Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities
2018
This report from the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis identifies strengths and assets in rural communities, key partners and change agents, and ways to leverage these assets for bolstering rural health and equity. Rural communities tend to experience challenges to health and equity that center on physical, social, and economic factors. The findings of the report reflect insights from over 400 national and regional stakeholders. Assets in rural areas identified in the report ranged from local “anchor” organizations like schools and faith-based organizations, to natural resources and food systems. Participants highlighted several overarching priority areas for action: access to health care services, transportation and broadband infrastructure, quality housing and education, and discrimination.
Taking into consideration the strengths and challenges facing rural communities, the report offers 12 opportunities for action, including but not limited to elevating current rural health and equity programs; building long-term relationships and trust with rural communities; designing funding opportunities for interested rural communities that lack capacity; piloting programs in rural communities to test interventions; and supporting economic development efforts beyond the health sector.
Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities
Source:
Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities. NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis 2018. http://www.norc.org/Research/Projects/Pages/exploring-strategies-to-improve-health-and-equity-in-rural-communities.aspx.