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's website 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

• Sponsorships Help the Scrubs Academy Grow
  Many North Dakota healthcare organizations are now sponsoring local students to attend an R-COOL Scrubs Academy, hoping that someday these students will be providers.
  Author(s): Leier, M.
  Publication: Focus on Rural Health
  Date: October 2019
  Type: Article
• Consortium's Strategic Plan to Address Opioid Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder in Rural North Dakota
  This report identifies a strategic plan for addressing substance use disorder and opioid use disorder in rural North Dakota communities.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S.
  Date: September 2019
  Type: Report
• Consortium's Sustainability Plan: Addressing Opioid Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder in Rural North Dakota
  A requirement of the grant, the sustainability plan highlights key resources and commitment to sustain both the consortium and the activities outlined in the Consortium's Strategic Plan to Address Opioid Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder in Rural North Dakota.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S.
  Date: September 2019
  Type: Report
• Consortium's Workforce Plan to Address Opioid Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder in Rural North Dakota
  A requirement of the grant, the workforce plan addresses activities and existing programs in North Dakota addressing shortages in rural providers to serve those with substance use disorders.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S., Dickson, L., Bauman, S., Quinn, R., Knutson, S.
  Date: September 2019
  Type: Report
• Scrubs Project Report
  Project report for Rural Collaborative Opportunities for Occupational Learning (R-COOL-Health) Scrubs Camps and Scrubs Academies.
  Author(s): Nissen, K.
  Date: September 2019
  Type: Report

Most Recent Presentations

• The State of Rural Health: The Environment and Policy Implications
  Presented by Gibbens, B. on Nov 21, 2019 at the Interim Health Care Committee, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota
• Benefits of Developing Interdisciplinary Teams and Working with Rural Communities to Conduct Research with a Local Impact
  Presented by Schroeder, S., Ruthig, J., Hand, L., Sanner-Stiehr, E., Heitkamp, T. on Oct 14, 2019 at the WONCA World Rural Health Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Exploring Rural Health Data Reporters Can Use
  Presented by Schroeder, S., Meit, M. on Jun 12, 2019 at the Association of Health Care Journalists Rural Health Journalism Workshop, Denver, Colorado
• Project ECHO: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare to Provide Training, Tools, and Support to Rural Providers
  Presented by Schmitz, D., Dickson, L., Reiten, J. on Jun 11, 2019 at the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health, Minot, North Dakota
• Maternal and Child Health and the U.S. Drug Crisis
  Presented by Schroeder, S. on May 10, 2019 at the National Rural Health Association's Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia