Rural Health & Communities

Our goal is to support rural community health and vibrancy.

North Dakota is a geographically large state with a significant number of people living, working, and raising families in rural and tribal communities. It is imperative that we address the unique health, social problems, and otherchallenges present for these residents in order to foster an equitable, vibrant, and healthy state. 

UND Opportunities

The Rural Health & Communities Grand Challenge is an opportunity to bring together university faculty and staff from across schools and departments, and to partner with state and community programs, community leaders, and industry in an effort to address unique rural health and social concerns.

UND has been home to numerous nationally recognized programs addressing the health of rural and tribal communities for decades, and the Grand Challenges provide an opportunity to grow these programs, increase collaboration, and specifically meet the needs of those living and working in North Dakota.  

Unique Concerns in Rural and Tribal Communities

• In North Dakota, residents in rural and tribal areas lack local access to health care including behavioral health services and addiction treatment programs.
• Communities are working to address substance misuse, prevention programs, poverty, food desserts, and stigma around behavioral health services.
• Rural communities disproportionately report barriers to health care access that include cost of care, transportation, and insurance coverage.
• Tribal communities present similar needs to those highlighted above, and also report a lack of access to care that is culturally responsive and aware.
• In addition to lack of local access to primary health care services, rural and tribal communities report inequitable access to specialty services to include dental care, vision, occupational and physical therapy, counseling services, and behavioral health and addiction treatment programs, for example.

UND’s Rural Health & Communities Capabilities

• UND proudly participates in research and outreach with rural and tribal communities through the Center for Rural Health, School of Law, College of Education & Human Development, the College of Nursing, and the Departments of Social Work, Psychology, The Department of Indigenous Health, Occupational Therapy, and more.
• We are a recognized leader in rural health, indigenous heath, and behavioral health (to include addiction prevention, treatment and recovery).

Benefits to North Dakota

These programs, research initiatives, and service and training projects have significant and positive impacts on individual and community health, which in turn, create a strong, healthy, and vibrant North Dakota.