Texas is referred to as "The Lone Star State" that is symbolized by the star on the 1836 flag of the republic. It is a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. Texas is the top producer of oil in the nation, but it also leads in beef production, cotton production as well as the space industry and technology. Texas covers 261,797 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 24,326,974 people – 2,982,513 living in rural Texas (USDA-ERS). Austin, the capital, is located in the south-central region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 82.6% of the state’s population is white, 12.0% Black/African American, 3.4% is Asian, and 36.0% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).
There are 404 hospitals in Texas, 149 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 76 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). There are 316 Rural Health Clinics in Texas (CMS, 2009), and 58 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 275 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2007). Most Texans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 24.9% of its residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Texans in 2007 was $37,083, although rural per-capita income lagged at $27,828. 2007 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 18.8% exists in rural Texas, compared to a 15.9% level in urban areas of the state. 2000 data reports 30.4% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 23.3% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Texas is at 4.9%, while in urban Texas it is at 4.9% (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
Organizations
Attorney General of Texas: Child Support Services
State government
The official child support enforcement agency for the State of Texas, the Office of the Attorney General provides services for parents who wish to obtain or provide support for their children.
Border Epidemiology and Environmental Health Center (BEC)
State/regional organization
A mechanism to establish, organize and develop technical health activities that enhance the quality of life of the people living on the border region of United States and Mexico, focused on New Mexico-Chihuahua-West Texas border
Borderland Information Center (BIC)
State government
A central clearinghouse and referral center for information about the Texas/Mexico border region. BIC is a section of the Texas Water Development Boards' Texas Natural Resources Information System Division and has access to all of its geospatial data and mapping products.
Community Resource Group (CRG)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works in rural areas to expand the opportunities for families to build assets, improve their lives, and strengthen their communities.
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
State/regional organization
Addresses emerging challenges in mental health by contributing to improve mental health services, research, public policy, and public education for Texas and the nation.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Texas
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region (NN/LM- SCR)
State/regional organization
Supports collaboration among libraries and information centers that serve health information needs in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
International organization
Works to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. Serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System and as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. It is an international public health agency, and part of the United Nations.
South Texas Center
Academic/Research
Provides training in public health, assesses training needs for promotoras, increases access to care for residents, and conducts research on community health.
Tech Pro Services, Inc.
Commercial
Provides all types of EMS training, from EMT through Paramedic, in rural Texas. Courses can be online or onsite.
Texas Association of Community Action Agencies, Inc. (TACAA)
State/regional organization
A private nonprofit corporation created to provide a unified voice for Community Action Agencies in advocacy, policy, programmatic and legislative issues and innovative hunger relief programs affecting families and communities in the state of Texas.
Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC)
State/regional organization
A private, non-profit membership association that represents safety-net health care providers in the state of Texas.
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
State government
Provides a comprehensive array of aging and disability services, supports, and opportunities that are easily accessed in local communities.
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
State government
Works in partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
State government
Protects the unprotected - children, elderly, and people with disabilities - from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Adult Protective Services (APS)
State government
The agency responsible for investigating abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
State government
Provides a variety of housing and community development services that includes low interest mortgage financing, emergency food or shelter, rental subsidy, energy assistance, weatherization, economic development, and the basic public infrastructure for small rural communities; also provides titling, licensing, inspection, enforcement, and customer service in connection with manufactured housing.
Texas Department of State Health Services
State government
An agency of the Texas Health and Human Services System.
Texas Department of State Health Services: Community Mental Health
State government
The state agency responsible for delivering evidence-based mental health and related services, fostering recovery, improving quality of life, and meeting the multiple needs of mental health consumers across the life span.
Texas Department of Transportation - Public Transportation Division
State/regional organization
Provides financial and technical assistance to urban, rural and elderly or disabled transit providers. The division also represents transit in the planning and programming process and prepares funding-needs projections. Oversees the public transportation grants throughout the State of Texas.
Texas Education Agency: Special Education (TEA)
State government
Provides leadership, guidance, and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
State government
Provides leadership and direction, and fosters the spirit of innovation needed to achieve an efficient and effective health and human services system for Texans.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities (OEHD)
State government
Texas Hospital Association (THA)
State/regional organization
An advocate for Texas hospitals representing the interests of Texas hospitals and health systems.
Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA)
State government
Serves as the primary state resource in planning, coordinating, and advocating statewide efforts to ensure continued access to rural health care services.
Texas Rural Health Association (TRHA)
State/regional organization
Works to improve the health of rural Texans. Composed of individuals and organizations dedicated to providing leadership on rural health care issues through advocacy, communication, and education.
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
State government
The state government agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Texas
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 Texas School of Public Health
Academic/Research
Part of the Texas Medical Center, Houston.
USDA Rural Development Texas 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
Border Health Information and Education Network
Web site
A health education network designed to provide health information free of charge for the people of the border region, both healthcare consumers and healthcare providers.
Borderland Information Center
Web site
A central clearinghouse and referral center for information about the Texas/Mexico border region. BIC is a section of the Texas Water Development Boards' Texas Natural Resources Information System Division and has access to all of its geospatial data and mapping products.
EMS Trauma Systems
Web site
Provides a variety of information, funding announcements, contacts and other resources related to emergency medical services and trauma.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Texas
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
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: Texas
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
State Profiles- Texas: 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.
