Texas is referred to as "The Lone Star State" that is symbolized by the star on the 1836 flag of the republic. It is a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. Texas is the top producer of oil in the nation, but it also leads in beef production, cotton production as well as the space industry and technology. Texas covers 261,797 square miles, with a 2010 estimated population of 25,145,561 people – 3,060,392 living in rural Texas (USDA-ERS). Austin, the capital, is located in the south-central region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 70.4% of the state’s population is white, 11.8% Black/African American, 3.8% is Asian, and 37.6% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2010).
There are 404 hospitals in Texas, 149 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 77 hospitals identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (Sept. 2010). There are 318 Rural Health Clinics in Texas (Kaiser, 2011), and 64 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 309 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). Most Texans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 26.0% of its residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2008-2009).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for Texans in 2009 was $38,609, although rural per-capita income lagged at $31,262. 2010 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 20.4% exists in rural Texas, compared to a 17.5% level in urban areas of the state. 2010 ACS data reports that 24.2% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 19.4% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural & urban Texas is 8.2% (USDA-ERS, 2010).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts; USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets; North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center; Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts; Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List;
Organizations
Attorney General of Texas: Child Support Services
State government
The official child support enforcement agency for the State of Texas, the Office of the Attorney General provides services for parents who wish to obtain or provide support for their children.
Border Epidemiology and Environmental Health Center (BEC)
State/regional organization
Mechanism to establish, organize and develop technical health activities that enhance the quality of life of the people living on the border region of United States and Mexico, focused on New Mexico-Chihuahua-West Texas border
CentrEast Regional Extension Center: Texas
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) serving Texas that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
East Texas Area Health Education Center
State/regional organization
Works to improve the health of communities by developing a quality health workforce and helping address unmet health needs.
Gulf Coast Regional Extension Center: Texas (GCREC)
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) serving Texas that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
State/regional organization
Addresses emerging challenges in mental health by contributing to improve mental health services, research, public policy, and public education for Texas and the nation.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Texas
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region (NN/LM-SCR)
State/regional organization
Supports collaboration among libraries and information centers that serve health information needs in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
North Texas Regional Extension Center (NTREC)
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) serving Texas that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
International organization
Works to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. Serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System and as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. It is an international public health agency, and part of the United Nations.
South Texas Area Health Education Center
State/regional organization
Committed to improving the health status and quality of life for residents of South Texas by improving access to culturally competent and quality health care through preparation, composition, and distribution of the health professional workforce in the underserved and highly impoverished in 38 counties.
South Texas Center
Academic/Research
Provides training in public health, assesses training needs for promotoras, increases access to care for residents, and conducts research on community health.
Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC)
State/regional organization
One of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Works to strengthen the region's 29 land-grant institutions in addressing rural development issues. Serves a 14 state area in the Southern region which includes TX, LA, AR, OK, AL, MS, GA, FL, KY, SC, NC, VA, and TN.
Texas Association of Community Action Agencies, Inc. (TACAA)
State/regional organization
A private nonprofit corporation created to provide a unified voice for Community Action Agencies in advocacy, policy, programmatic and legislative issues and innovative hunger relief programs affecting families and communities in the state of Texas.
Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC)
State/regional organization
A private, non-profit membership association that represents safety-net health care providers in the state of Texas.
Texas Association of Rural Health Clinics (TARHC)
State government
Provides services and benefits to rural health clinics in the state including technical assistance, listing of clinics, educational opportunities, recruitment assistance, and more.
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
State government
Provides a comprehensive array of aging and disability services, supports, and opportunities that are easily accessed in local communities.
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
State government
Works in partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
State government
Protects the unprotected - children, elderly, and people with disabilities - from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Adult Protective Services (APS)
State government
The agency responsible for investigating abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
State government
Provides a variety of housing and community development services that includes low interest mortgage financing, emergency food or shelter, rental subsidy, energy assistance, weatherization, economic development, and the basic public infrastructure for small rural communities; also provides titling, licensing, inspection, enforcement, and customer service in connection with manufactured housing.
Texas Department of State Health Services
State government
An agency of the Texas Health and Human Services System.
Texas Department of State Health Services: Community Mental Health
State government
The state agency responsible for delivering evidence-based mental health and related services, fostering recovery, improving quality of life, and meeting the multiple needs of mental health consumers across the life span.
Texas Department of Transportation - Public Transportation Division
State/regional organization
Provides financial and technical assistance to urban, rural and elderly or disabled transit providers. The division also represents transit in the planning and programming process and prepares funding-needs projections. Oversees the public transportation grants throughout the State of Texas.
