Connecting the Dots: An Environmental Scan of Rural Health Associations in the United States

Residents living in rural areas across the United States (U.S.) often struggle with social determinants of health and are more likely to face poor health outcomes resulting in preventable premature death. State rural health associations can be key agents to impact both upstream and downstream factors to achieve health equity. An environmental scan was performed in May to August 2024 to identify common areas of focus among state rural health associations in the U.S. to inform potential programs or interventions for the Ohio Rural Health Association to consider. Information from the 44 state rural health associations in the U.S. was collected and documented through a systematic process to find the areas most often addressed by these organizations. Education, advocacy, and partnerships were found to be themes across many of the state rural health associations, and exemplars in these subjects are shared to highlight best practices that may be replicated. The information gleaned from this environmental scan can be used to identify potential opportunities, assist in the development of priorities, and determine future directions of state rural health associations and should be repeated every few years to observe any changes in the landscape of rural health needs and to identify emerging areas of focus and collaboration for state rural health associations.