Understanding our rural communities’ strengths, challenges, and opportunities for achieving health and wellbeing for all.

Across America, many rural and Indigenous communities are finding inspiring solutions to improve health, equity, and wellbeing for all.

We all want a fair shot at building a good life—regardless of where we live—yet a lack of investment in job creation and other critical resources in rural and Native communities has resulted in inequitable gaps in health in these areas. Giving everyone the opportunity to live their healthiest possible life will make all of our communities—and our country—stronger.

When rural and Native communities thrive, our country thrives: our economy is more successful, our culture more vibrant, and our future brighter. Working families, small businesses, and family farmers in these areas help drive America’s economy, providing food, water, energy, products, and services that contribute to quality of life across the country. 

We use grants and impact investments to support the efforts of rural and Native communities to develop local and regional solutions that reduce inequities and help residents thrive. 

Browse resources, research, and emerging insights into the many factors that shape rural opportunity, health, and equity in America.

Editor's Pick

The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America

A sweeping and surprising new understanding of extreme poverty in America from Kathryn J. Edin, H. Luke Shaefer, Timothy J. Nelson.
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Resources From Grantees 

Explore health data for all U.S. congressional disgricts.

The Congressional District Health Dashboard

CDHD provides a way for policymakers and advocates to identify opportunities and challenges affecting the health and wellbeing of all people across congressional districts. 

Explore the Data
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PLACES Data

PLACES provides health data for small areas across the country.

Explore the Data

Impact Investments for Rural Health

Featured Initiatives and Research

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Thrive Rural

Thrive Rural is focused on what works and what’s needed to advance rural opportunity, health, and equity in America.

Signs of Progress. West Virginia: Signs of Progress Toward Reversing the Childhood Obesity Epidemic. State reports 8.6 percent decline in obesity among fifth graders

Improved Data on Rural America

The Center on Rural Innovation is providing better rural data and analysis aimed at shifting the national conversation about racial and economic equity in rural places.

Two teen boys working together on a farm.

ChangeLab Solutions

ChangeLab Solutions offers resources for community-based organizations, local and state policymakers, and other changemakers working to advance rural prosperity and healthy equity. 

Integrated Rural Strategies

Neighborhood Funders Group's Integrated Rural Strategies Group is catalyzing and supporting funders interested in building community-led capacity to advance justice and equity for rural communities.

Alabama 2019 - Black Belt. the Child family - The Child family currently farms in Green County. James Child Sr. purchased 26 acres in 1969 from someone outside the family (which James Childs Jr. expects to inherit one day). James Child Senior was "reared" in Sumpter County, Alabama, by his grandfather, who was a farmer, as was that man's father. Which means Senior was already a third-gen farmer. When Senior's grandfather got too infirm to continue farming, Senior stepped up. He was just 10 and still in school when he took on serious responsibilities at his grandfather's farm. Seen here is James Sr - right - on land he owns. James Jr - center. Marcus Bernard - left - Interdisciplinary Research Leader and Director, Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund, Epes, Alabama

Partners for Rural Transformation

Partners for Rural Transformation is a national coalition dedicated to eliminating persistent poverty, advancing prosperity and economic justice in rural America.

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Reimagining Rural Policy

Brookings Institutions provides analysis and recommendations to improve U.S. federal rural policies to promote equitable rural development.

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RWJF Culture of Health Prize 2019 - Gonzales, CA.

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RWJF has made a $5 million investment in the Invest Appalachia Fund (IA Fund) to spur inclusive economic growth and health equity in Central Appalachia

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RWJF Culture of Health Prize 2019 - Gonzales, CA.
Calvin Dawson (dad) and CJ Dawson (age 4 - and his son) attend Calvin's daughter's cheer leading practice.
Calvin works in I.T. and previously lived in Sacramento. They moved to Gonzales to be closer to family.

Advancing Health Equity in Rural America

Rural residents, in general, are disadvantaged by place—facing geographic barriers to services, resources, and opportunities. This report offers recommendations to advance rural health equity.

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