Publications

http://www.hpj.com/ag_news/usda-combating-the-opioid-crisis-in-rural-america/article_66943be6-df87-11e8-9c3a-0f17c3a37f75.html">USDA combating the opioid crisis in rural America
By Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett | High Plains Journal
In small towns from the heartland to the coasts, there is a growing threat to economic prosperity in rural America: the misuse of prescription pain medicine, otherwise known as opioids, and other addictive substances. Our nation is in the midst of a crisis. While no corner of the country has gone untouched by this epidemic, rural communities like Garden Plain, a farm town of just 890 people in south central Kansas, have been particularly hard hit. In October of last year, President Donald J. Trump declared war on the opioid epidemic and directed an all-hands team to respond with every available resource. With that call to action, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue ensured the United States Department of Agriculture is on the front lines of this crisis as a committed partner to rural communities. As we carry out our core mission of increasing rural prosperity, the opioid epidemic and the broader issue of substance misuse in rural America is more than a health issue; this is a matter of rural prosperity that threatens the economic fabric of small towns across our country.

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
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) have released the https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RuralResourceGuide.pdf">Rural Resource Guide to Help Communities Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse, a list of federal programs that can be used to build resilient communities and address opioid misuse in rural areas.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0019kR_iJCz-Wh3ZycHGnKdIjQVXL_GnGYfacjpykSTl_EgbbJqyFXfKGUAkkzaBlSfyDlvmg68BwE9d9Zf7T_z4hqCblPQJNrl82LlvGLYgSj0XyUfZH9__t8YsPkVKfiWeVm8NHUA8vYBGCikyjqFeJ5Y0XKQYPE2OvFNrMlFayfK0EJj_JR7rzHTQ-I58mW3qb-1So9-A_V6LeoKkhuBYmwSJoCCaqVRRsOnxEONT6WMzknqBD5tU9vcEe4Ndt7uwQBA_w3LpgA3UB3JNOPh2g==&c=VttDwe12hVN8OmShf-CoeI8rSXlRuSFy1_tz4orgH3Uf3d4UyLLkKQ==&ch=I6ZZecxJQH5N4fkApPZg6eMEl-MYB_vZcLczJj2RAM1Ne4tITMv4pg==">Rural education levels are increasing, but still lag behind urban areas
Although the overall educational attainment of rural adults has increased markedly over time, the share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree is still higher in urban areas. Between 2000 and 2016, the share of urban adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher grew from 26 percent to 33 percent, while in rural areas the share grew from 15 percent to 19 percent. This gap may be partly due to the higher pay premiums offered in urban areas to workers with college degrees. Also, between 2000 and 2016, the share of rural adults with less than a high school diploma or equivalent decreased from 24 percent to 14 percent. That decline closed the rural-urban gap in high school completion rates: over the same period, the share of urban adults without a high school degree or equivalent fell from 19 percent to 12 percent.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uJyIiXdlZI5iEae1goYe1ZFoSE215Et6uoAaeSRrKDTzoSWYIl0BXrKSsCYoiHl_jzCAzy3rwFpfqQA7Rs0UifPMQGtD3ay71H6mWJR-jwYf0OziIYyHT-uAaI2Q68UdBMZOAgVQQtnwFLY_AuX3M7peKN0VfabZYwInpN9iV6SYsiZs6GwEdog60WQBM-9gT3w2gDhFlHmqt5df_Af1lL8l0YUMhmxjfPbG38WS8iru4AjwGC6H_l5scjD4wUqgR5aZiTBNaxRQ_xdsgINXQA==&c=T8lgApETHmUWYakkMBF8vXgSm2w5l_3vJ9sQunyAjC-iHyQdQW4aZA==&ch=cTLd6o-hHCRqHY35c4Bzn8uzB2h4_wcB2ii0eWhkUZDdfOBrml8MVQ==">Prevalence of food insecurity varied by household characteristics in 2017
While the majority of U.S. households are food secure, a minority experience food insecurity at times during the year, meaning their access to adequate food for active, healthy living is limited by a lack of money or other resources. Some households experience very low food security, a more severe range of food insecurity, where the food intake of one or more household members is reduced and normal eating patterns are disrupted. Food insecurity includes both very low food security and low food security. In 2017, 11.8 percent of all U.S households were food insecure. The prevalence of food insecurity was substantially higher for low-income households; 36.8 percent of households with incomes below the Federal poverty line were food insecure. Among all U.S. households, food insecurity rates were the highest for single-mother households (30.3 percent) and lowest for multiple-adult households with no children (7.7 percent).

