Spotlight
A Collection of Celebrated Caregiver Stories
Nothing is more impactful and relatable than a personal story. Iowa CareGivers, through a partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, is showcasing Caregiver Stories from direct care workers, family caregivers, and healthcare students. The stories help to educate others about who caregivers are and the important role they play, but more importantly, inspire all who read them. Please read the stories and consider submitting your own story or sharing with others.
Upcoming Events
Voices of Care FREE Webinar: A Panel Addressing the Challenges and Innovations in Rural Caregiving
When: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
1-2 pm CST Join the Iowa Rural Health Association for a free one-hour webinar exploring the evolving realities of rural caregiving. From family members supporting aging loved ones to community health workers bridging critical gaps, rural caregivers face unique challenges often with limited resources, isolation, and increasing demands. This session will spotlight practical strategies, regional insights, and innovative partnerships that strengthen caregiver support across rural Iowa. Participants will gain valuable tools, hear real-life perspectives, and connect with others committed to building resilient caregiving ecosystems. List of National Rural Health Association Upcoming Events
Rural Maternal Health in Iowa FREE Webinar: Progress, Partnerships, and Pathways ForwardDate: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 12:30–1:30 PM CST This is a free, one-hour webinar exploring the current landscape of rural maternal health in Iowa, with a focus on both the challenges and the progress being made across the state. This session will provide participants with the latest insights on maternal health disparities affecting rural communities, highlight emerging data trends, and showcase collaborative, community-based strategies aimed at improving maternal outcomes and advancing health equity. Attendees will learn about innovative work happening through the Maternal Health Centers of Excellence. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, public health leader, community advocate, or student, this is a great opportunity to learn how Iowans are coming together to create healthier futures for rural mothers and babies. Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
Have you ever lived or worked in agriculture in Iowa?We invite you to participate in a student project being conducted by investigators from The University of Iowa. The purpose of the study is to better understand what people living and working in agricultural communities in Iowa know and believe about cancer development and cancer risk factors, as part of an Agricultural Safety and Health master’s student project. Study results can help inform understandable and relatable cancer prevention and risk reduction educational materials for agricultural communities.
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Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program Applications OpenApplication deadline: Thursday, September 11, 2025
National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program. NRHA’s Rural Health Fellows is a yearlong training initiative designed to develop a diverse, professional network of rural health leaders from across the country. Each year, NRHA selects 15 to 20 individuals who have demonstrated a dedication to improving rural health through their professional or community experience. National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment ProgramApplications open through November 6, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Eligible students in the last year of medical, physician assistant, nursing, or dental school can receive up to $120,000 in tax-free student loan repayment assistance from the NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (NHSC S2S LRP). In return, you provide at least three years of full-time service at an NHSC-approved site in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). An additional $40,000 Maternity Care Target Area Supplemental Award is available to eligible physicians and certified nurse midwives. 2025 Iowa Rural Health Association ConferenceWhen: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Where: Simpson College in Indianola, IA Discover bold solutions and build powerful connections at this year’s Rural Health Conference. With a focus on rural maternal health, aging-friendly services, and cancer care access, the event will feature expert panels, interactive breakouts, and a special fireside chat with Iowa governor candidates. Get the latest on the Rural Health Transformation Program and help shape the future of rural health in Iowa. NARHC Research and Education Foundation Launches Fall ScholarshipsQuest for Rural Experience Scholarships are $3,000 awards provided directly to students to assist in covering various expenses they may incur during their rotations, including housing, transportation, and other educational expenses. NARHC REF aims to award four scholarships this fall
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant ProgramOpen Year Around
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. 2025 Iowa Rural Health Association ConferenceThursday, November 20, 2025
Simpson College in Indianola, IA Discover bold solutions and build powerful connections at this year’s Rural Health Conference. With a focus on rural maternal health, aging-friendly services, and cancer care access, the event will feature expert panels, interactive breakouts, and a special fireside chat with Iowa governor candidates. Get the latest on the Rural Health Transformation Program and help shape the future of rural health in Iowa. Register |
News
State of The Healthcare Workforce: 5 Things to Know
Healthcare hiring surged in July with 55,400 new jobs—far outpacing the monthly average—as hospitals, home health, and physician offices led the growth. Dive into the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report to see where the biggest gains happened and what it means for the broader job market.
