Nebraska, the Cornhusker State, was named after its largest river, the Platte, which a local American Indian tribe called “Nebraska” meaning “flat water.” Nebraska is also home to three American Indian reservations. Nebraska covers 76,872 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 1,783,432 people – 743,536 living in rural Nebraska (USDA-ERS). Lincoln, the capital, is located in the south-eastern region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Lincoln, Omaha, and Bellevue. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 91.6% of the state’s population is white, 4.4% is Black/African-American, 1.0% is American Indian & Alaska Native, 1.7% is Asian, and 7.5% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).
There are 88 hospitals in Nebraska, 72 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 65 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). There are 125 Rural Health Clinics in Nebraska (CMS, 2009), and 5 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 21 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2007). Nebraska's not-for-profit hospitals and public health departments are connected to a telehealth backbone that uses T1 lines and cable lines for connectivity. Additional CRHC's will be added to the same network in the future. Most Nebraskans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 12.8% of its residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007.)
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Nebraskans in 2007 was $36,372 although rural per-capita income lagged at $30,823. 2007 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 11.9% exists in rural Nebraska, compared to a 10.5% level in urban areas of the state. Data from 2000 finds that 15.9% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 11.3% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Nebraska is at 3.2%, while in urban Nebraska it is at 3.4% (USDA-ERS, 2008).
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
Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
Organizations
Center for Rural Affairs (CRA)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities throughout the nation. Foundation is based in Nebraska.
Community Action of Nebraska, Inc. (CAN)
State government
Works on the behalf of the nine Community Action Agencies, serving as a bridge between the agencies and State, Federal and private organizations. Coordinates a few statewide programs such as the Nebraska Food Pantry Network and the Low-Income Tax Assistance and Outreach Project.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Nebraska (CDBG)
Federal government
Provides funding for community development projects. Website lists contact information for the State CDBG program.
Iowa-Nebraska Primary Care Association (IA/NEPCA)
State/regional organization
Provides development, support services and programs to its member community and migrant health centers. Promotes the concept of quality, primary, preventative and ameliorative health care through a comprehensive primary health care delivery system.
Midwest Assistance Program (MAP)
State/regional organization
Aims to help rural communities in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to improve their environment, quality of life and be self-sustaining.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region (NN/LM-MCR)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health professionals, librarians and members of the public in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
Nebraska 2-1-1
State/regional organization
Services 38 counties in Nebraska and eight counties in Southwest Iowa. Provides service to 79% of Nebraskan's who can access health and human services 24/7 by dialing 2-1-1. The statewide 2-1-1 Resource Call Center is housed at United Way of the Midlands. Efforts continue to build partnerships to get 2-1-1 telephone service statewide.
Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Academic/Research
Conducts research and analysis related to improving health care delivery in rural areas on a national basis. Focuses on special populations among rural residents, including the elderly, children, minorities, mentally ill, under and uninsured, and new immigrants whose needs for assistance are unique.
Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NEDED)
State government
Helps businesses locate the information and resources they need to succeed, grow, and prosper. Provides tools and resources provided by the Nebraska Legislature, to grow, diversify and develop the capability of Nebraska's economy.
Nebraska Department of Education: Office of Special Education
State government
Provides services to children needing special services.
Nebraska Department of Education: Vocational Rehabilitation
State government
Helps people with disabilities join the workforce through counseling, job placement, independent living, custom training, and transition support.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
State government
Assists people through communication, collaboration, cooperation, customer service, and confidence.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Alcohol and Substance Abuse
State government
Provides programs and information on behavioral health, criminal justice, substance abuse, and compulsive gambling.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Public Health Assurance
State government
Provides information on communicable diseases, emergency medical services, epidemiology, radiation control programs, chronic diseases, environmental health, and immunization.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Child Support Enforcement
State government
Helps children obtain financial support from both parents, enables current public assistance recipients to end their reliance on welfare, and helps prevent single parents from entering public assistance.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Disabilities Services
State government
Provides certification, technical assistance, regulations and payment for providers of community-based developmental disabilities services and provides specialized services for Nebraskans with developmental disabilities.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Mental Health Services
State government
Designed for individuals and their families who have a serious and persistent mental illness that can create lifetime disabilities, and in some cases make the individuals dangerous to themselves or others. Services are also designed for people experiencing acute, serious mental illnesses, which in some cases may cause a life threatening event such as suicide attempts. In addition, services are provided for children and to their families.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Minority Health & Health Equity
State government
Works to improve access to health services for racial/ethnic minorities; improve data collection strategies; increase racial/ethnic minority representation in science and health professions; develop relevant and comprehensive research agenda; and expand community-based health promotion and disease prevention outreach efforts.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Seniors and Aging
State government
Offers support for seniors living in Nebraska. Resources and services include food and housing support, hospice, transportation, abuse, plus more.
