Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Schools
Transforming Rural Health Care Through Medicaid Innovation: Tip Sheet Series
Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Discusses behavioral health, school-based services, and integrated care access. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Discusses behavioral health, school-based services, and integrated care access. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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The Impact of Nutrition Training Programs on Knowledge, Confidence, and Behavioral Intention Among School Nutrition Professionals
Examines training programs for rural school nutrition professionals (SNPs) that include flexible scheduling and considerations related to staff and resource shortages. Utilizes observational data and pre- and post-training evaluations to analyze SNP knowledge and confidence to implement new culinary behaviors after the virtual and in-person flexible training format.
Author(s): Wenhao Zhang, Brianna Routh, Molly Stenberg, Haley Scott
Citation: Journal of School Health
Date: 08/2025
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Examines training programs for rural school nutrition professionals (SNPs) that include flexible scheduling and considerations related to staff and resource shortages. Utilizes observational data and pre- and post-training evaluations to analyze SNP knowledge and confidence to implement new culinary behaviors after the virtual and in-person flexible training format.
Author(s): Wenhao Zhang, Brianna Routh, Molly Stenberg, Haley Scott
Citation: Journal of School Health
Date: 08/2025
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Improving Access to Specialty Care for Rural Children Using Enhanced Hearing Screening and Specialty Telehealth Follow-Up in Rural Kentucky Schools: Protocol for a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Stepped Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (Appalachian STAR Trial)
A study protocol for the Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) trial which aims to improve access to specialty hearing care for children living in rural Kentucky. Focuses on school hearing screenings of kindergartners and follow-up referrals to specialty care.
Author(s): Tarika Srinivasan, Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 08/2025
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A study protocol for the Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) trial which aims to improve access to specialty hearing care for children living in rural Kentucky. Focuses on school hearing screenings of kindergartners and follow-up referrals to specialty care.
Author(s): Tarika Srinivasan, Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 08/2025
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Hoosier Sport Re-Social: A Protocol for Developing a Biopsychosocial Body Satisfaction Intervention in Rural Indiana
Provides a study protocol for an intervention aimed at improving body satisfaction, healthy social media use, and positive exercise behaviors in adolescent girls living in rural Indiana. Discusses plans to examine adolescent self-esteem and physical activity levels, create a community co-design intervention, and conduct a mixed-methods pilot study within physical and health education classes.
Author(s): Janette M. Watkins, Janelle M. Goss, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher, et al.
Citation: Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11, 113
Date: 08/2025
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Provides a study protocol for an intervention aimed at improving body satisfaction, healthy social media use, and positive exercise behaviors in adolescent girls living in rural Indiana. Discusses plans to examine adolescent self-esteem and physical activity levels, create a community co-design intervention, and conduct a mixed-methods pilot study within physical and health education classes.
Author(s): Janette M. Watkins, Janelle M. Goss, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher, et al.
Citation: Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11, 113
Date: 08/2025
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Summer Food for Children: An Overview of Federal Aid
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Highlights changes to the SFSP made in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, including the permanent authorization of the nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) Program for Children, and allowing Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors to provide meals for off-site consumption to children in rural areas without access to congregate meal sites.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Highlights changes to the SFSP made in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, including the permanent authorization of the nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) Program for Children, and allowing Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors to provide meals for off-site consumption to children in rural areas without access to congregate meal sites.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Understanding Rural Schools' Capacity to Learn About Evidence-Based Practices That Promote Youth Mental Health: A Comparative Case Study
Examines the capacity of rural middle schools to learn about mental health evidence-based practices (EBPs). Utilizes survey and interview data from 11 middle school staff to discuss barriers and facilitators related to school implementation of mental health EBPs as well as the role of intermediary support and expert collaboration.
Author(s): Savannah Hobbs, Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Cynthia Hazel
Citation: The Rural Educator, 46(3), 6-23
Date: 07/2025
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Examines the capacity of rural middle schools to learn about mental health evidence-based practices (EBPs). Utilizes survey and interview data from 11 middle school staff to discuss barriers and facilitators related to school implementation of mental health EBPs as well as the role of intermediary support and expert collaboration.
Author(s): Savannah Hobbs, Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Cynthia Hazel
Citation: The Rural Educator, 46(3), 6-23
Date: 07/2025
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Using Implementation Strategies to Promote the Maintenance Of Kids SIPsmartER In Rural Appalachian Middle Schools: A Process Evaluation
Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J Porter, Annie L Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J Porter, Annie L Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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School-Based Health Centers and the Utilization of Primary Care in Rural Communities
Examines utilization patterns of school-based health centers (SBHCs) in 4 rural New York counties. Utilizes 2011–2017 electronic health record data to analyze students with or without access to SBHCs, utilization of SBHCs, and SBHC services used, such as primary care, immunizations, and chronic disease management.
Author(s): Xue Zhang, Sharon Tennyson, Chris L Kjolhede, Wendy M Brunner
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 69(4), 107962
Date: 06/2025
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Examines utilization patterns of school-based health centers (SBHCs) in 4 rural New York counties. Utilizes 2011–2017 electronic health record data to analyze students with or without access to SBHCs, utilization of SBHCs, and SBHC services used, such as primary care, immunizations, and chronic disease management.
Author(s): Xue Zhang, Sharon Tennyson, Chris L Kjolhede, Wendy M Brunner
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 69(4), 107962
Date: 06/2025
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Partnering with Schools, Feeding Communities: ETHRA's Non-Congregate Success
Profiles the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA) and their partnership with schools to provide non-congregate meals to children in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Provides information on the program model and and how it functions.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Profiles the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA) and their partnership with schools to provide non-congregate meals to children in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Provides information on the program model and and how it functions.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Maintenance of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Behaviors Among Adolescents and Their Caregivers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Examines intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among rural, Central Appalachian students and their caregivers at 19 months after their participation in the Kids SIPsmartER behavior-change intervention, which focused on reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) via classroom-based lessons for middle school students and an SMS strategy for their caregivers.
Author(s): Annie Reid, Wen You, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240520
Date: 06/2025
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Examines intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among rural, Central Appalachian students and their caregivers at 19 months after their participation in the Kids SIPsmartER behavior-change intervention, which focused on reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) via classroom-based lessons for middle school students and an SMS strategy for their caregivers.
Author(s): Annie Reid, Wen You, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240520
Date: 06/2025
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