Ohio is known as the "Buckeye State" for its many buckeye trees. It is located in the Great Lakes region, with shoreline on Lake Erie and is bordered on the south by the Ohio River. The state has produced eight presidents, earning it the name "The Mother of Presidents." Ohio covers 40,948 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 11,485,910 people–2,216,664 living in rural Ohio (USDA-ERS). Columbus, the capital, is located in the central part of the state. The state’s largest cities are Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 84.9% of the state’s population is white, 12.0% is African-American/Black, 1.6% is Asian, and 2.5% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).
There are 173 hospitals in Ohio, 59 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 34 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). There are 10 Rural Health Clinics in Ohio (CMS, 2009), and 36 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 150 sites in the state (OACHC, 2008). Most Ohioans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 10.9% of the state's residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Ohioans in 2007 was $34,468, although rural per-capita income lagged at $27,568. 2008 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 13.7% exists in rural Ohio, compared to a 13.2% level in urban areas of the state. Data from 2000 finds 20% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 16.3% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Ohio is at 7.2%, while in urban Ohio it is at 6.4% (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
Health Care Provider Report and Information Extract, Ohio Department of Health, Division of Quality Assurance
Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC)
Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Appalachian Rural Health Institute (ARHI)
Academic/Research
Serves as an interdisciplinary health services and research institute at Ohio University. Its goal is to improve the health status and related quality of life of underserved rural populations, especially those in the Appalachian region.
Governor's Office of Appalachia (GOA)
State government
Facilitates economic and community development in the 29 Appalachian counties of Ohio. Serves as an advocate for the region by developing policy and promoting specific projects and proposals that originate from the region's residents.
Healthy Ohio
State/regional organization
Works to encourage Ohioans to participate in personal fitness and wellness activities.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Ohio (CDBG)
Federal government
Provides contact information for the State's Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Interprofessional Partners for Appalachian Children (IPAC)
State/regional organization
Serves as a network of professionals, consumers, and community agencies working collaboratively to improve the physical and mental health of children and families in southeast Ohio.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region (NN/LM-GMR)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health professionals, librarians and members of the public in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (OAAAA)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Comprises a statewide network of agencies that provide services for the elderly, as well as advocate on behalf of older Ohioans.
Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA)
State/regional organization
Represents the interestes of Ohio's 52 community action agencies and works to reduce poverty and to help low-income people become self-sufficient.
Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC)
State/regional organization
Works to ensure equal access to health care for all Ohioans. Represents community health centers (CHCs) in Ohio, including migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers that operate more than 100 primary care sites statewide.
Ohio Black Lung Clinics Program
State government
Provides treatment and rehabilitation for individuals exposed to coal dust through current or former employment in the mining industry. Funds are distributed each year from the Ohio Department of Health to clinics that provide services to these individuals, regardless of their ability to pay.
Ohio Commission on Minority Health
State government
Funds projects which are innovative, culturally sensitive and specific in their approach toward reduction of the incidence and severity of those diseases or conditions which are responsible for excess morbidity and mortality in minority populations.
Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services
State government
Provides statewide leadership in establishing an addiction, prevention, treatment and recovery services system of care that is effective, accessible, and valued by all Ohioans.
Ohio Department of Development (ODD)
State government
Promotes economic opportunities to improve the profits and prosperity of Ohio's citizens.
Ohio Department of Education: Office for Exceptional Children
State government
Provides leadership, assistance, and oversight to school districts and other educational entities in the provision of differentiated instructional support to improve results for students with disabilities and students identified as gifted.
Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
State government
Works to protect and improve the health of all Ohioans, through partnerships with local health departments and the medical and health communities.
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS)
State government
Offers programs in the areas of adoption/kinship/foster care, child care, child support, protective services, financial assistance, health care, food stamps, career counseling, education and training, assistance with finding a job, and information on unemployment compensation.
Ohio Department of Mental Health
State government
Works to support community mental health programs, provides inpatient services, and to improve mental health services for children and adolescents.
Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
State government
Committed to the continuous improvement of the quality of life for Ohio's citizens with developmental disabilities and for their families.
Ohio Emergency Medical Services
State government
Oversees the certification of Ohio's emergency medical technicians and firefighters and provides that these people in lifesaving roles are properly trained, educated and prepared for emergency situations. Part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. (OHSAI)
State/regional organization
Membership organization for all Head Start programs in the state. Head Start provides a comprehensive child development program for children and their families.
Ohio Hospital Association (OHA)
State/regional organization
Represents hospitals and health systems throughout Ohio. Works to help its members meet the health care needs of their communities.
Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA)
State government
Offers affordable housing opportunities for Ohioans from rental assistance to homeownership. Provides access to financial resources for the development and management of affordable, safe and sanitary housing.
Ohio Office of Child Support
State government
Works to provide leadership, structure, and resources to advance the child support program in Ohio.
Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
State government
Provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to help people with disabilities become employed and independent.
Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program (Ohio RCAP)
State/regional organization
Helps rural communities in Ohio to improve community infrastructure.
Ohio Rural Development Partnership (ORDP)
State/regional organization
Strives to bring together citizens, the private sector, and federal, state, and local officials to address the needs of rural Ohio communities. ORDP is dministered in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA).
