Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention
Complete Streets: Policy Planning Process for Rural Communities
Discusses the planning for complete streets in rural areas, a type of accessible transportation infrastructure which allows for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, therefore promoting safety as well as healthier and more active communities. Focuses on complete streets policy development, agency coordination, implementation, and monitoring.
Author(s): Krishna Kunapareddy
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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Discusses the planning for complete streets in rural areas, a type of accessible transportation infrastructure which allows for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, therefore promoting safety as well as healthier and more active communities. Focuses on complete streets policy development, agency coordination, implementation, and monitoring.
Author(s): Krishna Kunapareddy
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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Assessing the Needs of Rural Families Affected by the Opioid Crisis: Issue Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Wildfire Smoke as an Occupational Risk Factor: Clinician's Guide
Report discusses the health concerns associated with wildfire smoke exposure for farmworkers, and other outdoor workers. Highlights state-level air quality policies for workers in several western states and outlines best practices for clinicians.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc., Migrant Clinicians Network
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Report discusses the health concerns associated with wildfire smoke exposure for farmworkers, and other outdoor workers. Highlights state-level air quality policies for workers in several western states and outlines best practices for clinicians.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc., Migrant Clinicians Network
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Comparative Outcomes Following Randomization to a Pilot Facebook-Based HIV Prevention Intervention Among Appalachian Women Involved in the Criminal Legal System
Results of a study to determine whether enhancing an HIV prevention intervention with additional modules improves service access for Appalachian women following release from jail. Uses data from surveys conducted between 2019-2022.
Author(s): Megan F. Dickson, Erika Pike, Michele Staton
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 81-96
Date: 01/2025
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Results of a study to determine whether enhancing an HIV prevention intervention with additional modules improves service access for Appalachian women following release from jail. Uses data from surveys conducted between 2019-2022.
Author(s): Megan F. Dickson, Erika Pike, Michele Staton
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 81-96
Date: 01/2025
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Effectiveness of Frequent Point-of-Care Molecular COVID-19 Surveillance in a Rural Workplace: Nonrandomized Controlled Clinical Trial Among Miners
Examines the impact of a COVID-19 surveillance intervention utilizing point-of-care rapid antigen testing at rural mining sites in New Mexico and Wyoming from February 2021 to March 2022. Provides data on intervention acceptance, cumulative postbaseline seropositivity, and diagnostic accuracy.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, William "Cotton" Jarrell, Xin W. Shore, et al.
Citation: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2025(11), e59845
Date: 01/2025
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Examines the impact of a COVID-19 surveillance intervention utilizing point-of-care rapid antigen testing at rural mining sites in New Mexico and Wyoming from February 2021 to March 2022. Provides data on intervention acceptance, cumulative postbaseline seropositivity, and diagnostic accuracy.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, William "Cotton" Jarrell, Xin W. Shore, et al.
Citation: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2025(11), e59845
Date: 01/2025
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Western Reserve Independent Living Center: Leaders in Disability Advocacy for Eastern Ohio
Highlights the work of a rural Ohio Center for Independent Living (CIL) related to advocacy at both the individual and system levels. Includes specific examples related to transportation and outreach.
Author(s): Lillie Greiman, Luke Santore, Rayna Sage
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Highlights the work of a rural Ohio Center for Independent Living (CIL) related to advocacy at both the individual and system levels. Includes specific examples related to transportation and outreach.
Author(s): Lillie Greiman, Luke Santore, Rayna Sage
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Factors Influencing Evidence-Based Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Programming in Rural African American Communities: A Community-Engaged Concept Mapping Study
Analyzes perspectives on evidence-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and management programs, utilizing a group concept mapping (GCM) approach with input from 31 community-based, faith, and healthcare organizations serving African Americans in rural North Carolina.
Author(s): Amelia DeFosset, Breanna Deutsch-Williams, Mysha Wynn, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 11
Date: 01/2025
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Analyzes perspectives on evidence-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and management programs, utilizing a group concept mapping (GCM) approach with input from 31 community-based, faith, and healthcare organizations serving African Americans in rural North Carolina.
Author(s): Amelia DeFosset, Breanna Deutsch-Williams, Mysha Wynn, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 11
Date: 01/2025
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Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program 2024 Grantee Directory
Provides an overview of the Rural Northern Border Region (RNBR) Outreach Program cohort funded for the 2024-2027 project period. Includes profiles of the 13 initiatives addressing project focus areas, partners, populations served, evidence-based and promising practice models, project strategies, and expected project outcomes.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Provides an overview of the Rural Northern Border Region (RNBR) Outreach Program cohort funded for the 2024-2027 project period. Includes profiles of the 13 initiatives addressing project focus areas, partners, populations served, evidence-based and promising practice models, project strategies, and expected project outcomes.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Cancer-Related Health Behaviors During the COVID 19 Pandemic in Geographically Diverse Samples Across the US
Examines cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic via a June 2020-March 2021 survey of 21,911 people conducted through eight cancer centers. Includes demographic data, including rural-urban comparisons, on changes in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.
Author(s): Breanna B. Greteman, Allison Cole, Mary E. Charlton, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 25, 50
Date: 01/2025
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Examines cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic via a June 2020-March 2021 survey of 21,911 people conducted through eight cancer centers. Includes demographic data, including rural-urban comparisons, on changes in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.
Author(s): Breanna B. Greteman, Allison Cole, Mary E. Charlton, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 25, 50
Date: 01/2025
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