Publications

https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=42892">Rural Veterans find themselves in a better employment position today than they did in the years following the Great Recession.
The unemployment rate for rural veterans has declined since peaking at 10.3 percent in 2010. In 2017, it stood at 4.6 percent, its lowest rate in the last decade. The unemployment rate for young rural veterans (ages 18 to 34) has seen a large decline too—from a high of 15.7 percent in 2009 to 7.1 percent in 2017. Young transitioning veterans can face high unemployment due to service-related disability or a lack of civilian work experience, which become greater obstacles when the economy is weak. Although the post-recession national economic upturn is driving a drop-in unemployment for all veterans, a concerted national effort to hire veterans also appears to be helping close the employment gap for young veterans. This chart provides an update to the ERS report, https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=42892">Rural Veterans at a Glance.

https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/readiness/hurricane_messages.htm">Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters
CDC developed a reference document that contains key messages on hurricane and flood related health threats. The right message at the right time from the right person can save lives. Every natural disaster is unique and emergency responders must quickly adapt to the ever-changing nature of a crisis. To be able to more quickly and effectively disseminate messages before, during, and after an emergency, many key messages can be written in the preparedness phase. The https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/readiness/00_docs/CDC_Hurricanes_PreparednessSafetyMessaging_July2018_508.pdf">Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters (https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/readiness/00_docs/CDC_Hurricane_PreparednessSafetyMessaging_July2018_Spanish_508.pdf">Spanish) can help local responders quickly create and adapt health communication products for affected communities. The document contains messages on various topics including food safety, carbon monoxide poisoning, waterborne diseases, and mold.

https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2018/november/educational-attainment-a-key-factor-in-rural-patient-uptake-of-telehealth-activities/">Educational Attainment a Key Factor in Rural Patient Uptake of Telehealth Activities
Compared to traditional medical delivery systems, telehealth allows people to actively participate in health care activities timelier and with improved convenience. An https://www.ers.usda.gov/">ERS study found that education is strongly associated with telehealth participation, which increased with each successively higher level of educational attainment in 2015.

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/updates/forward?utm_source=racupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=update103118&item=27801&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fmedia%2Fpress-releases%2F2018%2F10%2F30%2Fusda-and-ondcp-unveil-latest-tool-help-rural-communities-address&k=6StBW">USDA and ONDCP Unveil Latest Tool to Help Rural Communities Address the Opioid Epidemic White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Deputy Director Jim Carroll and U.S. Department of Agriculture Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett have unveiled a listing of Federal programs that can be used to build resilient communities and address opioid misuse in rural communities. The https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RuralResourceGuide.pdf">Rural Resource Guide to Help Communities Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse (PDF, 1.7 MB) is a first-of-its-kind, one-stop-shop for rural leaders looking for Federal funding and partnership opportunities. The departments and agencies represented on the Rural Opioid Federal Interagency Working Group include the Departments of Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing, Justice, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; the Corporation for National and Community Service; and the Appalachian Regional Commission. USDA launched the https://opioidmisusetool.norc.org/">Community Assessment Tool, an interactive database to help community leaders assess how and why the opioid epidemic is impacting their regions. USDA’s Community Opioid Misuse Toolbox is free and available to the public. It can be accessed on https://www.usda.gov/opioids">USDA’s Rural Opioid Misuse Webpage.

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/rural-toolkit">Rural Community Health Toolkit
Rural Community Health Toolkit. This toolkit provides rural communities with the information, resources, and materials they need to develop a community health program in a rural community. Each of the toolkit's six modules contains information that communities can apply to develop a rural health program, regardless of the specific health topic the program addresses. The toolkit also links to https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits">issue-specific toolkits for more in-depth information.

Events and Learning

https://chrr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hJVrY2a3QzyUQIPblyZtPA">“Partnering with Community” a webinar sponsored by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, In 2017, Allen County, Kansas was recognized for their community transformation with a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. At the heart of a communities’ efforts to improve health, is a commitment to authentically engage and partner with the community’s best asset – its people. Allen County offers an example of how a community working together to harness the collective power of leaders, partners, and residents can create the conditions to give everyone a fair and just opportunity for health. For a sneak peek, watch a short video https://rurallisc.cmail19.com/t/r-l-jjuljihy-hikdlkyuih-jj/">here. To register for the webinar, click https://rurallisc.cmail19.com/t/r-l-jjuljihy-hikdlkyuih-jt/">here. Held November 20, 2018, at 3:00 PM EST.

https://www.usda.gov/topics/rural/rural-development-innovation-center">Rural Energy Savings Program and Manufactured Housing Roundtable
USDA Rural Development solicits input from its partners to expand access to capital, improve effective and efficient delivery of programs. The Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) provides funding to electric service providers for re-lending to consumers and small businesses implementing energy efficiency measures. This 2014 Farm Bill program will help lower energy bills for rural families and businesses. Recent changes through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 authorized RESP funding, for the first time, to be used to replace manufactured housing units with more energy efficient units to result in energy savings. Please join us at a USDA RD RESP and Manufactured Housing Roundtable. This round table is designed to solicit comments, ideas, and input related to the RESP program in general, and especially related to the implementation of the manufactured housing will enlighten USDA leadership and help ensure seamless program delivery. RD solicits input from its partners as we work together to expand access to capital, improve effective and efficient delivery of programs—and most importantly—facilitate rural prosperity and economic development.