Nebraska Hospital Association
State/regional organization
Provides a unified voice for Nebraska's hospitals and health systems, helping hospitals provide comprehensive care to their communities. Provides collaborative leadership, assisting its members to improve the health status of their communities.
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA)
State/regional organization
Provides financial resources for homeownership, rental housing, agriculture, manufacturing, medical and community development endeavors. Provides technical assistance for activities related to these areas.
Nebraska Office of Rural Health
State government
Assures the availability and accessibility of quality health care services to meet the needs of people living in rural Nebraska through programs and activities, recruitment and retention, and networking.
Nebraska Rural Health Association (NeRHA)
State/regional organization
Works for the improvement and preservation of rural health in Nebraska by providing leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communication and education.
Nebraska Rural Health Education Network & Area Health Education Centers (RHEN & AHEC)
State/regional organization
Works to provide a health care workforce for rural Nebraska.
Nebraska Statewide Telehealth Network (NSTN)
State/regional organization
Offers an interactive video and data network that provides integration among the hospitals, public health departments, public health laboratories and other entities across the state of Nebraska. Works to improve quality and access to care, particularly in rural Nebraska, to provide patient, provider and community education and to provide another communication source in the event of a natural, man-made or terrorist emergency.
Nebraska Workforce Development
State government
Provides information and programs on persons looking for a job, needing career information, or wanting to know more about benefits and rights as a worker in Nebraska.
Northern Great Plains Inc. (NGP)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to maximize the potential of the Northern Great Plains region through regional collaboration, by identifying and promoting policies and practices that support an integrated approach to economic opportunity, a healthy environment and vital rural communities.
Partnership for Rural Nebraska (PRN)
State/regional organization
Works through partnerships to educates each other on available resources and rural development needs, using educational opportunities such as the annual Governor's Conference on Rural Development, agency orientations, and seminars; communicates to Nebraskans and others regarding rural development activities. A website is currently unavailable.
Proyecto/Project IDEAS
State/regional organization
Strives to improve HIV prevention services for Latino/Hispanic populations living in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. Focuses on adapting and tailoring CDC-approved interventions that are culturally, linguistically and educationally appropriate. This is a capacity building assistance program for community-based organizations and state and local health departments.
Three Rivers District Health Department
State/regional organization
Works to facilitate personal responsibility while promoting health and preventing disease among the residents of Nebraska's Dodge, Saunders and Washington Counties.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Nebraska (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 Nebraska Rural Initiative
Academic/Research
Works to engage the widest possible range of knowledge, skills and creativity of the four campuses to stabilize and enhance the economy and quality of life in rural Nebraska. Website offers links to rural resources.
USDA Rural Development Nebraska 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
Community Development Resource Guide
Web site
A reference document that contains key resources - grants, foundation and low interest loans - that may assist with your community's projects. Emphasis is on Nebraska but also includes information for other locations.
Community Healthcare and Emergency Cooperative (CHEC)
Web site
Formed in July 2007 by leaders in Minnesota, Nebraska, Australia, and Canada to address critical health care shortages in rural and remote areas. Offers a standardized training curriculum that can be modified and customized for each community, province, and nation.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Nebraska
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
Web site
Assists rural health care providers, facilities, and organizations to better utilize and implement telehealth technology. Provides sample documents in clinical applications, education, IT operational and administrative manuals, and technical and individual consulting.
Meadowlark Project
Web site
Describes a two year process aimed at systemic change by bringing a diverse sample of the Northern Great Plains region's population to the table to discuss the region's future.
