Rural Public Health Agencies – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Public Health Agencies.
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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Introduction to Rural Public Health
Training module focused on providing an overview of rural public in the U.S. Includes discussion on rural public health systems and structures; leveraging existing strengths and attributes of rural communities to address the challenges they face; and the importance of developing partnerships and collaboration to support rural public health systems and care delivery. Continuing education credits for this course are available through October 15, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Training module focused on providing an overview of rural public in the U.S. Includes discussion on rural public health systems and structures; leveraging existing strengths and attributes of rural communities to address the challenges they face; and the importance of developing partnerships and collaboration to support rural public health systems and care delivery. Continuing education credits for this course are available through October 15, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Advocating for Incorporating Public Veterinary Health Care Into Human Health Systems
Explores the human health impacts of a public veterinary health program in rural tribal communities in Alaska. Highlights the health concerns from stray dog populations in tribal communities and remote areas that lack veterinarian services. Details impact on rates of dog bites, rabies, and other zoonotic pathogens.
Author(s): Laurie Meythaler-Mullins, Cheryl Eia, Allyce H. Lobdell, Danielle M. Frey
Citation: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the human health impacts of a public veterinary health program in rural tribal communities in Alaska. Highlights the health concerns from stray dog populations in tribal communities and remote areas that lack veterinarian services. Details impact on rates of dog bites, rabies, and other zoonotic pathogens.
Author(s): Laurie Meythaler-Mullins, Cheryl Eia, Allyce H. Lobdell, Danielle M. Frey
Citation: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12
Date: 10/2025
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Introducing Public Health Vending Machines in Rural Communities: Protocol for a Study Using a Community-Based Participatory Approach
Provides a study protocol focused on creating a community-engaged approach to implementing public health vending machines (PHVMs) that distribute naloxone in rural North Carolina. Discusses the need to engage people who have experienced substance use when developing public health interventions to prevent drug overdose.
Author(s): Meghan Guter, Lauren Harrell, Kathleen L Egan, Reese Hiatt, Lori Ann Eldridge
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 09/2025
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Provides a study protocol focused on creating a community-engaged approach to implementing public health vending machines (PHVMs) that distribute naloxone in rural North Carolina. Discusses the need to engage people who have experienced substance use when developing public health interventions to prevent drug overdose.
Author(s): Meghan Guter, Lauren Harrell, Kathleen L Egan, Reese Hiatt, Lori Ann Eldridge
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 09/2025
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2024 Forces of Change Survey
Presents results from a 2024 survey of 667 local health departments (LHDs). Provides data on LHD staffing and budgets, governance, fellowship and training programs, public health nursing, evaluation capacity, and harm reduction activities. Includes data comparisons between rural and urban LHDs, and LHDs serving small, medium, and large populations.
Author(s): Krishna Patel, Gwen Davis, Kellie Perkins, Timothy C. McCall
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Presents results from a 2024 survey of 667 local health departments (LHDs). Provides data on LHD staffing and budgets, governance, fellowship and training programs, public health nursing, evaluation capacity, and harm reduction activities. Includes data comparisons between rural and urban LHDs, and LHDs serving small, medium, and large populations.
Author(s): Krishna Patel, Gwen Davis, Kellie Perkins, Timothy C. McCall
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Composition of the Public Health Workforce: Distribution, Training, and Tenure
Examines the composition of the public health workforce and the characteristics of their respective jurisdictions. Analyzes 248 local health departments (LHDs) and includes rural versus urban data breakdowns according to number and tenure of employees, employee education, demographic characteristics, and more.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Haleigh Leslie, Michael B. Meit
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 31(4), 214-221
Date: 07/2025
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Examines the composition of the public health workforce and the characteristics of their respective jurisdictions. Analyzes 248 local health departments (LHDs) and includes rural versus urban data breakdowns according to number and tenure of employees, employee education, demographic characteristics, and more.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Haleigh Leslie, Michael B. Meit
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 31(4), 214-221
Date: 07/2025
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Data Sharing Lessons from Alaska: Improving a State's Process for Disclosing Data for Public Health Purposes to Tribal Public Health Organizations
Discusses data sharing agreements between Tribal-Serving Organizations and other state or local public health agencies. Examines the process of collaboration between the Alaska Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), with a focus on overcoming barriers, working through legal considerations, and lessons learned.
Author(s): Chris Alibrandi O'Connor
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses data sharing agreements between Tribal-Serving Organizations and other state or local public health agencies. Examines the process of collaboration between the Alaska Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), with a focus on overcoming barriers, working through legal considerations, and lessons learned.
Author(s): Chris Alibrandi O'Connor
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Assessing the Understandability and Actionability of Education Materials for Agricultural Workers' Health
Presents a study aiming to identify and evaluate the health education resources available to educators working with farmworkers. Evaluates resources by understandability and actionability.
Author(s): Julianna Nieuwsma, Joseph G. L. Lee, Jamie E. Bloss, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 30(3), 480-495
Date: 03/2025
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Presents a study aiming to identify and evaluate the health education resources available to educators working with farmworkers. Evaluates resources by understandability and actionability.
Author(s): Julianna Nieuwsma, Joseph G. L. Lee, Jamie E. Bloss, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 30(3), 480-495
Date: 03/2025
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Exploring Strategies for Small Local & Tribal Health Departments to Succeed in Accreditation
A recorded webinar that discusses challenges small and tribal health departments face when preparing for the accreditation process. Provides guidance and strategies to help accelerate and achieve accreditation. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Peg Allen, Matthew Fifolt, Amy Belflower Thomas, Jennifer Clarke-Lofters
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Public Health Accreditation Board
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A recorded webinar that discusses challenges small and tribal health departments face when preparing for the accreditation process. Provides guidance and strategies to help accelerate and achieve accreditation. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Peg Allen, Matthew Fifolt, Amy Belflower Thomas, Jennifer Clarke-Lofters
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Public Health Accreditation Board
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Ready or Not 2025: Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism
Report explores the readiness of state public health systems to respond to emergencies, such as diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism. Focuses on measures such as hospital safety scores, vaccination rates, and water system maintenance, among others. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Matt McKillop, Rhea K. Farberman, Dara Alpert Lieberman
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Report explores the readiness of state public health systems to respond to emergencies, such as diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism. Focuses on measures such as hospital safety scores, vaccination rates, and water system maintenance, among others. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Matt McKillop, Rhea K. Farberman, Dara Alpert Lieberman
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Last Updated: 12/15/2025