WELCOME TO RURAL HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010

While the majority of Americans reside in metropolitan areas, our nation's public health challenges and concerns are certainly not confined to large urban centers. Nearly 20% of the U.S. population resides in non-metropolitan areas and are not immune to many of the same challenges. In fact, some of the distinctive cultural, social, economic, and geographic characteristics which define rural America place rural populations at greater risk for a myriad of diseases and health disorders.

It is this recognition of the unique health challenges faced by rural America that serves as the impetus for the Rural Healthy People 2010 Project. The primary goal of this research effort is to identify and address the priority health concerns of rural America.

For each rural health priority identified, a brief review of literature on this disease or condition in rural America is provided and illustrative solutions summarized. For each rural health priority, researchers contacted select rural communities across the nation to find innovative programs and practices which address these concerns. These Models for Practice illustrate promising approaches by rural communities to address their health priorities.

An overview of the Rural Healthy People 2010 Project   

Final Rural Healthy People 2010 document Volumes 1, 2, and 3

Brief summaries of top rural health concerns, related models for practice, and literature reviews on these concerns are presented here.  This page is an electronic version of the the final document.

Database of rural models for practice searchable by focus area, state, or program name.