MedlinePlus Go Local
Web site
Offers information about health services in local geographic areas, including hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, support groups, health screening providers and many others.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Nebraska
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
Nebraska AgrAbility
Web site
Helps individuals with disabilities overcome barriers to continue in their chosen profession in agriculture. The program collaborates with community professionals to modify farm and ranch operations, adapt equipment, increase farmstead accessibility, provide financial counseling,
identify funding sources, and coordinate community services.
Nebraska 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.
Nebraska Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Nebraska KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Nebraska QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Nebraska Rural Living
Web site
Highlights the amenities of rural communities in Nebraska, spotlights successful entrepreneurs and rural businesses, and offers links to a wide variety of resources.
Nebraska State Data Center
Web site
Provides easy and efficient access to U.S. Census Bureau demographic, economic, and social statistics data and information through a wide network of lead, coordinating and affiliate agencies in the state.
Nebraska 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.
NN/LM MidContinental Region: Nebraska Resources
Web site
Overviews the state and provides links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for Nebraskans.
Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP)
Technical assistance
Offers support for small rural business development in the form of management training, a loan fund, networking, and technical assistance.
Sowing the Seeds of Hope
Web site
Provides behavioral health services to uninsured, underinsured and other at-risk farm and ranch families and agricultural workers in seven states: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin
State Profiles- Nebraska: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Funding
Midwest Assistance Program Loan Fund
Provides low-cost, short and intermediate term loans for community water and wastewater projects through its Community Revolving Loan Fund.
Nebraska Loan Repayment Program
Provides funding to physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants practicing the specialties of family practice, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, general surgery, and psychiatry.
Nebraska Rural Housing Program
Loans and grants are available to low-income applicants to remove health or safety hazards and/or improve or modernize their home.
REAP Direct Loan Program
Loan products designed to fill a gap for financing needs of startup and existing small businesses in rural Nebraska.
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
Assessment of Acute Stroke Treatment in Nebraska Hospitals
Author(s): Katherine Jones, Michelle Mason, Michael Shambaugh-Miller, Liyan Xu
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Reports on the readiness of Nebraska hospitals to treat acute stroke. Discusses the ability of rural hospitals to treak stroke victims. Assessment was performed in June 2005 by the Nebraska Health and Human Services System and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).
Date: 07 / 2006
Assessment of Emergency Care for Children in Nebraska
Author(s): Michelle Mason, Michael Shambaugh-Miller, Liyan Xu, Kelly Shaw-Sutherland
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Results of a three-part study designed to assess the structures and processes in place to deliver emergency health care to the pediatric population in Nebraska, including those in rural areas.
Date: 02 / 2007
Assessment of Potential Uses of and Needs for Telehealth Services in Rural Nebraska
Author(s): Alan Diener, Keith J. Mueller, Jami Fletcher
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Discusses potential uses of information technology to deliver health care services in rural Nebraska. Covers current telehealth services in Nebraska, technology infrastructure, and reimbursement issues for telehealth services.
Date: 01 / 2001
Cost of Inaction to Rural Communities: The Urgent Need for Health Care Reform Nemaha County, Nebraska
Author(s): Anh Nguyen, Kelly Shaw-Sutherland, Keith Mueller
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Identifies the health care challenges for rural communities, such as those in Nemaha County, Nebraska, which have been amplified by the current economic downturn.
Date: 08 / 2009
Critical Match: Nebraska’s Health Workforce Planning Project Final Report
Author(s): Keith Mueller
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Provides a snapshot of the current demographics, supply, composition and geographical distribution of health professionals in the state of Nebraska. Discusses a project that will develop a strategy for meeting the health care workforce needs of Nebraska, which is slated to be completed in four phases over two years.
Date: 09 / 2009
Current Issues and New Approaches: The EMS Survey in Nebraska
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Wanqing Zhang, Woodrow Lucas
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Provides survey results of rural Nebraska Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers. Includes information on staffing, services, training, funding, and needs.
Date: 10 / 2001
Demographic and Economic Profile: Nebraska
Author(s): Kathleen K. Miller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Presents demographics and economic data on Nebraska. Includes statistics and data, charts, and graphs.
Date: 10 / 2008
E-Commerce in Nebraska: A Survey of Business Technology Use
Sponsoring organization: Center for Applied Rural Innovation
Reports the results of a survey of Nebraska businesses on the use of technology in their businesses and interest in e-commerce. Includes comparisons based on community size and type of business.
