Rural Community Profiles

When it comes to improving health outcomes, rural communities are uniquely positioned to effect change.

Residents of rural areas develop tight-knit social networks, can more easily access and work with local leaders, and are often able to do a lot with a little. These assets help these communities overcome geographic and economic barriers to good health.

Rural communities across the country have implemented innovative strategies to help residents eat well, be physically active, and make schools healthier places for their children. Residents of these towns and counties have come together with local decisionmakers to create community gardens, maintain local walking trails, and enhance school cafeteria meals, among other activities.

ChangeLab Solutions has compiled these stories and created three easy-to-use handouts that focus on nutrition, physical activity, and schools. Each handout highlights stories from rural communities that have used local assets to promote health, and contains a list of strategies that other communities can use. Download the following rural profiles: 

• Making Healthy Foods Affordable: Navajo Nation
• Rural Places Make Active Spaces: West Jefferson, North Carolina
• Improving School Nutrition: Ajo, Arizona

Rural residents can share these handouts with community coalitions as inspiration or decisionmakers to make the case for new projects.