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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social determinants of health

Building Healthier Rural Communities: Economic Development Districts Address Social Determinants of Health
Report outlining social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural areas and how Economic Development Districts (EDD) address them. Highlights workforce, infrastructure, food security, health, disaster preparedness, funding, data, and public-private partnerships. Includes a case study from an EDD in North Carolina and highlights the role of hospitals in the community.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Economic Development District Community of Practice, National Association of Development Organizations
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Expanding Access to Integrated Medicare-Medicaid Programs in Rural Communities
Discusses the rural population who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and their unique physical health, mental health, and health-related social needs (HRSNs). Includes information on dual eligibility issues related to access, integrated care, and managed care infrastructure. Provides a literature review and stakeholder interview feedback focused on potential strategies to improve healthcare integration.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Joseph, Nancy Archibald, Ellen Breslin
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Understanding the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Symptom Reporting in Pediatric Cancer
Highlights a study on the social determinants of health of caregivers of children with cancer in Appalachia. Discusses the symptom burden of child cancer and breaks down data by child's age, rurality, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian location, among other measures.
Author(s): Micah A. Skeens, Adelaide Booze, Mark Ranalli, Anna Olsavsky
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70071
Date: 08/2025
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Wisconsin Critical Access Hospitals: Meeting Rural Community Needs!
Provides the top community health priorities for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Wisconsin, focusing on access to care, chronic disease, mental health, social determinants of health, and substance use. Lists each CAH and their county location.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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Pennsylvania Rural Health Plan, 2025-2030
Highlights healthcare challenges in rural Pennsylvania, acknowledges strengths, and promotes recommendations to address disparities. Features demographics and sections on social determinants of health, agricultural safety and farmworker health, aging, disabilities, homelessness, veterans, Pennsylvania's healthcare delivery system, broadband access, and telehealth.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Rural Health Association
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The Relationship Between the Population Experiencing Homelessness and Living in Shelters and Poverty
Presents as paper exploring the U.S. Census data related to poverty for the housed and unhoused population. Discusses how these groups compare to one another. Breaks down data by rural, urban, and national rates.
Author(s): Brian Glassman
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Geographic and Demographic Correlates of Living in Manufactured Homes: Implications for Health
Examines rates of living in manufactured homes by rural and urban location, and rates among rural residents by region and socio-demographic characteristics. Features statistics on likelihood of living in manufactured housing, crowded housing by manufactured housing status, and housing quality and cost burden, with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Jonathan Schroeder, Alexis Swendener, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Veterans' Thoughts on High Suicide Rates in Their Communities—and on What to Do About It
Highlights a study on the perspective of rural veterans on methods for suicide prevention in their communities. Bases findings on a survey of veterans in rural counties in Oregon and explores perceptions around socioeconomic resources, person-centered healthcare, and having a strong sense of community.
Author(s): Lauren M. Denneson
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Applying the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Framework to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers: Insights From the Literature
Highlights a study on the efficacy of applying the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Framework to the health and well-being of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Explores the ways the structure of the framework are described in studies of farmworkers and the ways the structure is not aligned.
Author(s): Tessa Bonney, Dana Madigan, Vinay Espinosa-Ravi, Linda Forst
Citation: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 68(7), 573-587
Date: 07/2025
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Social Determinants of Health and Rehabilitation Service Areas: An Urban and Rural Mediation Analysis
Analyzes associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and community discharge rate disparities in rural and urban communities, utilizing AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database data alongside other ZCTA-level datasets. Identifies key factors for addressing disparities in post-acute rehabilitation services.
Author(s): Sanghun Nam, Susanne Schmidt, Julianna M. Dean, Alex F. Bokov, Timothy A. Reistetter
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1562610
Date: 06/2025
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