Rural Health | NACCHO

Resources | Staff Contacts | Policy Statements

NACCHO's rural health project, funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, was developed in response to the need to better define and serve rural local health departments (LHDs) across the nation. The goals of NACCHO’s rural health project are threefold: to better understand the current local governmental public health infrastructure in rural communities, to identify the public health infrastructure and practice needs of rural communities, and to help meet those defined needs.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

The National Association of Counties Now Accepting Applications for the Rural Health Works Technical Assistance Grant

Rural Health Works is a community assessment process that assists counties to evaluate their healthcare system and to generate county-specific data. The ultimate goal of the project is to strengthen rural economies by increasing the use and expansion of health services.

NACo will award a total of three grants on a competitive basis. The grant, valued at more than $18,000 for each county, includes intensive technical assistance on the Rural Health Works model. Selected counties will work with Rural Health Works consultants to:

Identify their health care needs
Examine the social, economic, and political realities affecting the local delivery of health care
Determine how the health care system can best meet the community’s needs
Develop and mobilize an action plan based on their analysis and planning

Funds are being provided by the Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE


»	Read about the HRSA’s ORPH Health Information Technology Meeting held September 2006 in Kansas City, MO

»	NACCHO-ASTHO 2005 Conference Scholarships
	NACCHO supported five scholarships to individuals from rural (LHDs to attend the NACCHO-ASTHO 2005 Conference. Scholarship recipients participated with other local health officials from rural jurisdictions in a dialogue focusing on key population health issues, including obesity, access to care, tobacco use, oral health and mental health. Dialogue participants focused on challenges to, strategies for, and collaborations used in addressing these issues. Issue Brief Results from the NACCHO Annual 2005 Rural Health Dialogue

»	Workforce Development
	Recruitment and retention are among the workforce issues faced by rural LHDs. NACCHO is exploring strategies LHDs use to address these issues. More »

	JAMA Article Abstract: Shortages of Medical Personnel at Community Health Centers