As the Sunshine State, Florida is noted for its warm climate, beautiful beaches and numerous recreational opportunities. Florida covers 53,927 square miles, with a 2012 estimated population of 19,317,568 people, including 1,214,632 people living in 30 rural Florida counties (USDA-ERS). An additional 1.1 million persons were estimated by the U.S. Census to live in the rural portions of Florida’s 37 urban counties. Tallahassee is the state capital and the largest cities are Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. According to the latest estimates, 78.5% of the state’s population is white, 16.5% is Black/African American, and 22.9% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (Census, 2011).
There are 210 hospitals in Florida (Kaiser, 2010), 21 of which are located in rural areas (SORH, 2012). The state has 13 hospitals identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (March 2013). There are 143 Rural Health Clinics in Florida (Kaiser, 2012) and 44 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 290 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). All of Florida’s 67 counties are designated in part or whole as primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). 20.0% of Florida residents are uninsured (Kaiser, 2011).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), the average per-capita income for Florida residents in 2011 was $39,635, although rural per-capita income lagged at $30,327. Estimates from 2011 indicate a poverty rate of 20.8% exists in rural Florida, compared to 16.8% in urban areas of the state. 2011 ACS data reports that 19.5% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 14.1% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural Florida is 10.1%, while in urban Florida it is 10.5% (USDA-ERS, 2011).
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; Florida State Office of Rural Health (SORH); Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts; Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida (BCBSF)
Nonprofit/Foundation
A philanthropic foundation that supports community-based solutions that enhance access to quality health-related services for uninsured and underserved Floridians.
Center for the Advancement of Health IT: Rural and North Florida
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) serving Florida that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)
State government
Responsible for the administration of the Medicaid program and for the licensure and regulation of health facilities.
Florida Area Health Education Center Network (AHEC)
State/regional organization
A statewide system that addresses the primary health care needs of Florida's most vulnerable populations through health professional education and support. This network page provides web access and contact information for each of the 10 regional AHECs.
Florida Association for Community Action, Inc. (FACA)
State/regional organization
Serves as a network of Community Action Agencies, Head Start programs, Weatherization and other sanctioned programs and to raise the health, education, and economic standards of Florida's economically disadvantaged citizens.
Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC)
State/regional organization
Provides advocacy, resources, and assistance to Florida's Federally Qualified Health Centers in their efforts to deliver quality healthcare services throughout the state.
Florida Child Support Enforcement Program
State government
Helps assure that children in Florida are supported by both parents.
Florida Department of Child and Family Studies: Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health
State/regional organization
Address the need for improved services and outcomes for children with serious emotional/behavioral disabilities and their families.
Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)
State government
Protects children, the elderly, and the disabled from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Helps find permanent homes for children in foster care, and provides supportive services to families to ensure their daily needs are met.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
State/regional organization
Promotes economic opportunities for all Floridians through successful workforce, community, and economic development strategies.
Florida Department of Health (DOH)
State government
Provides a variety services to promote and create healthy Florida communities.
Florida Department of Health: Office of Minority Health (DOH OMH)
State government
Provides leadership in improving minority health and reducing health disparities through education, collaboration, mobilization and coordination statewide.
Florida Department of Transportation
State government
Works with partners in other state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and local governments to meet Florida's transportation needs.
Florida Disaster Recovery Fund
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to raise funds that help Floridians with long-term recovery from natural disasters by strengthening families and rebuilding communities.
Florida Hospital Association (FHA)
State/regional organization
Through representation and advocacy, education, and information services, the FHA helps its members provide quality patient care.
Florida Office of Rural Health
State government
Addresses the healthcare needs of the state's rural citizens. A division of the Florida Department of Health.
Florida Rural Health Association (FRHA)
State/regional organization
Advocates for policy initiatives that strengthen healthcare services in Florida's rural communities.
Health Council of South Florida (HCSF)
State/regional organization
Part of a statewide network of 11 non-profit agencies established by Florida Statutes to conduct regional health planning and implementation activities. HCSF covers rural Monroe County.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Florida
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region (NN/LM SE/A)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health care providers, librarians, and the public in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia.
PaperFree Florida
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers (REC) serving Florida that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
South Florida Regional Extension Center (SFREC)
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) serving Florida that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP)
State/regional organization
Helps rural communities in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to improve community infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment.
Southeast Telehealth Resource Center (SETRC)
State/regional organization
One of the telehealth resource centers funded by the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. Assists health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations. Includes Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.
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 13 state area in the Southern region which includes TX, LA, AR, OK, AL, MS, GA, FL, KY, SC, NC, VA, and TN.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Florida
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 Central Florida Regional Extension Center (UCF REC)
State/regional organization
One of four State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) serving Florida that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
USDA Rural Development Florida 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.
Tools
ERS State Fact Sheet: Florida
Website
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Florida Health Centers Data
Website
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations and information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Florida KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Website
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Florida QuickFacts
Website
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Florida Resource Directory
Website
Contains information about the latest state and federal programs and resources to help local Florida communities. Resources address topics such as: infrastructure projects, housing, health services, training, small business and tourism development.
Florida Rural Health Profiles
Website
From this resources page on the Florida Rural Health Association's site, access a state-wide rural health profile and profiles from each legislative district. Profiles include a map identifying rural census tracts and rural hospitals, plus the estimated rural and total population. They also outline the number of FQHCs, RHCs, and other health system data for the district or state.
Florida Rural Hospital Directory
Website
Directory of current rural hospitals including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the State of Florida. Includes the hospital name, address, and contact information.
Florida Senior Safety Resource Center
Website
Helps seniors and persons with disabilities or medical conditions address the need to find appropriate and affordable transportation options within their Florida community. Users can search for options by county and city, route, type of schedule, and special services such as medical transportation or those that are ADA compliant.
