Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Tribal communities
WIC Participant and Local Agency Staff Perspectives on Increased Cash-Value Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Within an American Indian Tribal Organization
Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Awakening the Seeds In Native Youth: Native Farm to School Evaluation Report
Discusses the Native Farm to School project, a food systems initiative that supports tribal communities in integrating sustainable cultural practices, land stewardship, and traditional foods into their local Indigenous food systems. Provides details on a 2023-2025 USDA-FNS and Newman's Own Foundation grant that enabled 16 tribal communities across the U.S. to revitalize their food systems through school programming and community partnerships.
Author(s): Leah Simeon, Richard Elm-Hill, Cetan Christensen, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: First Nations Development Institute
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Discusses the Native Farm to School project, a food systems initiative that supports tribal communities in integrating sustainable cultural practices, land stewardship, and traditional foods into their local Indigenous food systems. Provides details on a 2023-2025 USDA-FNS and Newman's Own Foundation grant that enabled 16 tribal communities across the U.S. to revitalize their food systems through school programming and community partnerships.
Author(s): Leah Simeon, Richard Elm-Hill, Cetan Christensen, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: First Nations Development Institute
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Thriving Communities Transportation Toolkit
A transportation toolkit that provides resources, guidance, and success stories related to transportation and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. Focuses on finding opportunities, building teams, developing a project, financing, and maintaining infrastructure.
Author(s): Shane Hampton
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Main Street America
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A transportation toolkit that provides resources, guidance, and success stories related to transportation and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. Focuses on finding opportunities, building teams, developing a project, financing, and maintaining infrastructure.
Author(s): Shane Hampton
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Main Street America
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Community Healers: How Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Leads in Health and Wellness
Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations.
Author(s): Hailey A. Baker, Mariana Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Indian Health Service Did Not Ensure That Commissioned Corps Officers' Background Investigations Complied With Federal Requirements
Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines whether Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (Commissioned Corps) who are assigned to provide healthcare services to Tribal and IHS-operated health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements. Presents findings of a review of background investigation documentation for a sample of 100 Officers assigned to provide healthcare services to IHS and Tribal health facilities in September 2022.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Working Across Contexts: Critical Events in Rural Teletherapy in Alaska
Explores the challenges of providing teletherapy to rural and remote communities in Alaska. Discusses the "critical events" that have shaped clinicians approaches to providing teletherapy to rural and remote patients.
Author(s): Peter L. Noon, Camille M. Booth, Edmond I. Arroyo, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25, 10336
Date: 12/2025
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Explores the challenges of providing teletherapy to rural and remote communities in Alaska. Discusses the "critical events" that have shaped clinicians approaches to providing teletherapy to rural and remote patients.
Author(s): Peter L. Noon, Camille M. Booth, Edmond I. Arroyo, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25, 10336
Date: 12/2025
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Oklahoma Maternal Health Morbidity and Mortality Annual Report 2025
Reports on maternal morbidity and mortality outcomes in Oklahoma, including an overview of Oklahoma women's health, and offers recommendations on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality statewide. Provides data breakdowns and trends by demographic group, including rurality. Appendix discusses challenges in assessing mortality in American Indian and Alaska Native tribal populations.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma Maternal Health Task Force, Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Reports on maternal morbidity and mortality outcomes in Oklahoma, including an overview of Oklahoma women's health, and offers recommendations on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality statewide. Provides data breakdowns and trends by demographic group, including rurality. Appendix discusses challenges in assessing mortality in American Indian and Alaska Native tribal populations.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma Maternal Health Task Force, Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Community-Engaged Dissemination and Implementation of an Evidence-Based Health Promotion Intervention for Native American Families: "Delivery of Turtle Island Tales to Promote Family Wellness" Protocol
Study protocol for the implementation and assessment of Turtle Island Tales, a culturally-grounded obesity prevention intervention for Native American families, in rural and frontier counties in Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Author(s): Emily J. Tomayko, Alexandra K. Adams, Teresa Warne, James L. Merle, Paul A. Estabrooks
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 126
Date: 11/2025
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Study protocol for the implementation and assessment of Turtle Island Tales, a culturally-grounded obesity prevention intervention for Native American families, in rural and frontier counties in Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Author(s): Emily J. Tomayko, Alexandra K. Adams, Teresa Warne, James L. Merle, Paul A. Estabrooks
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 126
Date: 11/2025
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Impact of Race/Ethnicity Reporting Methods: Health Disparities Among American Indians/Alaska Natives
Analyzes how race and ethnicity classification methods influence demographic and health status data among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in New Mexico, utilizing 2018-2022 New Mexico BRFSS data. Discusses perspectives provided by tribal health organizations and implications for future data collection and research.
Author(s): Stephanie Lashway, Desirae Martinez
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Analyzes how race and ethnicity classification methods influence demographic and health status data among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in New Mexico, utilizing 2018-2022 New Mexico BRFSS data. Discusses perspectives provided by tribal health organizations and implications for future data collection and research.
Author(s): Stephanie Lashway, Desirae Martinez
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Rural/Urban Differences among American Indian/Alaska Native Peoples in Health Care Access and Outcomes, 2019–2023
Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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