Educating and Informing

The Center for Rural Health is committed to enhancing the understanding of rural health issues in our state, region, and the nation. We work with a wide range of rural stakeholders to:

• Raise awareness about the challenges facing rural communities
• Help people working on rural issues share their experiences and learn from one another
• Support informed decision making

What We Can Do for You

In the area of educating and informing, we offer:

• Key North Dakota rural statistics, maps and supporting information via fact sheets and other publications.
• Presentations by our staff on a wide variety of rural health topics. For more details or to request a presentation, see our speakers bureau.
• Professional development opportunities at the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health as well as other workshops and meetings.
• E-mail updates on state and national resources and opportunities via the Center for Rural Health Update
• The Rural Health Information Hub offers an online clearinghouse with information on 80 key rural health and human services topics and all 50 states, examples of successful programs and approaches, tools to support grant writing, free customized assistance and much more.

Our Expertise

Our staff and faculty present and publish on a wide range of rural health topics at the national, regional, tribal, state and community levels. We also serve on a variety of national and regional boards, committees, and taskforces, all with the aim of helping to inform people, organizations, and policy discussions about rural issues.

We provide information to the North Dakota Legislature, the Governor’s office, and our state’s federal delegation, as well as to legislative staff across the country.

The Center for Rural Health has operated the Rural Assistance Center for nearly ten years and also oversees one other national online information portal, the Rural Health Research Gateway.

Key Contact

Kristine Sande, MBA - Associate Director

Most Recent Publications

• Rural Health Research RECAP: Opioid Use and Treatment Availability
  Examines opioid use in rural communities as well as the perceived need for and use of treatment for opioid use disorder.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S.
  Date: January 2018
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Defining Systems to Evaluate System Efficiency and Effectiveness
  Article focuses on the application of systems thinking, systems theory and systems evaluation theory (SET) in evaluating of modern day systems efficiency and effectiveness.
  Author(s): Renger, R., Foltysova, J., Renger, J., Booze, W.
  Publication: Evaluation Journal of Australasia, 17(3), 4-13
  Date: August 2017
  Type: Journal Article
• Scrubs Project Report
  Project report for Rural Collaborative Opportunities for Occupational Learning (R-COOL-Health) Scrubs Camps and Scrubs Academy.
  Author(s): Nissen, K.
  Date: August 2017
  Type: Report
• Use of the Emergency Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse among Women
  A study by the Rural Health Reform Research Center shows that women with mental health (MH) and substance abuse (SA) issues are putting a strain on emergency departments (EDs). This study helps identify trends among women in rural and urban communities who utilize the ED for MH/SA. The information can be used to help communities provide more relevant, appropriate, and less costly care.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S., Peterson, M., Jaeger, J.
  Date: July 2017
  Type: Fact Sheet
• What's in a Name?
  Grand Forks is home to a national program with a big reputation in the rural health world. The Rural Health Information Hub provides the continued high-level service that their customers have come to expect, all under a new name.
  Author(s): Massmann, N.
  Publication: North Dakota Medicine, 41(1), 20-21
  Date: March 2016
  Type: Magazine

Most Recent Presentations

• Preparing a Strong Rural Health Message
  Presented by Schroeder, S. on Jun 14, 2017 at the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health, Minot, North Dakota
• Disrespect of Our Elders: Elder Abuse in Indian Country
  Presented by Gray, J. on May 10, 2017 at the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Research to Practice (R2P), Webinar Series
• Preparing a Strong Rural Health Message
  Presented by Schroeder, S. on Mar 07, 2017 at the Delta States Rural Development Network Program Partnership Meeting, Washington, D.C.
• Epidemic: Suicide in Indian Country
  Presented by Gray, J. on Oct 07, 2015 at the American Indian/Alaska Native Behavioral Health Network, Iowa City, Iowa
• The Grant Writing Basics – An Overview
  Presented by Gibbens, B. on May 13, 2015 at the Medical Laboratory Science Masters Program at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota