New York State Association for Rural Health

Forty-four of New York State’s sixty-two counties are classified as fully or partially rural. Rural communities face unique challenges: declining and aging populations; increasing hospital closures; shrinking labor forces and shortages of health care providers; and limited infrastructure. Most recently, stagnant State reimbursement, funding eligibility restrictions, and administrative barriers have inhibited the growth of rural health infrastructure. Rural health networks play an essential role in addressing these challenges by leveraging community assets and tailoring responses to local needs. Despite their critical roles, these institutions are underfunded and are hampered by staff shortages and leadership transitions. In 2024, NYHealth awarded New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) a grant to provide rural health networks with the tools and resources they need to respond to pressing rural health challenges. 

Under this grant, NYSARH will organize activities around the pressing issue of mental health access in rural communities. First, NYSARH will compile a rural health needs assessment report,synthesizing mental health information from 44 rural counties to gain an understanding of rural needs, assets, and disparities. It will then collaborate with up to 12 rural health networks and community-based organizations to elicit feedback on the assessment findings and to inform a shared action plan and advocacy activities.