The state of Mississippi is named after the Mississippi River. Mississippi covers 46,907 square miles, with a 2012 estimated population of 2,984,926 people – with 1,627,204 people living in rural Mississippi (USDA-ERS). Jackson is the state capital. The state’s largest cities are Jackson, Gulfport and Biloxi. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 60.0% of the state’s population is white, 37.3% is Black/African-American, and 2.9% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2011).
There are 96 hospitals in Mississippi (Kaiser, 2010), 32 of which are identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (March 2013). There are 163 Rural Health Clinics in Mississippi (Kaiser, 2012) and 21 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 170 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). 19.0% of Mississippi residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2011).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for Mississippi residents in 2011 was $32,000 although rural per-capita income lagged at $29,550. Estimates from 2011 indicate a poverty rate of 25.9% exists in rural Mississippi, compared to 19.1% in urban areas of the state. 2011 ACS data reports that 23.1% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 15.4% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural Mississippi is 11.9%, while in urban Mississippi, it is 9.3% (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; Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts; Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Federal government
Supports economic and social development in all of West Virginia and parts of twelve other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Community Resource Group (CRG)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Assists rural communities in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas to solve water and waste disposal problems and provides information technology guidance to nonprofit organizations.
Foundation for the Mid-South
Nonprofit/Foundation
Focuses on four regional priorities including Education, Health & Wellness, Wealth Building, and Community Development. Works in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Mississippi
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Mississippi Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
State/regional organization
A statewide health professions network dedicated to improving access to health care in Mississippi’s rural and underserved communities. Their website provides contact details for each of the seven regional AHECs in the state.
Mississippi Center for Health Information Technology
State/regional organization
Mississippi State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Mississippi Department of Health
State government
Works to improve the health of Mississippi residents.
Mississippi Department of Health: Office of Health Disparity Elimination
State government
Performs research and education on unequal access to quality health care and strives to eliminate such disparities across the state.
Mississippi Department of Human Services
State government
Mission is to provide services for people in need by optimizing all available resources to sustain the family unit and to encourage traditional family values thereby promoting self-sufficiency and personal responsibility for all Mississippians.
Mississippi Division of Child Support Enforcement
State government
Provides child support services to ensure that children receive financial and emotional support from both parents and empower families to become self-sufficient.
Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA)
State/regional organization
A statewide trade organization dedicated to effectively serving the health care needs of Mississippi, serving those who serve the state's hospitals and their employees.
Mississippi Office of Rural Health
State government
Serves to understand and improve rural health conditions within Mississippi through collecting and evaluating data, providing technical assistance, and updating a rural health care information clearinghouse. A division of the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Mississippi Primary Health Care Association (MPHCA)
State/regional organization
Represents the interests of its members in national, regional, and statewide efforts to improve access to health care for the medically underserved.
Mississippi Rural Health Association
State/regional organization
Provides support and leadership for improvement in the health status of rural Mississippians through education, communication and collaboration.
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.
South Central Telehealth Resource Center
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 Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
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: Mississippi
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.
USDA Rural Development Mississippi 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.
Volunteers of America Southeast (VOASE)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Serves people along the Alabama-Mississippi-Georgia Gulf Coast who are hungry, homeless, and otherwise in need of assistance. Offers programs for children, chronic mental illness, hard of hearing, community enhancement, elderly, housing, and substance abuse.
Tools
Directory of Mississippi’s Rural Health Clinics
Website
Listing of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Mississippi as of July 2010. Organized by county and includes the clinic's name, website link, address, phone number(s), hours, services provided, and its geographic location in Mississippi.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Mississippi
Website
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Mississippi Health Centers Data
Website
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.
Mississippi KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Website
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Mississippi QuickFacts
Website
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Mississippi 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.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Mississippi
Website
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Southeastern Atlantic Region: Mississippi Resources
Website
Overview of the state, with links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for Mississippi.
Snapshots: Mississippi's Health Data Source
Website
Sponsored by the Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health, Snapshots provides the most current data available through a collaboration of many Mississippi agencies. Data reports are available on topics such as tobacco, alcohol, violence, illicit drugs, child abuse, and student health behaviors.
See also: State-by-State Resources: Tools Funding
Community Resource Group (CRG) Loan Fund
Loans to help small, rural communities and tribal nations with water and wastewater projects.
Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
Provides financial assistance for the development of health care services, health care cooperatives, health education programs, health care training programs, and public health-related facilities in the Delta Region.
Delta Regional Authority States Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP)
Grants to help Delta communities create jobs and improve infrastructure.
Entergy Micro Grants
Provides grants for projects that effectively impact arts and culture; community improvement/enrichment; education and literacy; the environment; or healthy families.
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.
Mississippi Dentist Loan Repayment Program
Offers loan repayment assistance to dentists who agree to practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas of Mississippi.
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.
Rural Health IT Workforce Loan Fund
Loans for health care providers in underserved communities to successfully adopt and utilize a Health IT system.
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.
Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
Awards grants in various rural and urban areas where Weyerhaeuser does business. Funds programs that work in the areas of affordable housing and shelter; education and youth development; environmental stewardship; and human services.
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
Case Studies on Transit and Livable Communities in Rural and Small Town America
Author(s): Sean Barry
Sponsoring organization: Transportation for America
Collection of 12 case studies providing examples of how small cities, towns, and rural regions across the country are transforming themselves into more livable communities.
Date: 09 / 2010
Case Study of Developments in Rural Health in Difficult Economic Times: Leake County, Mississippi
Author(s): Kelly Shaw-Sutherland, Anh Nguyen, Keith Mueller
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Shows how health care providers and others in Leake County, MS are faring during the 2008-2010 economy and period of diminishing access to care, escalating health care costs, and gaps in quality.
Case Study of Developments in Rural Health in Difficult Economic Times: Walthall County, Mississippi
Author(s): Anh Nguyen, Kelly Shaw-Sutherland, Keith Mueller
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Shows how health care providers and others in Walthall County, MS are faring during the 2008-2010 economy and period of diminishing access to care, escalating health care costs, and gaps in quality.
Date: 2009
Compendium of Best Practices/Models - Innovations to Strengthen Rural Health Care: Technology, Training and Workforce Development
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Document Developed by NRHA's National Rural Task Force. Highlights workforce programs in California, Mississippi, and New Mexico.
Date: 09 / 2010
Demographic and Economic Profile: Mississippi
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: 10 / 2008
Housing in the Mississippi Delta
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
Provides statistics and describes the housing needs of the Mississippi Delta region that will require multi-level approaches to address the social, political, and economic infrastructure of the region.
Date: 10 / 2011
Look at the Mid South Delta Region: A Glimpse of Its Assets, Socioeconomic Complexion, and Emerging Opportunities
Author(s): Bo Beaulieu, Marcus Littles
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
Offers a brief overview of the potential that exists to improve the social and economic conditions in the Mid South Delta Region.
Date: 03 / 2009
Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (FLEX) State Rural Health Plan
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi Office of Rural Health
Details the plan being submitted to the Mississippi Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) for the state's Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. The plan contains information related to Mississippi’s demographic, economic, health status, and health facilities and systems characteristics. In addition, the plan includes an overview of the state’s health workforce, emergency medical services, critical access hospitals, and the Flex Program Strategic Planning Process and FLEX Program Objectives.
Date: 12 / 2008
Nurse Practitioner Home-Based Program for the Rural Homebound Elderly and Disabled Population
Author(s): Mary Atkinson Smith
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi Rural Health Association
Describes the Golden Triangle Geriatric Collaborative, a home call program to service the homebound elderly and disabled population in rural areas of Mississippi's Golden Triangle.
Date: 04 / 2013
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 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: Mississippi
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
See also: State-by-State Resources: Documents Journals
Mississippi - Crossroads
Quarterly newsletter, combining the news of the Mississippi Rural Health Association Mississippi State Office of Rural Health and the Mississippi Area Health Education Centers.
Success Stories
Delta Community Partners in Care
Delta Community Partners in Care (DCPIC) is a coalition of partners serving a rural area in the Mississippi Delta region of northwest Mississippi. Its target population is the uninsured or underinsured who have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, or both.
Humphreys County Memorial Hospital Rural Health Outreach Program
The project's main goals were to increase the numbers of K - 12 students who are covered by health insurance, who use the health care services provided, and who follow up on recommended health care; to increase transportation to primary and specialty health providers; and to decrease the number of families of K - 12 students who are noncompliant in regard to their children's health needs.
Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker Program
The Vanderbilt Center for Health Services’ Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) program provides early intervention services to low income families in Nashville as well as other urban and rural areas in Appalachia and the Mississippi delta, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
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