Rural Public Health Agencies – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Public Health Agencies.
Practical Approaches to Rural Public Health Policy
Training module that provides core knowledge about how the public health policy process functions, building support among decision-makers, and how contextual factors impact public health policy for rural public health practice. Focuses on building knowledge around a six-step policy process to identify an issue, identify options, strategize and build support, finalize and adopt the policy, implement the policy, and review and adjust the policy based on lessons learned. Includes real-world local public health policy examples. Continuing education credits for this course are available through August 28, 2029, via CDC TRAIN.
Additional links: CDC TRAIN
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Training module that provides core knowledge about how the public health policy process functions, building support among decision-makers, and how contextual factors impact public health policy for rural public health practice. Focuses on building knowledge around a six-step policy process to identify an issue, identify options, strategize and build support, finalize and adopt the policy, implement the policy, and review and adjust the policy based on lessons learned. Includes real-world local public health policy examples. Continuing education credits for this course are available through August 28, 2029, via CDC TRAIN.
Additional links: CDC TRAIN
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Practical Data Skills for Rural Public Health
Training module that provides core knowledge on data assessment for rural public health practice and decision-making. Focuses on building practical skills to collect, organize, analyze, interpret, and communicate data. Includes real-world examples and strategies to review and apply data skills to everyday rural public health work. Continuing education credits for this course are available through August 28, 2029, via CDC TRAIN.
Additional links: CDC TRAIN
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Training module that provides core knowledge on data assessment for rural public health practice and decision-making. Focuses on building practical skills to collect, organize, analyze, interpret, and communicate data. Includes real-world examples and strategies to review and apply data skills to everyday rural public health work. Continuing education credits for this course are available through August 28, 2029, via CDC TRAIN.
Additional links: CDC TRAIN
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Advancing Strategies to Bridge the Gap in Rural Public Health and Rural Health Care
Discusses strategies to enhance partnerships among rural public health stakeholders, the rural healthcare workforce, state leaders, and federal partners. Provides examples of Rural Development Hubs that work to network, build capacity, and connect communities with resources and funding opportunities.
Author(s): Alice J. Schenall, Bonita Robertson-Hardy
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses strategies to enhance partnerships among rural public health stakeholders, the rural healthcare workforce, state leaders, and federal partners. Provides examples of Rural Development Hubs that work to network, build capacity, and connect communities with resources and funding opportunities.
Author(s): Alice J. Schenall, Bonita Robertson-Hardy
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Collaborations Between Healthcare and Public Health in Rural Settings
Presents the results of 24 interviews discussing barriers and facilitators of collaborations between rural health departments and healthcare organizations. Discusses the contexts where collaboration makes sense, areas of collaboration, collaboration structure, and factors influencing positive or negative collaborations. Factors include workforce, funding and resources, and mission alignment.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Rachel Dean, Kayla M. Alvis, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(7)
Date: 07/2026
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Presents the results of 24 interviews discussing barriers and facilitators of collaborations between rural health departments and healthcare organizations. Discusses the contexts where collaboration makes sense, areas of collaboration, collaboration structure, and factors influencing positive or negative collaborations. Factors include workforce, funding and resources, and mission alignment.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Rachel Dean, Kayla M. Alvis, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(7)
Date: 07/2026
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Remote Work: How US State Practices Affect Rural Local Public Health
Examines perspectives on remote work in rural local health departments (LHDs) and state health departments, using interview data from 14 rural LHD leaders. Discusses benefits and complications of remote work for LHD staff recruitment and retention, communication with state health department staff, and more.
Author(s): Paula M. Kett, Kelly Chadwick, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: American Journal of Public Health
Date: 06/2026
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Examines perspectives on remote work in rural local health departments (LHDs) and state health departments, using interview data from 14 rural LHD leaders. Discusses benefits and complications of remote work for LHD staff recruitment and retention, communication with state health department staff, and more.
Author(s): Paula M. Kett, Kelly Chadwick, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: American Journal of Public Health
Date: 06/2026
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New Insights on the Rural Public Health Workforce, with Casey Balio and Betty Bekemeier
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Casey Balio, research assistant professor at the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, and Betty Bekemeier, director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. Focuses on new insights about the rural public health workforce from their recently published research study.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Casey Balio, research assistant professor at the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, and Betty Bekemeier, director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. Focuses on new insights about the rural public health workforce from their recently published research study.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Training in Place: How a Unique Scholarship Program Is Catalyzing Innovation in Rural Health
Examines the Rural Health Innovation Scholarship Program, which provides support to midcareer clinicians and public health professionals to address population health issues in rural communities. Discusses the work of the scholarship recipients, focusing on community engagement, healthcare financing, partnerships and collaboration, rural health policy, and more.
Author(s): Sarah Klein
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Examines the Rural Health Innovation Scholarship Program, which provides support to midcareer clinicians and public health professionals to address population health issues in rural communities. Discusses the work of the scholarship recipients, focusing on community engagement, healthcare financing, partnerships and collaboration, rural health policy, and more.
Author(s): Sarah Klein
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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An Overview of Public Health Services Among Local Health Departments in Rural Versus Urban Jurisdictions
Examines the services provided by rural and urban public health departments. Utilizes 2022 National Profile of Local Health Departments data to examine rural versus urban local health department (LHD) clinical programs and services, population health programs and services, and workforce infrastructure and capacity.
Author(s): Gwen Davis, Margaret Cunningham, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, Timothy McCall
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the services provided by rural and urban public health departments. Utilizes 2022 National Profile of Local Health Departments data to examine rural versus urban local health department (LHD) clinical programs and services, population health programs and services, and workforce infrastructure and capacity.
Author(s): Gwen Davis, Margaret Cunningham, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, Timothy McCall
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice
Date: 01/2026
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Small but Essential: Understanding Rural Public Health Workforce Challenges and Strengths From the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey
Examines characteristics of the rural public health workforce. Utilizes 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data to analyze the rural versus urban local health department (LHD) workforce with breakdowns according to demographics, education, employment tenure and type, and intentions to stay.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Stephanie M. Mathis, Michael B. Meit, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 32(1S), S60-S67
Date: 01/2026
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Examines characteristics of the rural public health workforce. Utilizes 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data to analyze the rural versus urban local health department (LHD) workforce with breakdowns according to demographics, education, employment tenure and type, and intentions to stay.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Stephanie M. Mathis, Michael B. Meit, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 32(1S), S60-S67
Date: 01/2026
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Rural Public Health Training Plan
Training plan consisting of 6 courses for public health professionals working in rural communities. Covers an overview of rural public health systems, information on partnering with rural communities to develop, build, and disseminate public health communication strategies, leadership and conflict resolution skills, and more. Continuing education credits for this training plan are available through September 2, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Training plan consisting of 6 courses for public health professionals working in rural communities. Covers an overview of rural public health systems, information on partnering with rural communities to develop, build, and disseminate public health communication strategies, leadership and conflict resolution skills, and more. Continuing education credits for this training plan are available through September 2, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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