The Need for Services Integration in Rural Communities

Rural communities may benefit from integrating services for multiple reasons. Rural communities experience multiple health disparities in comparison to urban communities, including various types of chronic conditions. Improving health and well-being in rural communities can be a challenge due to barriers accessing health and human services, often driven by provider shortages and lack of transportation, and limited resources, such as lack of affordable housing.

Federal and state programs offer opportunities to families with low incomes to address these barriers. However, these programs can be difficult to navigate and eligibility criteria can differ from program to program. Services integration programs can address these challenges by assisting families with enrollment and improving access to services through co-location and coordination of programs and services. Integration can also help rural communities access critical care by centralizing services in one location, reducing the need to travel long distances.

For additional information on the factors that influence rural health, see Focus Areas for Rural Community Health Programs in the Rural Community Health Toolkit.

Resources to Learn More

Human Services in Rural Contexts: Comprehensive Report
Document
Describes the state of human services programs in rural communities, gaps that need to be addressed, and opportunities and challenges in rural delivery.
Organization(s): Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families
Date: 3/2023