Texas QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Texas 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.
Texas Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 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.
Texas KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Texas 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.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Funding
Colonia Area Planning Fund
Provides assistance for the completion of planning activities that prepare colonia areas for water, sewer and housing improvements.
Colonia Construction Fund (CFC)
Funding to support community development projects such as sewer, water, and housing rehabilitation to county applicants.
Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Board of Trustee Continuing Education
To support continuing education and training for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Board of Trustees to assist them in the governance of a CAH.
Disaster Relief & Urgent Need Fund
Funding for disaster relief and urgent needs assistance.
El Paso Community Foundation Grants
Grant priorities are Health and Disabilities, Human Services (basic human needs) and Public Benefit.
First Children's Finance Loan Fund
Loans and technical assistance to child care and early education businesses, especially those serving lower-income communities.
Gulf Coast Emergency Response Fund
Emergency grants to grantee organizations working in communities affected by this Hurricane Gustav and possible future disasters.
Kerr Foundation Grants
Provides grants in the areas of education, health, cultural development, and community service.
Outstanding Rural Scholar Recognition Program (ORSRP)
Program that assists rural communities in growing their own health care professionals by matching community funds with state funds to support a student of the community's choice in a health professional education program.
Renewable Energy Demonstration Pilot Program (REDPP)
Community Development Block Grant funds have been designated to help eligible rural communities install their own renewable energy projects.
Rural Health Disaster Relief and Recovery – 2009
Grants to assist rural hospitals and rural health clinics in response to the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike.
Texas Rural Emergency Medical Services Enhancement Grant
Grants to support the development and improvement of rural EMS response, delivery, and service capacity.
Texas Rural Health Facility Capital Improvement Loan Fund Application
Funding for rural public and non-profit hospitals to make capital improvements to existing facilities, construct new health facilities and to purchase capital equipment.
Texas Rural Health Technology Grant
Grants to Critical Access Hospitals for innovative and strategic technology, health information system, and capital equipment investments.
Texas Small Business Loan Fund
Funding to provide a tool for rural Texas communities to assist their small businesses access capital by providing awards to eligible cities and counties for loans to businesses with 100 or fewer employees.
Wells Fargo Texas Grant Program
Wells Fargo makes grants in three primary areas: Human Services, Education and Community Development.
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
Assessing Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response of Rural Veterinarians: Experiences and Training Needs
Author(s): Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Holly Jacobsen, Katherine Feldman, Jerry A. Miller, Lori Rodriguez, Francisco Soto Mas
Reports an assessment of the bioterrorism preparedness of rural veterinarians in North Texas, suggesting that many of these veterinarians could benefit from additional training in bioterrorism preparedness and response.
Journal citation: Journal of Veterinary Medical Education Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages: 262-268
Date: 2008
Border County Health Workforce Profiles: Texas
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
Provides information on the health workforce, relevant population characteristics, and basic health indicators for the U.S.-Mexico Border region in the State of Texas.
Date: 05 / 2007
Border Report: A Status Report On The Health Of People In El Paso County, Texas And Dona Ana County, New Mexico
Sponsoring organization: Paso del Norte Health Foundation
Presents selected health information on two communities in the U.S. - Mexico border region. Information is based on the 2005 Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a telephone-based survey of randomly-selected adults. The survey gathered information about many health conditions and personal behaviors that affect health across the United States.
Date: 2005
Demographic and Economic Profile: Texas
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Presents demographics, economics, and research on Texas. Includes statistics, data, maps, charts, and graphs.
Date: 10 / 2008
Mujer Y Corazon: Community Health Workers and Their Organizations in Colonias on the US-Mexico Border An Exploratory Study
Author(s): Marlynn May, Ricardo Contreras
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Describes and evaluates a Comprehensive Community Initiative operating in communities on the Texas-Mexico border. The outreach program involves Community Resource Centers and para-professional outreach workers (Promatoras), who work to connect health care to the community.
Date: 09 / 2004
Small Business Profile: Texas
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 Profiles - Texas: 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
Status of Rural Texas: Winds of Change
Author(s): Kim White, Eric Beverly, Travis Brown, Dave Dcarnell
Sponsoring organization: Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs
Highlights some of the complex and diverse issues affecting rural Texas.
Date: 12 / 2007
Texas at Work: Today and Tomorrow
Author(s): Jason Sabo, Carlos Romo, Patrick Bresette, Chris Pieper
Examines the Texas' workforce: the living conditions and public policies affecting hard working, but
low-income, workers.
Date: 08 / 2003
Texas Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
Highlights compile 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.
Date: 2003
Texas State Office of Rural Health Rural Health Strategic Plan For State Fiscal Years 2007-2011
Sponsoring organization: Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs
Provides an overview of rural health in Texas includes defining "rural", healthcare access, rural health infrastructure, and rural healthcare workforce,
Date: 03 / 2007
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Success Stories
Briscoe County Community Clinic
This project provided primary and preventive health care
services, health education, screenings, assistance
in applying for entitlement programs, discounted fees for services,
prenatal care, and class D pharmacy services to underserved residents of rural Texas.
Van School-Based Health Care Initiative
This project was designed to provide health promotion, health
education, and primary health care services for more than 2,100
students in the Van Independent School District.
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.
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