Rural Public Health Agencies – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Public Health Agencies.
A Community-Focused Rural Academic Health Department Model in North Carolina: Elevating Community Engagement, Rural Public Health Practice and Research
Examines the collaboration among a rural district health department, the local community in north-central North Carolina, and academic partnerships. Discusses the development of a rural academic health department (RAHD) and its work related to public health research and interventions in rural areas.
Author(s): Carmen D. Samuel-Hodge, Lisa Macon Harrison, Wendy Smith, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the collaboration among a rural district health department, the local community in north-central North Carolina, and academic partnerships. Discusses the development of a rural academic health department (RAHD) and its work related to public health research and interventions in rural areas.
Author(s): Carmen D. Samuel-Hodge, Lisa Macon Harrison, Wendy Smith, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 09/2026
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Collaborations Between Local Public Health and Healthcare: A Case Study Series Highlighting Rural Success Stories
Presents case studies highlighting successful collaborations between rural-serving local health departments and local healthcare organizations, focusing on purposes, structures, challenges, and lessons learned. Features programs in Oregon, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Stephanie M. Mathis, Kayla M. Alvis, Benjamin Pelton, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, The Consortium for Workforce Research in Public Health
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Presents case studies highlighting successful collaborations between rural-serving local health departments and local healthcare organizations, focusing on purposes, structures, challenges, and lessons learned. Features programs in Oregon, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Stephanie M. Mathis, Kayla M. Alvis, Benjamin Pelton, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, The Consortium for Workforce Research in Public Health
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A Multilevel Adaptation Approach for the Sustainable Scale-Up of Family Cancer History Screening in Rural Public Health Clinics
Provides an overview of a multilevel approach to improve delivery of a family cancer history screening program. Outlines a 14-month adaptation process of a public health district in rural Georgia as well as individual, provider, clinic, organization, and community adaptations. Discusses the impact of partnerships among public health agencies, community organizations, and academic institutions to sustain successful implementation frameworks, multilevel stakeholder engagement, and adaptations of hereditary cancer screening programs.
Author(s): Yue Guan, Shacoria Anderson, Cindy Snyder, et al.
Citation: Archives of Public Health, 84, 221
Date: 07/2026
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Provides an overview of a multilevel approach to improve delivery of a family cancer history screening program. Outlines a 14-month adaptation process of a public health district in rural Georgia as well as individual, provider, clinic, organization, and community adaptations. Discusses the impact of partnerships among public health agencies, community organizations, and academic institutions to sustain successful implementation frameworks, multilevel stakeholder engagement, and adaptations of hereditary cancer screening programs.
Author(s): Yue Guan, Shacoria Anderson, Cindy Snyder, et al.
Citation: Archives of Public Health, 84, 221
Date: 07/2026
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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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