Date: 2004
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer Personnel in Nebraska: Workforce of the Present, Hope for the Future?
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller, Michael Shambaugh-Miller
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Discusses survey findings of rural Nebraska emergency services providers regarding use of volunteers to provide EMS services. Includes information on why people volunteer, benefits provided to volunteers, and recruitment.
Date: 12 / 2004
Financial Impact of CAH Conversion on Rural Hospitals in Nebraska: A Report to the Nebraska CAH Steering Committee
Author(s): Li-Wu Chen, Keith Mueller, Susan Puumala, Julie Stoner, Catherine Makhanu, Liyan Xu
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Describes the improvement of financial viability for Nebraska's rural hospitals after conversion to Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status.
Date: 05 / 2004
Finding a Home in the Country: Business Success Stories in Rural Nebraska
Author(s): Nebraska Business Higher Education Forum
Describes a variety of rural Nebraska businesses that have successfully handled marketing, labor and other issues.
Date: 2004
How Farmers and Ranchers Get Health Insurance and What They Spend for Health Care
Author(s): Carol Pryor, Jeffrey Prottas, Bill Lottero, Mark Rukavina, Alana Knudson
Sponsoring organization: Access Project
Examines health insurance costs and health care spending of farmers and ranchers. This issue brief is based on a 2007 survey of farm and ranch operators in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Date: 12 / 2007
Integrated Care: A Model That Works
Author(s): David Howe
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Office of Rural Health
Outlines a program that integrates behavioral and primary healthcare in rural areas where availability of behavioral healthcare services is inadequate.
Date: 05 / 2009
Nebraska Rural Health Plan
Describes issues and trends impacting rural health care delivery in Nebraska. Trends include quality and performance improvement, value-based purchasing, and the emphasis on prevention and population-based health.
Date: 11 / 2008
Nebraska Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program Evaluation Report
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research
Reports findings regarding the administration and activities of hospital networks in Nebraska and initiatives being undertaken in Nebraska's critical access hospitals (CAHs) related to patient safety and quality improvement (QI).
Date: 07 / 2006
Need to Permit Broadband from Public Entities
Author(s): Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
Discusses Nebraska's ban on municipal broadband and its impact on the digital divide in Nebraska.
Date: 05 / 2006
Small Business Profile: Nebraska
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: 2008
Small Works in Nebraska: How Poverty and the Size of Schools and School Districts Affect School Performance in Nebraska
Author(s): Jerry Johnson,
Sponsoring organization: Rural School and Community Trust
Documents the results of a study in Nebraska showing that smaller schools reduce the harmful effects of poverty on student achievement.
Date: 2004
State Profiles - Nebraska: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005
Teaching Self-Sufficiency: An Impact and Benefit-Cost Analysis of a Home Visitation and Life Skills Education Program. Findings from the Rural Welfare-to-Work Strategies Demonstration Evaluation
Author(s): Alicia Meckstroth, Andrew Burwick, Quinn Moore, Michael Ponza, Shawn Marsh, Andrew McGuirk, Tim Novak, Zhanyun Zhao
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Presents 30-month impact and benefit-cost analysis findings for the Building Nebraska Families program, an intensive home visitation and life skills education program for hard-to-employ TANF clients in rural Nebraska.
Date: 09 / 2008
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Journals
Nebraska - Access
Offers information on current news, events, and issues related to Nebraska's rural health care system. This is the quarterly newsletter of the Nebraska State Office of Rural Health and the Nebraska Rural Health Association.
Nebraska - NeRHA E-News
Monthly newsletter of the NeRHA. Informs on latest issues in rural health at the state and federal levels as well as what is happening with NeRHA.
Success Stories
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.
The Diabetes Project
Based on the high incidence of diabetes in these counties, a consortium of agencies was created increase the knowledge of local physicians regarding
appropriate management of diabetes, increase patient awareness of the need for treatment and
how to manage diabetes properly,and to increase public awareness of diabetes, the risk factors for
the disease, and where to go for testing.
Mobile Unit Brings Cancer Screenings to Native American Women
Describes how the Mobile Women's Health Unit works to meet the needs of Native American women living in rural areas.
|
