National Rural Health Day 2024 Resources

We celebrated National Rural Health Day on Thursday, November 21, 2024. This year’s theme was Advancing Maternal Health in Rural Communities. We showed how federal agencies, providers and state and community leaders work to improve maternal health in rural communities. Some examples included workforce training, helping hospitals improve care, telehealth, and working together to help patients access care. Check out our resources and recorded events to learn more about National Rural Health Day 2024.

• Press Release: HRSA Celebrates National Rural Health Day
• Fiscal Year 2024 Rural Investments national overview (PDF - 237 KB)
• Rural Health Grants: State Fact Sheets
• HRSA Supports Rural Health Care (PDF - 67 KB)

National Rural Health Day Event Recordings

Access to Maternity Care in Rural US Communities

The University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, 
The Rural Health Research Gateway, and 
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Researchers from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center discussed critical issues impacting maternal health in rural US communities. Some of the problems they discussed were: 

• The disparities in maternal health outcomes for rural populations
• The growing scarcity of obstetric care 
• The far-reaching effects of obstetric unit closures 

They discussed why these units closed and how we can improve access to maternal health care services.

Speakers:
Julia D. Interrante, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Katy B. Kozhimannil, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Finding Your Way Through USDA Rural Health’s New Resources 

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development 

Join USDA Rural Development to learn more about new resources for rural communities. In this webinar, they showed us the USDA rural health website and introduced the USDA Rural Health Program Inventory tool. They also demonstrated how to use the Rural Data Gateway website to find health data to support your rural community.

Speakers:
Kellie Kubena, USDA Rural Development Innovation Center
Kasey Martin, USDA Rural Development Innovation Center

HRSA Virtual Job Fair

We hosted a Virtual Job Fair for Rural Communities on November 20th.

HRSA Virtual Job Fairs are free online recruitment events that connect career-seeking health care professionals with representatives from health care facilities across the country.

Check out our upcoming Virtual Job Fairs in 2025 to learn about job opportunities, hear details about benefit packages, and find out how you can help underserved communities.

HRSA Featured Event: Roundtable Discussion: Enhancing Maternal Health in Centreville, Alabama 

Leaders from HRSA visited Alabama as part of the national Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative to mark National Rural Health Day. They held a discussion with women and families supported by HRSA programs, health care providers, community organizations, and leaders working to improve maternal and infant health in Alabama.

Speakers: 
Michael Warren, MD, Associate Administrator, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA
Tom Morris, Associate Administrator of Rural Health Policy, HRSA
Onyekachukwu Anaedozie, Deputy Associate Administrator, Bureau of Primary Health Care, HRSA
Maternal health care providers 
Alabama community-based organizations 
Alabama families supported by HRSA programs
 

HRSA featured event: Federal Rural Partners Roundtable

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 

Rural leaders from across the federal government discussed what their agencies are doing to improve maternal health. This information is relevant for providers and patients. Listen to learn about available federal programs and resources to help rural pregnant women and babies. 

Speakers: 
Tom Morris, HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Jalima Caulker, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration 
Darci Graves, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
Diane Hall, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
Peter Kaboli, US Department of Veterans Affairs 
Kellie Kubena, US Department of Agriculture 
Dawn Morales, National Institutes of Health 
Benjamin Smith, Indian Health Service 

The Power of Rural in Action: RCORP Success Stories & Strategies 

National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health

This National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health webinar featured the impact of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Hear powerful stories of recovery and innovative strategies from RCORP grantees and key partners.

Speakers:
Megan Meacham, HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Tedra L. Cobb, Tedra L. Cobb & Associates
Kim Shuler, Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network, Inc.

HRSA featured event: Advancing Rural Maternal Health through Collaboration (Recording link coming soon)

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

HRSA-supported awardees highlighted solutions that expand access to maternal health care in rural communities.

Featured Awardee Organizations: 

HRSA featured event: Perspective from the Field: Advancing Maternal Health Care in Rural Communities 

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 

This episode of the Exploring Rural Health Podcast featured Dr. Kristen Dillon, FORHP Chief Medical Officer. She shared the challenges and successes of maternal health care delivery in rural communities. She also shared how HRSA programs work to decrease maternal health disparities and improve outcomes.

Speakers: 
Kristen Dillon, HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Why do we celebrate National Rural Health Day?

Since 2010, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health set aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day.

National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to celebrate the “power of rural.” We use this day to highlight the unique health care challenges that rural people face. Then, we show how our programs and policies, and the efforts of our partners and stakeholders, help address and reduce health care disparities in rural communities.