Rural Community Health Initiative
As health disparities in rural areas have historically posed significant challenges to its citizens, many rural leaders have turned their communities into bastions of innovation.
When rural communities can identify their most pressing issues, come together to create tangible and sustainable solutions to their unique problems, and then have the proper channels to share the success of their efforts, we see some of the most glaring issues facing rural America addressed – especially in health care.
NRHA's Rural Community Health Initiative is designed to support and promote the innovative programs in rural areas that aim to move health care beyond the four walls of the hospital, without undermining the sustainability of these community hospital anchors.
This effort will highlight success happening in rural areas across the country with a special focus on the community-based programs under the 330A section of the Public Health Service Act. These programs provide funding to increase access to care in rural communities and to address their unique health care challenges. For more information on these grants and other programs, please consider visiting the Health Resources & Services Administration's (HRSA) Rural Community Programs website.
Rural Health Community Capacity Academy
The Rural Health Community Capacity Academy is designed to support underserved communities and organizations in rural areas. Through this program, selected organizations receive personalized guidance from a rural health development coach over 12 months. These coaches collaborate with organizations to assess their strengths and develop strategies to overcome challenges. The academy’s primary goal is to empower participants to tackle community health issues by enhancing their capacity for community engagement and development.
We are excited to announce that NRHA is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 cycle of the Rural Health Community Capacity Academy. This program is designed to help rural organizations enhance their capacity to address local health and human service challenges through personalized coaching.
Eligible organizations may include but are not limited to, non-profit organizations, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, medical centers, local governments, and tribal governments. Selected organizations will work with experienced coaches to develop sustainable, community-driven solutions tailored to their unique needs.
For more information on eligibility and the application process, please refer to the program's FAQs.
Applications are due by May 31, 2026, at 11:59pm (CDT).
Additional Resources
Please consider visiting these organizations for more information and resources
- Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities
- Increasing Access to Transportation in Rural Communities: The Rural Transportation Toolkit
- Cohort Analysis of Rural Health Programs
- Emerging Strategies for Building Partnerships with Philanthropies: The Rural Philanthropy Toolkit
- Rural Health Outreach Tracking and Evaluation Program
Impact of the Initiative
Evidence shows us that flexible programs such as these are leading to improved chronic disease management, reduced health risks, and enhanced access to health care for rural Americans. In full support of these innovative programs, NRHA will facilitate listening sessions, policy efforts, information dissemination of best practices, and various other convenings.
It is our hope that communication with leaders in rural areas, who know their communities best, will allow us to foster collaboration to address some of the most pressing rural health care issues. Through the gathering of information in these convenings, and as a result of these important programs, NRHA will be equipped to highlight the significant improvements made to the lives of rural Americans.
NRHA has released the 2021 Rural Community Health Initiative Compendium of Best Practices, which highlights successful community-based programming in rural areas around the country. The compendium features important best practices for showcasing innovation and collaboration and informing future programming.