Low-Resource, Rural Communities
Reports the results of a study examining associations between menthol smoking with nicotine dependence and quitting behaviors for 146 Black women that smoke who are 18 to 50 years old and living in a low-resource, rural community in 2 Arkansas counties. Includes analysis on socioeconomic deprivation and nicotine dependence for the study population.
Author(s): Dina M. Jones, Margarete C. Kulik, Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, Sandilyn Bullock, Mignonne C. Guy, Pebbles Fagan
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10877
Date: 10/2021
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Improving Outcomes for American Indian/Alaska Native People Returning to the Community from Incarceration: A Resource Guide for Service Providers
Seeks to improve outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native populations returning to their communities and families after incarceration by sharing information, research, program examples, and other resources addressing various topics including culturally responsive programs, violence, housing, substance use, mental health, education, employment, and more. Also shares special considerations for service providers working with children and families, youth, and women.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Native Americans, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Mental Health Treatment Among Adults: United States, 2020
Report highlights the rates of mental health treatment provided to adults in 2020. Breaks down the data by type of treatment received and by patient sex and whether they lived in a large metropolitan, medium or small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan community.
Author(s): Emily P. Terlizzi, Tina Norris
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2017 and 2018 — National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2018–2020
Examines vaccination coverage for selected vaccines and doses among children born in 2017 and 2018. Supplementary Table 2 includes data for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 2
Author(s): Holly A. Hill, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(41), 1435-1440
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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COVID-19 Contracting: Indian Health Service Used Flexibilities to Meet Increased Medical Supply Needs
Examines the Indian Health Service (IHS) National Supply Service Center (NSSC) contract obligations to obtain COVID-19-related products and medical supplies. Describes the contracting approaches used and challenges IHS officials faced.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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