Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Post

I am thrilled to share our latest piece published in Governing, co-authored with my colleague Chris Estes. Our op-ed delves into the essential connection between rural health equity and economic well-being, advocating for a holistic approach toward rural prosperity. At Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, we facilitated insightful conversations with 29 practitioners, advocates, and innovators from rural and Indigenous communities. We synthesized their insights into a roadmap for government, philanthropy, and practitioners to work collaboratively. Key Principles for Equitable Rural Development: - Recognize Interconnected Goals: Rural health and economic development are intertwined and must be addressed together. - Align Systems and Structures: Promote cross-sector collaboration and unified funding mechanisms. - Follow Community Leadership: Center community perspectives and invest in local capacity. It’s time to strengthen the link between rural health and development, increase mutual respect, and work towards shared goals. By following these principles, we can foster strong, inclusive rural and Indigenous communities where everyone thrives. I encourage you to read the full op-ed and join us in advocating for policies and practices that support equitable rural prosperity. #RuralDevelopment #HealthEquity #EconomicDevelopment https://lnkd.in/e_FKHfE4

I’m thrilled to share our latest piece published in Governing, co-authored with my colleague Bonita Robertson-Hardy. Our op-ed delves into the essential connection between rural health equity and economic well-being, advocating for a holistic approach toward rural prosperity. At Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, we facilitated insightful conversations with 29 practitioners, advocates, and innovators from rural and Indigenous communities. We synthesized their insights into a roadmap for government, philanthropy, and practitioners to work collaboratively.Key Principles for Equitable Rural Development:  Recognize Interconnected Goals: Rural health and economic development are intertwined and must be addressed together.  Align Systems and Structures: Promote cross-sector collaboration and unified funding mechanisms.  Follow Community Leadership: Center community perspectives and invest in local capacity. It’s time to strengthen the link between rural health and development, increase mutual respect, and work towards shared goals. By following these principles, we can foster strong, inclusive rural and Indigenous communities where everyone thrives. Read the full op-ed and join us in advocating for policies and practices that support equitable rural prosperity. #RuralDevelopment #HealthEquity #EconomicDevelopment https://lnkd.in/ePi7rCQw

Partnerships are essential, as is LOCAL leadership.

Despite the unique challenges that #RuralAmericans face, such as limited access to #Healthcare, #Education, and job opportunities, they remain resilient and determined to find innovative solutions. That's why FINN Partners, in collaboration with OffScrip Health, brought together over 20 leaders from both the public and private sectors to discuss progress and potential solutions for rural communities. To learn more about the valuable insights and discussions that took place during this event, read this amazing article written by Gil Bashe. https://lnkd.in/e3QfZh_x

This is spot in. Social determinants of health are all inter-connected, and solutions for one can lead to improvements across all. Thanks for conducting and sharing this research.

Today is #NationalRuralHealthDay! Rural champions have traditionally worked on rural health and economic development in separate efforts, except for the long-recognized importance of rural hospitals as anchor institutions. However, we know that strong health outcomes are vital to equitable rural prosperity and must be integrated into all aspects of rural development work. One promising method to weave these fields more closely is developing shared data and evidence infrastructure and using that good data to drive cohering strategies. In this blog, we’ve synthesized related learnings, insights, and resources from the field to better understand where progress is needed and what wins we all can celebrate. #RuralHealth #RuralHealthDay https://lnkd.in/eHTrdBpp

Proud to share an insightful op-ed authored by Aspen CSG's Co-Executive Directors, Bonita Robertson-Hardy and Chris Estes, published in Governing. The piece explores the vital intersection of rural health equity and economic well-being. We recently convened 29 practitioners, advocates, and innovators from rural and Indigenous communities to gather their insights. Our op-ed highlights three guiding principles from the resulting report of this effort: 1️⃣ Recognize Interconnected Goals: Understand that rural health and economic development are intertwined and must be addressed together. 2️⃣ Align Systems and Structures: Promote cross-sector collaboration and cohesive funding mechanisms to strengthen initiatives. 3️⃣ Follow Community Leadership: Center community perspectives and invest in local capacity to drive sustainable development. By fostering deep listening, building trust, and acknowledging historical injustices, we can bridge the gap between rural health and economic development. Our vision is to create strong rural communities and Native nations where every individual belongs, lives with dignity, and thrives. #RuralDevelopment #HealthEquity #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityLeadership #Rural https://lnkd.in/ewXFZ5dn

"the more we can expose people to the benefits of nature, the more people will care about what’s around them,” 🌳 How can nature-based social prescribing improve people's mental health and well-being? Positive News and Forestry England delve into the benefits of being out amongst the trees and how green social prescribing can support the NHS and public health partners. Read here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gh4SZJVw #WomenInSustainability #WorldMentalHealthDay #Wellbeing #Nature #SocialPrescribing

Short read but a good one. Two important takeaways…”the forgotten middle” and “lifestyle management” vs. “care”.

Building a future of community prosperity requires a shared responsibility to ensure that all people and communities are treated fairly. Build Healthy Places Network is excited to share a new tool that builds on BHPN’s policy work to advance health equity. The tool provides useful steps to share power, engage stakeholders, and operationalize equity through public policy that helps create healthier, more equitable, and thriving communities. https://ow.ly/IaE050PgFxt