Mental health care and facilities are almost non-existent in rural communities
In the U.S., just over 66 million people live in rural areas, or about 20% of the nation's population, according to the USDA. In Indiana, the number of rural residents is 900,000, or about 14% of the state's population. For a large number of Indiana’s rural residents like Ward, access to specialty care — specifically that for psychiatry and mental health — is a struggle. Solving this struggle has been difficult for rural health professionals.
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More Rural Maternity Departments Facing Closure
The number of rural hospitals that won’t be delivering babies has increased this year, and without change, that number will continue to grow, according to a report from The Center for Healthcare Quality and payment Reform (CHQPR). They cound that since the end of 2020, more than 100 rural hospitals announcing they have closed or will close their maternity units in the first half of 2025 is already nearly the same number as closures in 2024. Check out the article for more information and to access the report from CHQPR.
Iowa Launches Behavioral Health Overhaul: What It Means for Rural Communities
As of July 1, Iowa has officially launched a major overhaul of its behavioral health system, unifying mental health and substance use services under a single statewide framework. This is the most significant system redesign in years, with major implications for rural Iowans.
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Tools & Resources
Behavioral Health in Hospitals. What the Latest AHA Data ShowsHospitals and health systems across the country are evolving their approach to behavioral health care. But what does that look like?
Key findings from the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey highlight:
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Maternal Health Report Card
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health recently released state-by-state maternal mental health report cards that provide a snapshot of state progress addressing maternal mental health. Using measures across three domains—providers and programs, screening, and coverage—these report cards pinpoint areas of opportunity for states to improve maternal mental health.
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Rural Health Information Hub Maps
If you work in rural health in Iowa, the Rural Health Information Hub Maps offer a valuable tool for understanding key trends and challenges affecting rural communities across the state and the nation. Whether you’re working on a funding proposal, developing a community health program, or advocating for rural health resources, this tool can help support your efforts with clear, up-to-date data.
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Publications
New Report Describes Rural Health Challenges and Action Steps
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at the Geisel School of Medicine, together with partners at Dartmouth Health, have issued a new report that details the key insights and primary recommendations that emerged from the inaugural Rural Health Symposium.
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Obstetric Care Access Declined in Rural and Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010–22.
A new Health Affairs study reveals a nationwide decline in hospital-based obstetric services between 2010 and 2022, affecting both rural and urban hospitals. The study emphasizes that these closures are linked to policy and resource decisions and warns that reduced access to obstetric care may worsen maternal and infant health outcomes, especially in highly rural and underserved communities.
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Who Is Leaving the Emergency Medical Services Workforce?Emergency medical services (EMS) are a critical part of the US healthcare, public health, and public safety systems, providing both emergency and non-emergency care across diverse pre-hospital settings. EMS clinicians hold tiered credentials based on education, certification, and licensure, yet workforce shortages persist due to the absence of a comprehensive national database.
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A Review of Recruitment and Retention Strategies in US Local Health Departments: Insights and Practical Solutions
This study highlights the staffing barriers facing LHDs and offers practical solutions they can implement to support successful recruitment and retention. More work is needed to identify specific ways to improve workplace culture, quantify the disparity between pay offered by health departments and their competitors, and better understand barriers and opportunities related to supporting a diverse workforce.
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The Iowa Healthcare Workforce
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Rural Populations are Aging – What it Means for Iowa
New data from the USDA Economic Research Service shows a major demographic shift in rural America. While the overall rural population has grown by more than two million, the number of working-age residents (15–64) has declined by over two million. This trend reflects longer life expectancy, lower birth rates, and younger individuals moving away—while more older adults choose to retire in rural communities.
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Obstetric Care Access Declined in Rural and Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010-22.
With support from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania found widespread loss of obstetric services across states, especially among rural hospitals, during the 12-year period studied. By 2022, eight states had more than two-thirds of rural hospitals without obstetric services.
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Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America
Among the key findings in this brief from the University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center:
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New Study Finds Key Factors to Expanding Dental Care in the Safety Net
Our recent study examined critical factors influencing the delivery of oral health services at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and findings were recently published in the June issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. Researchers analyzed FQHC utilization data from 2012 to 2021 to evaluate trends in oral health services at over 1,000 FQHCs nationwide.
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Current Approaches to Rural Health Workforce Challenges Need Improvement
Rural health and access to care have been a concern to health care providers and policymakers for many years. The daunting combination of a scarcity of health care resources; enduring poverty; and challenges related to education, technology, transportation, and infrastructure have resulted in widespread and growing health disparities for people living in rural areas, relative to their urban neighbors. While the data show New York’s efforts to be highly successful in recruiting providers into rural areas, the lesson learned is that additional measures are needed.
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