Rural Border Health – Models and Innovations
These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas and provide lessons others have learned. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.
Effective Examples
Hidalgo Medical Services – Family Support Program
Updated/reviewed April 2023
Updated/reviewed April 2023
- Need: To reduce health disparities in two rural/frontier counties in southwest New Mexico.
- Intervention: Community health workers worked with clients to help them better manage their health and promote awareness of healthy lifestyle options in the community.
- Results: Better health outcomes for patients.

Updated/reviewed August 2022
- Need: To address high rates of diabetes in rural Hispanic/Latino populations near the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Intervention: A comprehensive, culturally competent diabetes education program was implemented in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
- Results: Since 2012, this program has helped participants better manage their diabetes and increase healthy living behaviors.
Promising Examples


Updated/reviewed December 2022
- Need: To improve the health of communities in the south central region of New Mexico.
- Intervention: A program was developed to specifically address diabetes prevention and control, behavioral healthcare, and immunization in Luna County.
- Results: During the program, 1,500 immunizations were distributed, baseline measurements of participants improved, and 935 new patients were seen for behavioral health issues.
Other Project Examples

Updated/reviewed November 2022
- Need: New Mexico's southwestern counties of Hidalgo, Catron, Luna, and Grant have experienced chronic shortages of primary care providers. New Mexico has the oldest physician population in the country.
- Intervention: A comprehensive workforce pipeline program, including programming for middle and high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, primary care program students, and medical and dental residents.
- Results: The program reaches over 1,000 school-aged students throughout the service areas and provides support for students and medical residents in a variety of healthcare-related programs for rural rotation experiences. FORWARD NM received its designation as an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in 2012.
Last Updated: 4/6/2023