Rural Health

The Congressional Rural Caucus (http://www.house.gov/johnpeterson/ruralcaucus/CRC%20About%20page.html)
The Congressional Rural Caucus (CRC) is a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress who are committed to helping agricultural and rural America build stronger, more prosperous futures for current and future generations of Americans living on the family farms and ranches and in rural communities.

Internet Resources for Rural America (www.rurdev.usda.gov/other_sites.html)
This site lists many online resources that are useful for learning more about rural issues in the United States. Topic areas include: Internet Directories on Rural Issues, Governmental Resources on Rural Issues, Rural Telecommunications, Rural Health, Rural Education, Rural Economic Development Resources, Smart Growth, Welfare Information, Workforce Development, Transportation Resources, and National Organizations with Rural Resources.

Midwest Center for Rural Health (www.mcrh.org)
The mission of Midwest Center for Rural Health (MCRH) is to prepare and train primary care physicians for successful rural practice and to expose individuals not yet decided on a career to the rewards of delivering health care services in a rural area. By pursuing its mission, the MCRH ensures increased access among rural populations to quality health care providers and services. It demonstrates a model for others to emulate and to inspire healthier communities in other rural areas across the country.

National Association of Rural Health Clinics (www.narhc.org/)
The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) is a national organization dedicated exclusively to improving the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care in rural under served areas through the Rural Health Clinics (RHC) Program. NARHC works with Congress, federal agencies, and rural health allies to promote, expand, and protect the RHC Program.

National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety (www.research.marshfieldclinic.org/children/)
The National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety strive to enhance the health and safety of all children exposed to hazards associated with agricultural work and rural environments.

National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (www.nrharural.org/groups/sub/SORH.html)
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) was initiated to become an influential voice for state rural health concerns. The members of NOSORH strive to develop increased communication and involvement with the 50 State Offices of Rural Health, build strong relationships with other health care groups, and find the sources of revenue to improve its effectiveness.

National Rural Health Association (www.nrharural.org/)
National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a national membership organization, consisting of approximately 2000 members, whose mission is to improve the health and health care of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural issues through advocacy, communications, education and research. The NRHA is a non-profit association head quartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with a government affairs office in Washington, DC.

Office of Rural Health Policy (ruralhealth.hrsa.gov)
The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) promotes better health care service in rural America and is located in the Health Resources and Services Administration. Congress charged the Office with informing and advising the Department of Health and Human Services on matters affecting rural hospitals, and health care, coordinating activities within the department that relate to rural health care, and maintaining a national information clearinghouse.

WWAMI Rural Health Research Center (http://depts.washington.edu/uwrhrc/index.html)
The WWAMI Rural Health Research Center (RHRC) is one of eight rural research centers funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to perform policy-oriented research on issues related to rural health care. Major areas of inquiry being conducted at the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, & Idaho (WWAMI) RHRC focus on the training and supply of rural health care providers and the content and outcomes of the care they provide; the availability and quality of care for rural women and children, including obstetric and perinatal care; and access to high-quality care for vulnerable and minority rural populations.

Rural Health Resource Center (http://www.ruralcenter.org/)
The Rural Health Resource Center is a national non-profit organization based in Duluth, Minnesota. The Rural Health Resource Center provides technical assistance, information, tools and resources for the improvement of rural health care. Primary areas of focus are performance improvement, health information technology, health care work force, organizational development and community health initiatives.

Rural Health Roundtable (rhr.gmu.edu/)
The Rural Health Roundtable is an open forum for the exchange of ideas for important rural health topics. Sponsored by the George Mason University Center for Health Policy, Research and Ethics, these forums provide briefings on rural health issues for the representatives of Washington-area organizations, agencies and institutions that have a strong interest in rural America and rural health care.

Rural Health Special Interest Group (http://www.aap.org/commpeds/socp/sigRH.html)
Members of the Academy's Section of Community Pediatrics may also become members of one of five special interest groups. Rural SIG members develop educational programs and are building a supportive network for pediatricians in rural areas. Members of the Rural SIG have access to additional rural health resources through the Members Only Channel (hyperlink) of the Academy's Web site.

Rural Information Center: (www.nal.usda.gov/ric/)
The Rural Information Center (RIC) provides information and referral services to local, state, and federal government officials; community organizations; libraries; businesses; and, rural citizens working to maintain the vitality of America's rural areas. The RIC Website contains over 2500 links to current and reliable information on a wide variety of rural resources and funding sources.

Rural Policy Research Institute (www.rupri.org)
The RUPRI (Rural Policy Research Institute) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis is one of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP). The mission of the Center is to provide timely analysis to federal and state health policy makers, based on the best available research. The research of the RUPRI Center focuses on rural health care financing/system reform, rural systems building, and meeting the health care needs of special rural populations.

RuralPsych-A Resource Center for Rural Behavioral Health (www.apa.org/rural/about.html)
The American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Rural Health and the APA Computer Office have developed a Web site (RuralPSYCH) to serve as a resource for providers, purchasers, and consumers of behavioral health care in frontier and rural areas. The goal of RuralPSYCH is to alleviate the two primary problems encountered by psychologists providing mental health and substance abuse (MH/SA) treatment in frontier and rural areas: professional isolation, and lack of current treatment information. At this time, efforts are concentrated on the use of the World Wide Web to provide a means for psychologists practicing in rural and frontier areas to communicate with each other and access expert resources in tertiary care centers and academic institutions.