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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

Suicide Clusters Within American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations
Analyzes suicide clusters within American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations to develop recommendations to prevent and address suicide clusters within AI/AN communities. Discusses risk, developmental, and protective factors influencing likelihood that individuals will consider, attempt, or complete suicide.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Understanding the Impact of Suicide In Rural America
Analyzes suicide rates and the impact of suicide in rural areas, highlights suicide in Indian country and suicide prevention among U.S. veterans. Covers state and federal prevention strategies and discusses recommendations for research and evaluation, and outreach, promotion, and awareness.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Chartbook: Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in a Changing Kansas
Examines trends in demographics, the social determinants of health, and health outcomes in Kansas. Includes statistics and data with a rural versus urban comparison on: population characteristics; education; income, employment, and insurance; housing and household characteristics; nutrition, physical activity, and related outcomes; substance use; healthcare and preventive services; disease and disability; births; and mortality.
Additional links: Appendix A. Population Characteristics, Appendix B. Education, Appendix C. Income, Employment, and Insurance, Appendix D. Housing and Housing Characteristics, Appendix E. Disease and Disability, Appendix F. Births, Appendix G: Mortality, Appendix H: Technical Notes
Author(s): Lawrence John Panas
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Human Intestinal Parasite Burden and Poor Sanitation in Rural Alabama
Reports on the presence of intestinal parasites in Lowndes County, Alabama, a location selected for this study due to high poverty, use of open-sewage systems, and past hookworm burden. Findings based on participant interviews and stool, serum, and soil samples. Includes data on parasite infection, participant gender, raw sewage in the home, asthma or other lung disease, and diarrhea in the past week.
Author(s): Megan L. McKenna, Shannon McAtee, Patricia E. Bryan, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 97(5), 1623-1628
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
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State Innovation Model (SIM) Evaluation Report on Award Year 2 (AY2) Activities
Discusses the process and implementation activities of the State Innovation Model (SIM) grant program administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the state of Iowa. SIM provides funding for states to develop innovative strategies to address healthcare reform by improving the patient healthcare experience, population health, and reducing healthcare costs. Describes interventions and actions from the SIM initiative, community characteristics, and settings impacted by the initiative.
Author(s): Suzanne Bentler, Tessa Heeren, Rochelle Schultz Spinarski, Elizabeth Momany, Peter Damiano
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Iowa Public Policy Center
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Store Owners as Potential Agents of Change: Energy Drinks in the Interior of Alaska
Discusses how store workers can act as health advocates by limiting or promoting specific products to improve the health status of their rural Alaskan community members.
Author(s): Janet M. Wojcicki, Peter de Schweinitz
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 76(1)
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
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Pain in the Nation: The Drug, Alcohol and Suicide Crises and the Need for a National Resilience Strategy
Examines current trends, causes, costs, and potential solutions to the drug, alcohol, and suicide crises in the U.S. Includes rural data and discussion of rural-specific issues.
Author(s): Laura M. Segal, Anne De Biasi, Jennifer L. Mueller, Kendra May, Molly Warren
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Digging In: Supporting a Healthy, Sustainable Food Future in Santee Sioux Nation
Presents a report on a food sovereignty program as a solution to limited food access of the Santee Sioux Nation in Nebraska. Discusses the barriers to healthy food access on the reservation and proposed solutions to increasing access.
Author(s): Becky Keim
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Catalyzing Medicaid-Public Health Collaboration to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Explains cross-sector interventions tested by 5 states - Arizona, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas - participating in the Center for Health Care Strategies' Innovations in Childhood Obesity Initiative. Each state profile highlights how Medicaid and public health agencies are using innovative approaches to address childhood obesity in their high-risk communities. The Texas initiative focuses on childhood obesity in the rural, low-income population along the U.S./Mexico border.
Author(s): Alexandra Maul, Stephen A. Somers
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Rural America in Crisis: The Changing Opioid Overdose Epidemic
Discusses the history of the opioid epidemic and its effect on rural communities, as well as key functions of public health programs that can help prevent opioid overdoses. Lists several resources regarding opioids and overdose prevention.
Author(s): Rita Noonan
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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