Completed Projects

The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was created by University of Wisconsin researchers to provide a score for neighborhoods based on their level of disadvantage. This study will characterize differences in ADI in rural vs urban areas, summarize the existing literature on ADI, and describe expert considerations for utilizing the ADI for future policy.  More info...

The study will describe rural-urban differences in persistent Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations for primary care, mental health, and dental care between 2010-2020 including those located in persistant poverty and majority minority counties.  More info...

This project will quantitatively examine the burden of public stigma associated with mental illness in rural versus non-rural communities using a nationally representative panel-based survey. Findings will inform strategies aimed at reducing public stigma associated with mental illness and, ultimately, improving health care, behavioral health, and quality of life for individuals experiencing mental illness in rural communities nationwide.  More info...

This project will apply a mixed methods design to describe the distribution of block grant resources from federal agencies through states to the local level in rural and non-rural communities in the United States. Findings could guide federal agencies and policy makers to develop strategies to more effectively target block grant resources to ensure that the needs of vulnerable rural populations are addressed. More info...

Multivariate models will be used to explore the inpatient hospital resource costs associated with treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) for rural versus urban populations; how inpatient hospital resource costs vary by patient, market, and hospital characteristics; and whether length-of-stay (LOS), a major correlate of the resource cost of inpatient stays, differs between rural residents compared to urban residents.  More info...