Events and Learning

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7387708080548459522">November Restoring Neighborhoods Task Force webinar
National Housing Coalition will host the November Restoring Neighborhoods Task Force webinar November 7, 2018 at 2:00PM EST.  The webinar will feature Alan Mallach of the Center for Community Progress discussing his report, https://rurallisc.cmail19.com/t/r-l-jjuljihy-hikdlkyuih-yh/">“The Empty House Next Door.” The report explores vacancy by defining what is meant by a “vacant” property, what constitutes a “healthy” vacancy rate, how vacant properties are measured and why properties become vacant and abandoned.

https://rurallisc.cmail19.com/t/r-l-jjuljihy-hikdlkyuih-jl/">Going Big in Small Places: Millennials Make Their Mark in America’s Towns
A webinar “Going Big in Small Places: Millennials Make Their Mark in America’s Towns” which is part of the Orton Family Foundation’s series, “Heart & Soul Talks” will be held November 14, 2018 at 1:00 PM EST. The Daily Yonder is a co-sponsor of the webinar, along with the Citizen’s Institute for Rural Design. Ben Winchester, senior research fellow, University of Minnesota Extension, Center for Community Vitality, will be joined three Millennials who are finding opportunity and community in small towns and rural areas – Whitney Kimball Coe of Athens, Tennessee, Brittany Grimes of Galesburg, Illinois, and Bree Henderson of Laconia, New Hampshire.

https://rurallisc.cmail19.com/t/r-l-jjuljihy-hikdlkyuih-jr/">How to Do Creative Placemaking Webinar Series
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced the “How to Do Creative Placemaking” webinar series, hosted in partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and supported by the NEA and The Kresge Foundation. Beginning in November 2018 and continuing through the spring of 2019, six monthly webinars will offer practical advice to help local practitioners meet the challenges of collaborative creative placemaking work. The first webinar in the series, Setting the Table: Developing Partnerships & Shared Values, takes place on Wednesday, November 14, 2019 at 2:00 PM EST and features Julie Garreau, executive director of Cheyenne River Youth Project.

https://www.workforcegps.org/events/2018/10/23/13/18/Our-Journey-Together-Work-Experiences-in-Rural-Areas-Corps-and-Workforce-Partnerships">Our Journey Together, Work Experiences in Rural Areas: Corps and Workforce Partnerships
The Division of Youth Services’ technical assistance (TA) series, Our Journey Together, provides support to workforce system professionals across the nation operating Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) youth programs.  This webinar will focus on rural work experiences for WIOA Youth program participants through a corps model. November 19 | 2:00PM – 3:30PM EST

https://rurallisc.cmail19.com/t/r-l-jjuljihy-hikdlkyuih-jt/">Partnering With Community Webinar
“Partnering With Community” a webinar sponsored by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, will be held November 20, 2018, at 3:00 PM EST. 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.

https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/">Broadband USA Webinar Series
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as part of its BroadbandUSA program, will host a series of webinars on a monthly basis 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 on a range of topics and issues being addressed by BroadbandUSA, including but not limited to best practices for improving broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce skills, and e-government. BroadbandUSA will hold the webinars from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the third Wednesday of every month, beginning October 17, 2018 and continuing through September 18, 2019. NTIA will post the registration information on its BroadbandUSA website under Events.

Publications

https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2018/demo/p60-263.pdf">Income and Poverty in the United States: 2017
“Income and Poverty in the United States: 2017” is a report from the U.S. Census Bureau that discusses income levels and the number of people in poverty for 2016 and 2017, along with the percent change from 2016 to 2017. It includes statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas (see Table 1 and Table 3). The report is based on data from the 2018 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.

