Introduction

School-based Programs Help Children Shape Up
by Candi Helseth
Schools are working nutrition education and increased physical activity into their curriculums to combat the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

Intervention Programs Target Childhood Chronic Disease
by Candi Helseth
Health intervention programs, such as the CARDIAC Project in West Virginia, are using school screenings to identify children at-risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Challenges for Human Services
by Kathleen Belanger
Getting Human Services to Rural Communities
In Humboldt County, Calif., Family Resource Centers are offering help where it is needed.

Look What’s Coming
by Wayne Myers, M.D.
The Toughest Time in a Long Time
Rural hospitals face a rough year ahead because of Medicaid cutbacks, continued economic hardships and decreasing federal aid.

Around the Country
by Candi Helseth
I Wish I Was in Dixie County Walks
Dixie County Walks, a six-week walking challenge in Florida, is helping residents make great strides in improving their health.

The Benefit Bank Gives Families a Financial Boost
The Benefit Bank of South Carolina is linking low-income residents to public funds that often go unused and unclaimed.

Rural Spotlight
An Interview with John Supplitt
by Beth Blevins
The senior director of the Section for Small or Rural Hospitals of the American Hospital Association discusses challenges facing rural hospitals, including workforce and HIT.