Ohio Rural Health Coalition
State/regional organization
Part of the Ohio Rural Health Development Partnership. For more information about the coalition, contact co-chair Heather Reed at 614-752-8935 or heather.reed@odh.ohio.gov.
Ohio State Office of Rural Health (OHSORH)
State government
Provides information, education, liaison activities, and increases access and decreases disparities in health services to rural Ohioans.
Osteopathic Heritage Foundations
Nonprofit/Foundation
Funds projects and programs to improve community health and quality of life of vulnerable populations in central and southeastern Ohio. Works to advance osteopathic healthcare through support of osteopathic medical education and research.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Ohio
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD Ohio state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
USDA Rural Development Ohio State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office in Ohio provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Tools
Appalachian Rural Health Institute Presentations
Web site
Lists presentations and reports on Appalachian health in Ohio.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Ohio
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Health Care Excel (HCE)
Web site
Evaluates health-care quality, clinical appropriateness, and outcome assessments. Also designs customized management solutions and develops appropriate educational programs to significantly improve the delivery of health services.
Medical Opportunities in Ohio (MOO)
Web site
Works as a career tool to connect physicians and mid-level providers with the Ohio communities and employers who need them.
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: Ohio
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Greater Midwest Region: Ohio Resources
Web site
Overviews the state, and provides links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for Ohio.
Ohio Center for Public Health Practice
Web site
Works to protect, promote and nuture the public health workforce through professional development.
Ohio County Profiles
Web site
Reports on selected demographic and economic characteristics for each county in Ohio. Provides over 50,000 facts from more than 50 sources.
Ohio Department of Health Information Warehouse
Web site
Provides data and statistical reports on the state of Ohio.
Ohio Department of Health: Primary Care and Rural Health Programs
Web site
Strives to help develop, maintain and strengthen quality rural health care, and to reduce health disparities of Ohioans through grants and recruitment and retention programs.
Ohio Economy at a Glance
Web site
Reports state-level data on Ohio's labor force and employment.
Ohio Health Care Provider Report and Information Extract
Database
Lists Ohio health care providers, including Rural Health Clinics, along with their addresses and contact information. Lists can be sorted by county and name.
Ohio Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) 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.
Ohio Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compiled 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth, and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Offers details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Ohio KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Ohio Primary Care County Profiles
Web site
Provides information for each county in Ohio, including demographics, socio-economic status, and access to primary care, as well as other health care statistics and indicators.
Ohio Primary Care Practice Sites (OPPS)
Web site
Helps facilities in underserved areas recruit primary care, mental health and dental health professionals; and helps clinicians interested in underserved areas find practice opportunities.
Ohio QuickFacts
Web site
Reports basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Ohio Region 7 County and School District Data Profiles
Web site
Separate community and school district profiles on the Appalachian counties of Southeast Ohio include data on population, income, employment, education, housing, businesses, and commuting patterns. Data ranges from 2000-2007 with percent change rates available.
Ohio State Health Facts
Database
Presents state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
State Profiles- Ohio: 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
BJ’s Charitable Foundation
Funding for safety, security and well-being of children and families, education and health programs, community service opportunities, and hunger and disaster relief.
Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Provides grants in communities where the Gannett Company has a presence.
Ohio EMS Training and Equipment Grant
Grant funding to Ohio EMS agencies for the purchase of training and equipment.
Peoples Bancorp Foundation
Charitable giving in community investment and economic development, youth and education, human services programs that improve the social needs of low-to moderate-income communities and individuals, and arts and culture.
RCAP Safe Water Fund
A low-interest loan program for small community water and wastewater projects in Ohio.
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
Burden of Injury From Unintentional Falls in Ohio, 2002-05
Author(s): Edward Socie, Christy Beeghly, Kara Manchester, Rosemary Duffy
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Department of Health
Reports on state- and county-level statistics on the burden of injuries to Ohio residents from 2002-2005. Information is available by age, type of fall, the resulting injuries, and medical care received. Contains links to three PDF sections, plus the table of contents.
Date: 10 / 2008
Demographic and Economic Profile: Ohio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, health care services, and employment. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 10 / 2008
Economic Impact of the Health Sector in Rural Ohio, 2006
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Department of Health
Presents an assessment of the economic contribution of the health sector to 79 rural Ohio counties in the year, 2006. Health sectors include: hospitals; offices of physicians, dentists, and other health professionals; nursing and residential care; pharmacies and drug stores; home health care; dental laboratories; and other ambulatory services.
Date: 06 / 2008
Report on Body Mass Index of Ohio's Third Graders, 2004-2005
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Department of Health
Assesses the obesity rates of Ohio's third grade public school students based on Body Mass Index, finding that 20.6 of them were overweight and an additional 17.0 percent were at risk for becoming overweight. Briefly addresses prevalence of overweight youth in rural areas.
Date: 10 / 2006
Small Business Profile: Ohio
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
State of Poverty in Ohio, 2008
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
Reviews literature on the causes and nature of poverty in Ohio; Provides an analysis of demographic, social, economic, and program data that provide a snapshot of the Ohio economy, poverty in Ohio, and community needs and progress in addressing poverty.
Date: 05 / 2008
State Profiles - Ohio: 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
See also: Resources for All States: Documents |