Florida State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Includes individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Florida
Website
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Southeastern Atlantic Region: Florida Resources
Website
Overview of the state, with links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for Florida.
Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC)
Website
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.
Rural South Public Health Training Center
Website
Provides competency-based training for the public health workforce, especially those workers in underserved areas of Florida, to enhance public health services and decrease disparities in access to services in medically underserved areas. Hosts free distance courses for free continuing education credits for public health workers. Limited number of scholarships available for graduate courses for public health workers in Florida who serve rural, medically underserved populations.
Southern Rural Development Center: Success Stories
Website
Describes successful programs involving states within the coverage region of the Southern Rural Development Center: stories currently feature Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas.
See also: State-by-State Resources: Tools Maps & Map Collections
Florida Rural Definition Maps
Geographic coverage: Florida
Set of maps showing the geographic coverage provided by 9 different rural definitions for the state.
Date: 2000
Florida's Rural Counties
Geographic coverage: Florida
A map of the State of Florida highlighting the rural counties with a population
density of less than 100 individuals per
square mile or an area defined by the
most recent U.S. census as rural.
Rural and Urban Counties 2010
Geographic coverage: Florida
Identifies thirty Florida counties designated as rural (population density of less than 100 individuals per square mile or an area defined by the most recent U.S. census as rural).
Date: 2010
See also: State-by-State Resources: Maps Funding
Aetna Foundation Regional Grants
Funds community wellness initiatives focusing on healthy food and activity that serve low-income, underserved, or minority populations.
BJ’s Charitable Foundation
Funding for hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, healthcare, and education to those who are underserved.
Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Supports local organizations with funding priority given to programs that focus on education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation, and cultural enrichment.
Georgia-Pacific Foundation Grants
Grants for organizations projects that focus on education, the environment, community enhancement, affordable housing, arts and culture, and entrepreneurship.
Gladys Brooks Foundation Grants
Offers grants for libraries, educational institutions, hospitals, and clinics.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeaster/Atlantic Region Funding
Provides funding for National Network of Libraries members located in the Southeaster/Atlantic region to assist them in conducting outreach and technology projects.
Nonprofit Training Resource Fund
Grants to organizations for employees to attend approved classes and courses that will enhance their job performance.
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Loan Fund Program
Provides low-interest loans to low-income rural communities for predevelopment costs, system upgrades and new construction of water and wastewater services and facilities.
Wells Fargo Corporate Giving Programs
Funding for nonprofit organizations in the areas of community development, education, human services, arts and culture, civic responsibility, and environmental consciousness.
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
Border County Health Workforce Profiles: Florida
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
Provides information on the health workforce, relevant population characteristics, and basic health indicators in Florida.
Date: 05 / 2007
Demographic and Economic Profile: Florida
Author(s): Kathleen K. Miller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, income, and more. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 02 / 2009
Florida Rural Health Plan Update: Report from Town Hall Meetings
Author(s): Gail R. Bellamy
Summarizes discussions and outcomes of 2008-09 town hall meetings held in Bradford, Liberty, Madison, Highlands, and Hendry counties, which were intended to engage rural consumers in the validation of needs/issues raised through and by key informants and to specifically identify and/or highlight issues of particular concern to different parts of Florida.
Florida Rural Population by U.S. Census Tract
Sponsoring organization: Florida Rural Health Association
Shows a map marking the rural areas of Florida as identified by Rural Urban Community Area Codes (RUCAs) as well as the locations of rural hospitals in the state. Also provides data on the state's rural health status and health access, rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural hospital impact on the local economy, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and dollars received through rural health grants, activities, and contracts.
Date: 01 / 2011
Florida State Health Improvement Plan 2012-2015
Sponsoring organization: Florida Department of Health
Outlines issues, goals, strategies, and objectives as a statewide plan for public health system partners and stakeholders to improve the health of Floridians, including those in rural communities.
Date: 04 / 2012
P-3 Community Foundation: Building a Community Coalition to Advance Rural Family Economic Success
Author(s): Betsy Rubiner
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Describes the development of a new community foundation that serves struggling families in three Florida counties.
Date: 2006
Small Business Profile: Florida
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: 2 / 2013
Southern Rural Development Center: 2011 Annual Report: Regional Innovations, National Applications
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
Describes the programs and progress of the Southern Rural Development Center, one of four regional centers coordinating rural development research and extension education programs.
Date: 2012
Taking SSTRIDEs to Recruit and Retain Physicians
Author(s): Alex McEllistrem-Evenson
Sponsoring organization: Health Workforce Information Center
Features the SSTRIDE education outreach program, that has expanded into rural communities and which provides educational enrichment to Florida students interested in health care, from seventh grade through medical school.
Journal citation: Health Workforce News
Date: 07 / 2009
USDA Rural Development 2012 Progress Report
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
Reports on investments made by USDA Rural Development intended to have a lasting, sustainable impact on rural American by supporting economic growth, broadband implementation, housing programs, and public utility projects. Features programs implemented in Minnesota, Georgia, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Louisiana, Illinois, Arizona, North Carolina, North Dakota, Colorado, Florida, and Wisconsin. Reports total funds granted to each of the 50 states from 2009 - 2012.
See also: State-by-State Resources: Documents Success Stories
Smiles on Wheels Mobile Dental Program
The purpose of this project was to implement a mobile dental service, Smiles on Wheels, that emphasized community-based oral health education targeting low-income preschool children through third-graders as well as pregnant women living in poverty in five rural counties in the Florida Panhandle.
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.
SMART: Diabetes and Hypertension Education and Outreach Program
The Diabetes and Hypertension Education Outreach Program screened more than 1,000 area residents for diabetes and hypertension. The project succeeded in reducing hospitalizations among program participants by nearly 70 percent.
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