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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Poverty

It's Time to Connect Rural Health Equity with Community and Economic Development
Discusses research on the relationship of health equity with rural and economic development. Presents resources demonstrating innovative projects to help people in rural communities live healthy lives.
Author(s): Katharine Ferguson, Katrina Badger
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Oral Health Status of Low-Income Children in Pennsylvania: A Rural-Urban Comparison
Describes research examining the oral health component of the Medical Assistance (MA) program for Pennsylvania children, additional oral health programs and services, the supply and distribution of Pennsylvania dentists, and the overall oral healthcare delivery system for low-income children in rural Pennsylvania. Features statistics including the number of general dentists and specialists who were active MA providers as of 2017, with breakdowns by urban or rural location, and a county-level map showing low-income Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas by rural status as of 2018.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Lisa Davis, Kelly Braun, Myron R. Schwartz
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Transforming Persistent Poverty in America: How Community Development Financial Institutions Drive Economic Opportunity
Report discusses the role community development financial institutions play in rural communities. Highlights economic and social barriers in rural counties, such as unemployment, lack of financial institutions, inadequate housing, structural inequality, and lack of access to healthcare, among others.
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Partners for Rural Transformation
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Poverty Rates in 2017 Were Highest for Children, Particularly Among Those Living in Rural Areas
Bar chart showing rural and urban poverty rates by age group. Includes data for children under 5 years, all children under 18 years of age, working age adults (18-64 years), and seniors (65 and older).
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Maternal Health Begins Where Moms Live, Learn, and Work
Discusses the social and healthcare influences, particularly in rural areas, on maternal health and its effect on maternal mortality. Compares rural county and urban county data for Arizona state Medicaid coverage, amount of prenatal care received and when it was received, and the poverty rate.
Author(s): Bryna Koch, Benjamin Brady, Susan Coates, et al.
Date: 10/2019
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The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2018
Provides estimates of poverty for the official poverty measure and the supplemental poverty measure, which takes into account government programs that support low-income families. Tables A-1, A-2, and A-8 provide data for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Liana Fox
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Child Poverty Declines Slightly in 2018 to 18 Percent
Brief summary of child poverty rates. Includes a line chart showing the percent of children in poverty from 2007 through 2018 for city, suburban, and rural places.
Author(s): Jessica A. Carson
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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The Older Population in Rural America: 2012-2016
Describes the rural older population, those 65 years and older, compared to urban older adults. Includes rural-urban data on population size for the nation, by region, and by state. Also covers demographic, social, and economic characteristics, age distribution, and sex ratio by age. Some data is available by level of rurality for mostly urban, mostly rural, and completely rural counties.
Author(s): Amy Symens Smith, Edward Trevelyan
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Home Equity: A Vision of Housing Security, Health and Opportunity
Provides data demonstrating the interrelationship between housing insecurity and health equity. Examines how policies and racism have impacted housing stability in Colorado's rural, urban, and suburban communities. Looks at the challenges to housing security faced by communities of color, undocumented immigrants, people with disabilities, families with children, low income households, rural communities, and homelessness populations. Suggests housing policies that may impact communities and improve housing security.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Health Institute
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Select Maps on the Population 65 and Older in the United States by County: 2013-2017
Collection of maps showing county-level data on adults age 65 and older, with a focus on disability. Includes maps showing disability combined with living alone, widowhood, poverty status, and labor force participation.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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