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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Transportation

Association Between Social Vulnerability and a County's Risk for Becoming a COVID-19 Hotspot — United States, June 1–July 25, 2020
Examines associations between social vulnerability and COVID-19 hotspot locations, based on June 1–July 25, 2020 county-level COVID-19 cases and data from the 2018 CDC social vulnerability index. Includes data by level of urbanicity for large metropolitan, small/medium metro, and nonmetro counties. Looks at both social vulnerability overall and specific components, including racial/ethnic minority population, percent of residents who speak English less than well, and housing and transportation vulnerability.
Author(s): Sharoda Dasgupta, Virginia B. Bowen, Andrew Leidner, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(42), 1535-1541
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Rural America's Senior Citizens: Considerations for Transportation, Healthcare Access, Connectedness, Nutrition and Economics
Policy paper providing an overview of rural older adults. Examines the challenges rural older adults face in accessing healthcare. Discusses how transportation, social isolation, nutrition, and economics impact the health outcomes of this population.
Author(s): Tasha Brown, Kay Miller Temple, Josie Rudolphi
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Association Between Population Mobility Reductions and New COVID-19 Diagnoses in the United States Along the Urban-Rural Gradient, February-April, 2020
Examines whether changes in population mobility are correlated with the rate of new COVID-19 cases in U.S. counties. Includes county-level maps with rural/urban comparisons.
Author(s): Xiaojiang Li, Abby Rudolph, Jeremy Mennis
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
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Assessment of North Dakota Mobility Options, Transit Needs, and Characteristics of Users
Examines existing transit and passenger mobility services in North Dakota to identify transportation gaps and funding requirements for rural and urban areas across the state. Provides county-level data and maps on population estimates, mobility needs index scores, demographics, number of workers without access to a vehicle, and more. Includes demographic information on rural transit riders, data for rural transit providers, and other rural-specific information.
Author(s): Jeremy Mattson, Dilip Mistry, Jill Hough
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Transit for Healthcare: Volunteer Drivers in Aging Rural Minnesota
Covers supply and demand for volunteer drivers and discusses how insufficient transportation services negatively affect healthcare access for elderly and disabled populations in rural Minnesota. Examines obstacles facing volunteer drivers, including mileage reimbursement, distance to client's home, vehicle insurance, and more.
Author(s): Whitney Oachs
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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A Volunteer Program in Maine to Transport Community Members to Health Care Appointments
Highlights a non-emergency volunteer transportation program in rural Maine. Outlines the goals and structure of the program and provides data about the number of trips and miles covered by year over the course of the program's existence.
Author(s): Sarah Levin Martin, James Wood, Steven Soule
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
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Blind Spot: Mobility and Aging in Rural America
Examines mobility challenges older adults face in rural America. Highlights programs that support the transit needs of older adults in rural Arizona. Outlines opportunities for philanthropies to engage with communities on mobility initiatives.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Age Friendly Arizona
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The Role of Transportation in Addressing Social Isolation in Older Adults
Summarizes the findings of a research project that included a literature review and interviews of experts to determine if a lack of transportation is associated with the probability of social isolation among older adults. Highlights common themes among three examples of transit programs, identifies funding sources for rural and urban organizations, and offers recommendations for additional research.
Additional links: Condensed Report
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Christina Worrall, Madelyn Klabunde, Yingling Fan
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Center for Mobility Management, State Health Access Data Assistance Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Strategies for Rural Communities for Addressing Substance Misuse among Families Involved with the Child Welfare System
Describes nine programs across seven states that have addressed challenges to serving child welfare-involved parents with substance use issues through mentoring, case management, providing access to treatment and affordable housing, and other support services. Discusses considerations for expanding and replicating these programs in rural communities.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Jung Kim, Elizabeth Clary, Christina Ribar, Sarah Palmer, Elizabeth Weigensberg
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Rides to Health and Wealth: A Driving Force for Rural Health Network Action Webinar
Webinar featuring the Health and Wealth Network in Missouri, which increases access to transportation for rural residents through community coordination and scheduling. Discusses impacts of transportation and mobility on health and healthcare access for rural Missourians. Transcript available by clicking the three dots (menu) below video image, then selecting Show Transcript.
Author(s): Kelly Ast
Date: 06/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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