East Tennessee State University’s Center for Rural Health Research in the College of Public Health highlights the Center’s continued growth in its fourth annual report.
Over the past year, CRHR welcomed three new faculty, and four new staff members, engaged
with five new funders, co-authored 34 publications and presented at well over 100
conferences across the nation.
“This past year has been another outstanding year of growth and visibility for our center,” said Michael Meit, director of the Center for Rural Health Research. “I could not be prouder of the team that we have developed – their passion, commitment and expertise shine through in all that we do. They bring well-deserved recognition to ETSU, our College of Public Health, and our region.”
CRHR serves Tennessee, Appalachia and the nation through research and evaluation projects
designed to improve the health and well-being of the people. The Appalachian Highlands,
the 21 counties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, remain the core focus
of the Center’s work, highlighted by an enduring partnership with Ballad Health.
Over the past year, Ballad Health and CRHR began enrolling participants in the StrongLINK
program. Through StrongLINK, expectant mothers who give birth at Ballad Health facilities
are asked to participate in periodic surveys about their health and their children’s
health. Survey information will be collected over 18 years and create a longitudinal
data repository measuring the medical, social and educational outcomes of participating
families.
Other projects highlighted in the report include the evaluation of the Appalachian
Regional Commission’s health grant program. The findings of this project will lead
to recommendations for ARC and local stakeholders to strengthen the implementation
and impact of health projects across the Appalachian region.
CRHR also partnered with NORC and the University of Minnesota to work with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create recommendations and considerations for rural and frontier local health departments to improve public health emergency preparedness.
CRHR is also working with TennCare and the Center for Health Care Strategies to help
develop the Tennessee Multi-Sector Plan for Aging. As part of this project, CRHR created
an online dashboard with comprehensive data related to various aspects of aging, such
as demographics, health and well-being, economic security, social engagement and community
support.