Texas Education Agency: Special Education (TEA)
State government
Provides leadership, guidance, and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
State government
Provides leadership and direction, and fosters the spirit of innovation needed to achieve an efficient and effective health and human services system for Texans.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities (OEHD)
State government
Texas Hospital Association (THA)
State/regional organization
Advocate for Texas hospitals representing the interests of Texas hospitals and health systems.
Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCHNet)
State/regional organization
Dedicated to assisting general acute care hospitals of 150 beds and less by addressing the issues unique to rural and community hospitals and recognizing their many contributions to rural health care.
The organization provides legislative and regulatory advocacy, specialized programs, publications, services and resources for rural and community hospitals; and supports rural and community hospitals as the focal point for health care delivery in the community.
Texas Rural Health Association (TRHA)
State/regional organization
Works to improve the health of rural Texans. Composed of individuals and organizations dedicated to providing leadership on rural health care issues through advocacy, communication, and education.
Texas State Office of Rural Health
State government
Serves as the primary state resource in planning, coordinating, and advocating statewide efforts to ensure continued access to rural health care services.
Texas State Office of Rural Health
State government
Dedicated to serving the healthcare needs and interests of rural Texas communities.
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
State government
The state government agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Texas (HUD)
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
University of Texas School of Public Health
Academic/Research
Part of the Texas Medical Center, Houston.
USDA Rural Development Texas State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
West Texas Area Health Education Center
State/regional organization
Addresses the health care provider shortage and improves health care access in West Texas through education and development of the health care workforce.
West Texas Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (WT-HITREC)
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) serving Texas that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Tools
Border Health Topic Guide
Web site
Information and resources about US-Mexico border health issues.
Borderland Information Center
Web site
Provides geographic data within 100 kilometers of each side of the Texas/Mexico border (as defined in the La Paz agreement) for the public and private sectors.
EMS Trauma Systems
Web site
Provides a variety of information, funding announcements, contacts and other resources related to emergency medical services and trauma.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Texas
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Texas
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM South Central Region: Texas Resources
Web site
Overview of the state, with links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for Texas.
Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC)
Web site
Comprised of 14 accredited schools of public health that serve in a national capacity to meet preparedness and response training and education needs of the U. S. public health workforce. Funded schools are located in AL, AZ, FL, IA, IL, MA, MD, MN, NY, OK, NC, TX, and WA.
Texas Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Texas KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Texas Natural Resources Information System (TNRIS)
Web site
Provides a centralized information system incorporating all Texas natural resource data, socioeconomic data related to natural resources, and indexes related to that data that are collected by state agencies or other entities.
Texas QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Texas State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
U.S.- Mexico Border HIV/AIDS Resource Directory
Web site
Connects HIV/AIDS resources with community needs along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Provides local, regional and national information on HIV/AIDS training resources for a range of health care providers, and HIV/AIDS-related services for both providers, and consumers.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Funding
3E's Grant Programs
Funding to promote better health and nutrition programs and prevent obesity among children in Texas.
Community Resource Group (CRG) Loan Fund
Loans to help small, rural communities and tribal nations, in select states, for water and wastewater projects.
Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Board of Trustee Continuing Education
To support continuing education and training for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Board of Trustees to assist them in the governance of a CAH.
Critical Access Hospital/ Rural Emergency Medical Services/ Trauma Enhancement Grant
Grants to support the development and improvement of rural EMS response, delivery, and service capacity, or to support the development and preparation for the initial designation of eligible Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) as trauma centers.
Disaster Relief & Urgent Need Fund
Funding for disaster relief and urgent needs assistance.
El Paso Community Foundation Grants
Grant priorities are Health and Disabilities, Human Services (basic human needs) and Public Benefit.
Entergy Micro Grants
Micro Grants can be used for projects that effectively impact arts & culture, community improvement/enrichment, education & literacy, the environment or healthy families.
First Children's Finance Loan Fund
Loans and technical assistance to child care and early education businesses, especially those serving lower-income communities.
Humana Foundation Community Grants
The Humana Foundation supports charitable activities that promote healthy lives and communities.
Promise of Nursing (PON) Regional Faculty Fellowship Program
Scholarships to prepare registered nurses for the nurse educator role by achieving their degrees.
Wells Fargo Texas Grant Program
Wells Fargo makes grants in three primary areas: Human Services, Education and Community Development.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Assessing Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response of Rural Veterinarians: Experiences and Training Needs
Author(s): Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Holly Jacobsen, Katherine Feldman, Jerry A. Miller, Lori Rodriguez, Francisco Soto Mas
Reports an assessment of the bioterrorism preparedness of rural veterinarians in North Texas, suggesting that many of these veterinarians could benefit from additional training in bioterrorism preparedness and response.