https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/Spotlight-on-Opioids_09192018.pdf">Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Spotlight on Opioids
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Spotlight on Opioids.” The report provides data on prevalence of substance use, and opioid misuse, use disorders, overdoses, and related topics, as well as a discussion of prevention programs and screening.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011KvmiGyUSKmHuoC92jQL7GfmA-mrn-XV8sea594Nixe31DqNQUBsQmeixWqrU6JQOiFXsATHFeUFUyFZTaHsAvLKVfTBAYwNP4PiQaDopqeka2-16IDKjVUV6zHNGVsF50rsF3TCIxLjcLJG63ZMc9JAGVbr_OjKvUnGghzK6DjI3qK2oabKH8fj1KWK0EbL_GHtX3PYOA-XHspJmym2-kifC2rkd9vw2qGA1qvum0az8VuKyW24cAeklbma8Pvi0oCOx4oF7Zz6hD8hfHWd7w==&c=LKXdNIX5d0JqjsbLA92my6d0oAGd1FsDl6gnGujkKnDRaNzF6lhFsQ==&ch=QZqLA4DSAR1i_Qr5vOT1X9wEa9Vg5pOFRaPGxm_gtiAE_z54Q1s1Ww==">Percent of residents participating in SNAP varies across States
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—USDA’s largest food assistance program—provided assistance to 42 million low-income individuals in the United States in 2017. These individuals accounted for 12.9 percent of the U.S. population, down from 13.7 percent in 2016. The share of Americans participating in SNAP has declined each year since 15.1 percent participated in 2013. In 2017, the State shares of residents receiving SNAP benefits ranged from 22.1 percent in New Mexico to 5.7 percent in Wyoming. Differences in the State shares reflect differences in economic conditions, need, and program policies. Among seven FNS-defined regions nationwide, in 2017, the Southeast region had the highest average share of residents receiving SNAP benefits at 15.1 percent, and the Mountain Plains region had the lowest average share of residents receiving SNAP at 9.6 percent.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001E11gl1QIaX8u8RO8FpvIVUJH5UDejWVOL6F__BFife5K5NxgbqNp2i1pJUCdZ9lXUOyy_HANRmW47oyF7gwxFeiEqfnM94AfuyTstDC-pUN3fwHOR0D8Su7fyeoROtjlV1zo4xS_ED21Hw3hOiM8Eol2lU3LcJ9TZXt7wa7bYzhxcB0qcrvq07pHxhJnCMCjeTx8dIxnMgZrM2oNALxl8mL_2jMyUb0EyRHdiZ7Ac5q0f2uWgKcHeEp4sNqfnqJ9puJYiOSWCCfULKc6VZlWdQ==&c=m47w0EYQFPJxs6rDStSYBUPbUm5nLYu_5A1IOtIc4onqqe17GU-rlA==&ch=AVKq7TZWppWkGLLx_pLnSsxgVuiTF_CXsb8AqoEkp0MOJmCCcRg1TQ==">U.S. spending on food away from home continued to outpace food-at-home spending in 2017
U.S. consumers, businesses, and government entities spent $1.62 trillion on food and beverages in 2017. Spending at food-away-from-home establishments—restaurants, school cafeterias, sports venues, and other eating places—accounted for 53.8 percent of these expenditures, and the remaining 46.2 percent took place at grocery stores, supercenters, convenience stores, and other retailers. A 53.8-percent share of food expenditures does not equate to 53.8 percent of food quantities, as food purchased away from home is generally higher priced than food prepared at home. Food-away-from-home outlets incur costs for the workers required to prepare and serve food, as well as for buildings, equipment, and utilities. The away-from-home market, which accounted for about one-third of total food expenditures 50 years ago, saw its share grow through the decades, except in some recession years. During the 2007-09 recession, food away from home’s share of total food spending stayed at or just below 50 percent before surpassing its pre-recession share by rising to 50.2 percent in 2010 and continuing to grow to its 2017 share of 53.8 percent.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001X-BjlVMruqjsRBHaBR557LSEi-NeSit-y_pQNCZuAI3QSBmS-S6mnf4khsAkZJ4vyYqzkkprtsauzCkgH0Qu_bfrRTM9rwWzUjrCRO3uyqEX0C1_E-HU2dTooeXxa_2-AbI8zl8yHHJH-SvKBDO2seTmUH_jjJBq4IB2HmlKXb4mysPhb98DbiIAaevdqVzanhxpVnwrMYOguG11gvIDg0a6oRghmxAJ-bASiubkBYwINizJEA5pniaqw6iqBZTA8Kui1a5s11TelN_2n2BTAQ==&c=XSDtjJwfAFSnZoVlXBHO7xim9fPmtvvlasJtI7cTWwbsC_tVQnc28g==&ch=JgnVA9dhn8SDCVAUKYYzWWofMvPkXi2fy8_u7V0BtdFE6ejPpjq-_g==">North Carolina, recently affected by Hurricane Florence, accounted for an estimated 3 percent ($11 billion) of U.S. farm sector cash receipts in 2017
Each August, as part of the its Farm Income data product, ERS produces estimates of the prior year’s farm sector cash receipts—the cash income the sector receives from agricultural commodity sales. State-level estimates provide background information about States subject to unexpected changes that affect the agricultural sector, such as the recent hurricane that struck North Carolina and surrounding States. In 2017, cash receipts for all U.S. farm commodities totaled $374 billion. North Carolina contributed about 3 percent ($11 billion) of that total, ranking eighth among all States. Broilers (chickens that are raised for meat) accounted for the largest share of cash receipts in North Carolina at 31 percent ($4 billion), compared to 12 percent nationwide—followed by hogs at 21 percent ($2 billion), compared to 11 percent nationwide. The State ranked third in the nation in cash receipts for both broilers and hogs. North Carolina led the country in cash receipts from tobacco, sweet potatoes, and turkeys—accounting for 50, 47, and 15 percent of the U.S. total for those commodities, respectively—although they contributed a smaller share of the State’s total cash receipts.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001AptESREiq3aBrokBviZTV1iZOFUvjBNLFUxY1P5AqufsKK0YBHCFp8Bv7hTWSUsZRg9HKxEg1lwi1hp0iYD2HJGEGPFxH0Uz9DO2SG2kXhFYSoA4XlyDkV2RbVWBkOXubZhKndUAFMtn0g2dZU4ZSJr5Y71RAe72efLowMG6ZxF_CKnQePrquMp2uzrFPf4b0wlDOcC8sbilakVbYK59Tao6rL9wWW3wFIA0ZTDes6vnWBDER0D8vc9IeTBh1b4AI-bciy2sbDfMgxmv6hph4Q==&c=j9TwZ-ICQNZAFC4Wql-NvirYwO9qI5qd8DndsfFcqa1I5EqSL9I1Qg==&ch=GnD_ePuQi78wC8eaRPeyN3tuX7M42KSk8VUuq9uatltUIuytHo8khg==">Districts with high-poverty schools generally make greater use of USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision for school meals
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows eligible schools in high-poverty areas to offer free USDA school meals to all students. Eligibility to use CEP is based on the share of students participating in specified income-based assistance programs—known as the Identified Student Percentage (ISP). Schools are eligible to use CEP if the ISP for the school, group of schools, or district is at least 40 percent. ERS researchers used administrative data from USDA and States for the 2015-16 school year to group eligible school districts into categories based on the highest school-level ISP in the district. The researchers found that more than half of districts with schools in ISP ranges between 61 and 90 percent used CEP in at least one of their schools. Under CEP, USDA reimburses schools at the higher free-meal rates for a portion of the meals served, and the remaining meals are reimbursed at the lower paid-meal rates. At ISP levels above 62.5 percent, all meals are reimbursed at the free rates. This reimbursement schedule likely contributes to districts with schools with higher needs making greater use of CEP. However, districts that have schools with ISP levels of 91-100 percent had a lower CEP adoption rate. Some districts may have felt less need to adopt CEP because so many children’s eligibility for free meals was already established through participation in other programs.

