Summary
THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS OF RURAL AMERICANS
Presented jointly with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and NPR
Noon-1pm ET
What do rural Americans say are the biggest problems in their local communities? A new poll finds that drug/opioid abuse and economic concerns are the top challenges. When it comes to drug addiction and abuse, a majority of rural Americans say opioid addiction is a serious problem in their community. On economic issues, rural Americans largely hold negative views of their local economy, but nearly one-third have seen economic progress in recent years. What may help? A majority of rural Americans believe outside help will be necessary to solve major community problems in the future, and many believe government will play an important role.
Convened shortly before National Rural Health Day and after the nation’s midterm elections, a panel of experts explored the public health and policy implications of these findings within the broader context of life in rural America. Read the poll, conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Data:
- USALEEP Data (life expectancy data at the census tract – neighborhood – level)
- County Health Rankings Data
- Better Data for Better Health (various local data resources)
- Opportunity Atlas, Which neighborhoods in America offer children the best chance to rise out of poverty?
Models, Solutions and Resources:
- RWJF’s webpage on Rural Health in America
- What Works for Health: Strategies to Improve Rural Health
- Project ECHO
- Network for Public Health Law resource on drug overdose prevention and harm reduction
- Campbell University’s Rural Philanthropic Analysis
Regional and Local Action:
- Persistent Poverty Working Group: a collaboration of regional place-based community development intermediaries, working together to improve conditions in areas with persistent poverty across America
- NORC Walsh Center’s study on rural strengths and assets to improve health and equity in rural communities
- Identifying bright spots in Appalachian health project in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission
- Rural communities that have been awarded the Culture of Health Prize
Part of: Policy Controversies.
Presented jointly with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and NPR
Background Articles
- Human Development & Technology in US Counties: Technology Quality & Accessibility Considerations for Policy Makers
- How Vulnerable Are American Communities to Automation, Trade, and Urbanization?
- Footloose Jobs and Urbanization
- Why Have Local Economic Development Efforts Been So Disappointing?
- County-level job automation risk and health: Evidence from the United States
Image Credit: iStock: timnewman