Journal citation: Journal of Veterinary Medical Education Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages: 262-268
Date: 2008
Border County Health Workforce Profiles: Texas
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
Provides information on the health workforce, relevant population characteristics, and basic health indicators for the U.S.-Mexico Border region in the State of Texas.
Date: 05 / 2007
Border Report: A Status Report On The Health Of People In El Paso County, Texas And Dona Ana County, New Mexico
Sponsoring organization: Paso del Norte Health Foundation
Presents selected health information on two communities in the U.S. - Mexico border region. Information is based on the 2005 Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a telephone-based survey of randomly-selected adults. The survey gathered information about many health conditions and personal behaviors that affect health across the United States.
Date: 2005
Building Medical Homes: Lessons from Eight States with Emerging Programs
Author(s): Neva Kaye, Jason Buxbaum, Mary Takach
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Profiles eight states that are at different stages in the development and implementation of a medical home program. Includes Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Texas, and Virginia.
Date: 12 / 2011
Challenges for Human Services: Rural Helping: Trusted, Organized and Flexible
Author(s): Kathleen Belanger
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
After Hurricane Katrina, the town of Nacogdoches, Tex., proved that the best local help must involve organizations that are community-based, flexible, connected, and trusted.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11 / 2011
Demographic and Economic Profile: Texas
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Presents demographics, economics, and research on Texas. Includes statistics, data, maps, charts, and graphs.
Date: 10 / 2008
Profiles of State Innovation: Roadmap for Managing Long-Term Supports and Services
Author(s): Alice Link, Suzanne Gore, Lindsay Barnette, Stephen Somers
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
Identifies five states that demonstrate expertise in managed care approaches for individuals with long-term care needs. States included are Arizona, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Date: 11 / 2010
Rural Dropout Problem: An Invisible Achievement Gap
Author(s): Jerry Johnson, Marty Strange, Karen Madden
Sponsoring organization: Rural School and Community Trust
Reviews high school dropout rates and related factors in rural high schools throughout 15 Southern and Southwestern states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.
Date: 2010
Small Business Profile: Texas
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 02 / 2011
Status of Rural Texas, 2010
Sponsoring organization: Texas State Office of Rural Health
Provides a snapshot of where rural Texas stands today and speaks to the broad spectrum of challenges and opportunities being experienced by rural communities across Texas.
Date: 12 / 2010
Status of Rural Texas: Winds of Change
Author(s): Kim White, Eric Beverly, Travis Brown, Dave Darnell
Sponsoring organization: Texas State Office of Rural Health
Highlights some of the complex and diverse issues affecting rural Texas.
Date: 12 / 2007
Texas at Work: Today and Tomorrow
Author(s): Jason Sabo, Carlos Romo, Patrick Bresette, Chris Pieper
Examines the Texas' workforce: the living conditions and public policies affecting hard working, but
low-income, workers.
Date: 08 / 2003
Texas Health Care Landscape
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Overview of the demographics, population health, the uninsured and Medicaid in the State of Texas.
Date: 12 / 2011
Texas State Office of Rural Health Rural Health Strategic Plan For State Fiscal Years 2007-2011
Sponsoring organization: Texas State Office of Rural Health
Provides an overview of rural health in Texas includes defining "rural", healthcare access, rural health infrastructure, and rural healthcare workforce,
Date: 03 / 2007
Town-level Comparisons May be an Effective Alternative in Comparing Rural and Urban Differences: A Look at Accidental Traumatic Brain Injuries in North Texas Children
Author(s): Brian Robertson, Charles McConnell
Summarizes the results of examined data on North Texas pediatric traumatic brain injury among four levels of rurality: urban city, large town, small town, and isolated town.
Journal citation: Rural and Remote Health Volume 11 Issue Online Pages: 1521
Date: 01 / 2011
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Success Stories
East Texas Border Health Consortium Project
The goal of this project is to deliver integrated primary and mental health care to isolated, chronically ill population groups in Harrison and Marion counties.
EMS Co-op Helps Rural Providers
Using the power of group purchasing within a cooperative structure, the North Central EMS Cooperative (NCEMSC) is an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) cooperative developed to serve Minnesota and surrounding states.
Nuevas Avenidas (New Avenues) Program
The Nuevas Avenidas (New Avenues) Program established new routes to primary, preventative, and
behavioral health care for medically underserved residents of Hidalgo County, Texas.
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