The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #35559

Kathryn M. Cardarelli, MPH, University of Texas School of Public Health, P.O. Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225, 281-692-1405, kcardarelli@yahoo.com and Lu Ann Aday, PhD, Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, P.O. Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225.

Until now, rural health policy has focused on systems of delivery and health professional distribution. Strategies for investing in and empowering rural communities to meet the challenges of the 21st century must focus as well on economic and community development--both of which are inextricably linked to successful health and health care planning. Rural community sustainability requires strong leadership and a new way of thinking to recognize the intrinsic linkages between rural development and health, which have historically operated independently. Successful health policy requires a comprehensive approach and investments in both medical and nonmedical interventions. Healthy communities attract capital and improve individual productivity, and socially cohesive and economically thriving communities result in healthy individuals. Successful and sustainable economic development requires the creation of a framework for the full and formal integration, participation and leadership of members of the community in community development and planning activities. This paper will present a framework, examples, and recommendations regarding programs and policies to enhance the fuller and more effective integration of rural development and health and health care planning initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify examples of programs and initiatives that have successfully implemented a fuller integration of community development and health planning activities.
• Describe a policy-oriented framework for guiding the conduct of research and data collection to inform and evaluate these efforts.
• Provide recommendations to national, state and local policymakers regarding particular legislation or policies that would be supportive of a fuller integration of rural development and rural health policy.

Keywords: Rural Health Care, Community Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.