• To attend you must contact the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by COB Wednesday, November 21, 2018. (Once confirmed, agenda, directions, and other additional information will be provided)

• Event Date: November 27, 2018 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Location: U.S. Department of Agriculture Jamie L. Whitten Building 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. Registration is required. (This is a live event).

https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=5jwe0xa4al5z&campaign=f8iq2x56d289">Webinar on Inclusive Development in Opportunity Zones On November 26, 2018, from 3PM-4PM ET, the Aspen Institute in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation present a webinar on:  http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001cfDu4L7lb7LcySj5ZcgYHU3biP5V2d5QFCdUUUgsv52keiezFVBLCERTW0iJaym-_zDgq2XcwRQVgYNQA4IffVydhCikZ_yNthSBEUAV9yLFMTkhHtYl4E85ovbzkBazt7ZXRPQb3jekmrBqckBZLB8AmNBLXUS0wFmTeoa7a8A2U6Gfz5_9Ng==&c=DhgazPPwL6-CYqdDdLTVvijCfzXSIGEFLtPC4rpxuqT0qWpgeHTcPA==&ch=GpV5H63LvpX7Gjqm6O9RnmHrsoXgC1zHrClWycRgOul8SyfA7On_zA==">Expanding inclusive development through employee ownership in opportunity zones. If your organization has been thinking about whether and how Opportunity Zones might achieve the goals of economic transformation in communities that have been left out of American prosperity, http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001cfDu4L7lb7LcySj5ZcgYHU3biP5V2d5QFCdUUUgsv52keiezFVBLCERTW0iJaym-_zDgq2XcwRQVgYNQA4IffVydhCikZ_yNthSBEUAV9yLFMTkhHtYl4E85ovbzkBazt7ZXRPQb3jekmrBqckBZLB8AmNBLXUS0wFmTeoa7a8A2U6Gfz5_9Ng==&c=DhgazPPwL6-CYqdDdLTVvijCfzXSIGEFLtPC4rpxuqT0qWpgeHTcPA==&ch=GpV5H63LvpX7Gjqm6O9RnmHrsoXgC1zHrClWycRgOul8SyfA7On_zA==">join the Aspen Institute to learn why employee ownership is a central part of an inclusive development strategy.https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=5jwe0xa4al5z&campaign=f8iq2x56d289"> Click here for a Registration link. http://www.canr.msu.edu/ncrcrd/uploads/Quinoes%20RHSE%20Dec%207.pdf">Purdue Extension and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Join them for this free webinar “Dreamland: America's Opiate Epidemic and How We Got Here,” presented by Sam Quinones, journalist and author on December 7, 2018 at 2:00 PM EST.

To join, click https://rurallisc.cmail19.com/t/r-l-jjuljihy-hikdlkyuih-jd/">here.  

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-new-medicaid-demonstration-opportunity-expand-mental-health-treatment-services">New Medicaid Demonstration Opportunity to Expand Mental Health Treatment Services 
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced existing and new opportunities for states to design innovative service delivery systems for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). This includes the ability for states to receive authority to pay for short-term resident treatment services in an institution for mental disease (IMD). Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/27858">view details. https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/">Broadband USA Webinar Series The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) continues to host a series of webinars to engage the public and stakeholders with information to accelerate broadband connectivity, improve digital inclusion, strengthen policies and support local priorities. The Practical Broadband Conversations webinar series will provide an ongoing source of information including broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce skills, and e-government. https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/">BroadbandUSA will hold the webinars from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the third Wednesday of every month through September 18, 2019.

https://vimeo.com/300425240">“Strategies to Support Economic Diversification” Webinar Tutorial
Presented by https://www.nado.org/about/">The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). This free webinar covers planning for economic diversification to explore through http://www.cedscentral.com/">Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. NADO notes: “Economic diversification helps support https://www.cedscentral.com/resilience.html">regional resilience, a concept that should be woven into all aspects of your CEDS and can serve as a guiding framework for how your district approaches regional planning and economic development. Regions and communities that diversify their economies are much better positioned to face a mix of inevitable future shocks and disruptions.”

https://www.investinwork.org/book">Investing in America's Workforce: Improving Outcomes for Workers and Employers.
Explore contemporary research, best practices, and resources in this book. The book is divided https://www.investinwork.org/book">into three volumes: Investing in Workers, Investing in Work, and Investing in Systems for Employment Opportunity. Each volume highlights workforce development programs and/or policies supporting positive investments.