Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) Resources

Provides technical assistance to rural healthcare providers in the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) service area in order to enhance healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for residents in communities in the Delta region. Supports small rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and other healthcare organizations seeking to strengthen local healthcare systems by addressing gaps in service and improving quality to better meet community health needs.

Provides technical assistance to help establish and expand recovery housing services and evidence-based treatment and prevention programs in over 100 counties highly impacted by substance use disorder (SUD) in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho.

Offers technical assistance and information resources to help rural communities identify and implement evidence-based practices to reduce negative outcomes related to substance use disorder (SUD), including the use of synthetic opioids. Provides assistance to communities nationwide while partnering with 20 specific high-need Appalachian counties in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia to combat the opioid crisis.

Supports capacity building efforts for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) in rural counties of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire disproportionately affected by SUD. Utilizes innovative technology and telehealth strategies to identify real-time needs in communities, disseminate education and resources on evidence-based approaches, and provide ongoing training and technical assistance to providers in order to more effectively address the needs of individuals and special populations with SUD and related issues.

Supports efforts to improve access to integrated and coordinated treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in rural areas to address the SUD/OUD crisis in rural areas and promote long-term, sustained recovery.

Works to prepare and encourage physicians to practice healthcare in rural communities. Provides start-up funding for the planning and development of sustainable programs to train residents in rural residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine, public health, preventive medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Supports planning activities to assist rural communities in developing integrated healthcare provider networks. Promotes the strengthening of rural healthcare systems by achieving efficiencies, expanding access to care, increasing care coordination, and improving basic healthcare services.

Provides funding to prevent substance misuse and address mental health issues by establishing and expanding behavioral healthcare services in rural communities for children and adolescents aged 5-17 who are at risk for, have, or are recovering from a behavioral health disorder.

Assists rural communities working to reduce the incidence and impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) among pregnant, postpartum, and persons of childbearing age who are diagnosed with or at risk for opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or other substance use disorders (SUDs). Supports the implementation of evidence-based OUD/SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies designed to improve systems of care, family supports, and social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural areas.

Provides funding to address immediate responses to the opioid crisis in rural areas by improving access to, capacity for, and sustainability of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use disorder (SUD).

Aims to increase the affordability, accessibility, acceptability, and availability of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) by establishing new MAT access points in rural communities. Enhances the capacity to provide MAT treatment services for people in rural areas with or at risk of opioid use disorder (OUD), with focus on underserved populations. Promotes the use of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for the treatment of OUD along with supportive services, including counseling and behavioral therapies. Supports the use MAT to treat alcohol use disorder, if the need exists.

Provides funds to implement evidence-based or promising prevention, treatment, and recovery activities for substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in rural communities. Expands access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services for rural residents diagnosed with or at risk of OUD/SUD, their families, and others in the community.

Provides funds to implement evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery activities in rural communities to address psychostimulant use disorders and the misuse of psychostimulants, including methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, and prescription stimulants. Expands access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services for rural residents diagnosed with or at risk of psychostimulant use disorder, their families, and others in the community.

Provides funding to implement community-based outreach programs to enhance the delivery of healthcare to underserved rural populations. Promotes community engagement and collaboration between local healthcare and social service providers to expand services using innovative, evidence-based models, with the goal of improving health outcomes and population health for rural areas at the local or regional level. Offers two funding tracks, including the Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative (HRHI), which is designed to reduce rural health disparities related to the five leading causes of avoidable death by addressing the underlying factors and social determinants of health that can impact health and wellness.

Strengthens rural communities' ability to conduct planning to engage high risk populations and expand capacity for effective prevention, treatment, and recovery responses to substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural counties.

Offers grant funding to assist rural healthcare providers in the planning and development of integrated health networks to provide quality HIV care and treatment in rural communities. Helps providers meet unaddressed community health needs related to HIV in areas such as early diagnosis, comprehensive care, support services, and innovative service delivery models. Focuses planning efforts in seven states identified by the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative as having disproportionate rural rates of HIV diagnosis. Seeks to improve health outcomes for people with HIV and reduce new HIV infections by expanding access to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and support services; increasing the use of health information technology and telemedicine; and promoting service coordination and quality across the continuum of HIV care.

Provides an overview of capital funding as it relates to supporting rural healthcare. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.

Provides an overview of community paramedicine in rural areas. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations. Includes information and approaches that can be used to address transportation challenges and alternatives to travel, such as offering in-home services and health education for patients.

Provides an overview of health and healthcare in frontier areas. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.

Provides an overview of human services in rural America. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.

Documents the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from the Rural Opioid Overdose Reversal Program (ROOR), a 2015 pilot grant program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Includes resources to support related projects and programs, with links to training, data strategies, and outreach tools.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to implement, evaluate, and build sustainable mental health programs in rural communities. Provides an overview of mental health in rural areas, including barriers to treatment and different factors that impact mental health.

Shares the results of a survey of practitioners affiliated with Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grant sites throughout the U.S. to assess substance use disorder (SUD) stigma and treatment needs in rural areas. Includes various statistics on practitioner demographics, professional roles, work setting, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), stigma, and other practitioner beliefs and barriers.

Features a 6-part video series highlighting Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grantees and their work to prevent and treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in their communities.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to implement, evaluate, and build sustainable programs to support aging in place for rural residents. Includes information and approaches that can be used or adapted to help aging adults with other health conditions, including those with opioid use disorder (OUD) or substance use disorder (SUD).

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to implement, evaluate, and build sustainable health promotion and disease prevention programs in rural communities.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on aging in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on children and adolescent health in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on emergency medical services (EMS) and trauma in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other related research projects on frontier health published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on maternal health in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on mental and behavioral health in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on substance use and treatment in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on transportation in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Summarizes research describing the prevalence of opioid use in rural communities. Includes statistics on the perceived need and use of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD).

Summarizes research describing differences between rural and urban populations with opioid use disorder (OUD) including youth, young adults, and pregnant women. Includes statistics describing the impacts OUD has on both rural and urban emergency department visits.

Summarizes research describing the distribution of behavioral health professions in rural areas between 2014 and 2021, including social workers, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, counselors, and psychiatrists.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to develop, implement, evaluate, and build sustainable substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment programs in rural communities. Identifies barriers to SUD and treatment in rural areas.

Provides an overview of the opioid crisis in rural America and includes information and resources on initiatives and funding opportunities to address the crisis. Covers successful rural model program examples, events, and other tools for prevention, harm reduction, and treatment.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to implement, evaluate, and build sustainable suicide prevention programs in rural communities.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to implement, evaluate, and build sustainable transportation programs in rural communities. Provides an overview of transportation needs and barriers in rural areas.

Provides an overview of rural tribal health. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.

Provides an overview of transportation in rural America as it relates to supporting access to rural health. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and includes links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.

Provides an overview of violence and abuse in rural America. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.