Events and Learning

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_40jRvXrIS-mRFni0GS3igw">Community Centered Revitalization: Community Capital, Opportunity Funds, and Local Control
Cutting Edge Capital is offering a webinar, “Community Centered Revitalization: Community Capital, Opportunity Funds, and Local Control,” on October 11, 2018, 2:00 PM EDT. Speakers will discuss how communities can come together to drive local revitalization in a way that benefits the community itself rather than outside investors.

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/webinars/nchs-obesity?utm_source=racupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=update092618">Rural Insights on Adult and Youth Obesity, a National and Community-based Perspective
Rural Health Information Hub is offering a webinar on October 11, 2018 at 2:00 PM EDT with the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) on adult and youth obesity in rural areas. Featured speakers include Kendra B. McDow and Craig Hales from the Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys at the NCHS and Shelby Polk from Delta State University.

https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/">Broadband USA Webinar Series
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as part of its BroadbandUSA program, will host a series of webinars on a monthly basis 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 on a range of topics and issues being addressed by BroadbandUSA, including but not limited to best practices for improving broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce skills, and e-government. BroadbandUSA will hold the webinars from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the third Wednesday of every month, beginning October 17, 2018 and continuing through September 18, 2019. NTIA will post the registration information on its BroadbandUSA website under Events.

https://www.giaging.org/news-events/tester/?_cldee=c2ZlbHprZUBsaXNjLm9yZw%3d%3d&recipientid=contact-121b5ca7f822e811813be0071b671021-7ade15745dd34da680921f460f3ee413&esid=1b1da214-ffbc-e811-818f-e0071b6af151">Geriatric Emergency Departments: Past, Present, and Future Opportunities for Engagement
Grantmakers in Aging will hold a webinar, “Geriatric Emergency Departments: Past, Present, and Future Opportunities for Engagement,” Monday, October 29, 2018, 2:00-3:00 PM EDT. The Emergency Department (ED) is often the point of entry for older adults into the healthcare system, and plays a unique role in setting the trajectory of care for this rapidly growing and often vulnerable segment of the population. ED visits by older adults increased 24.5% from 2001 to 2009, and annually there is nearly 1 ED visit for every 2 older Americans. To that end, the ED is increasingly leveraged as the “front porch” bridging the community to health systems, and outpatient to inpatient care.