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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Module 3: Program Clearinghouse

This section provides examples of rural organizations addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) in their communities. SDOH are complex and addressing them involves the implementation of cross-disciplinary approaches. Successful programs often partner with healthcare entities; federal, state, and local agencies; schools; other nonprofit and faith-based organizations; and local community leaders.

For more information about the evidence-based and promising approaches for addressing SDOH described in this section, see Module 2.

  • Healthy Choices Caring Communities (HC3)
    Synopsis: Coalition of community leaders, schools, law enforcement, families, and other partners collaborating to address and prevent youth substance use in rural Ohio.
  • Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP)
    Synopsis: Statewide nonprofit empowering low-income Alaskans through tailored advocacy, education, affordable housing, and direct services.
  • Seneca Towns Engaging People for Solutions (STEPS)
    Synopsis: An organization funded by a local health center to implement resident-driven projects to increase the level of social, educational, physical, and economic health in the community.
  • The Community Caring Collaborative (CCC)
    Synopsis: Partnership of over 45 agencies, organizations, and community members to create a system of care that improves outcomes for at-risk infants, young children, and their families in Maine.
  • Community Outreach & Patient Empowerment (COPE)
    Synopsis: Nonprofit organization partnering with several organizations and community members in the Navajo Nation providing outreach, capacity building, and access to healthy food with the goal of improving lives and empowering those living with chronic disease.
  • Rural Economic Assistance League, Inc. (REAL Inc.)
    Synopsis: Integrated behavioral health project providing transportation, healthcare services, and community resources to rural individuals with severe mental illness in southern Texas.
  • Community And Shelter Assistance Corporation (CASA of Oregon)
    Synopsis: Nonprofit community development corporation specializing in developing affordable housing and facilities, and providing asset-building and financial opportunities and other programs for farmworkers and others in Oregon.
  • Marshall Browning Hospital and Pinckneyville Hospital
    Synopsis: This initiative in rural Perry County, Illinois, is establishing cross-sector collaborations to address priority health issues in the community, including homelessness.
  • Southeast Arizona Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC)
    Synopsis: This program used a community health worker model to engage community members in local health issues and eventually build permanent infrastructure to effect change.
  • Williamson Health and Wellness Center
    Synopsis: This network of cross-sector partners in rural Mingo County, West Virginia, and Pike County, Kentucky, is improving physical environments and increasing access to opportunities for healthy living for community members.