THURS-040 - The Power of Partnership - Strengthening Rural Public Health Through Academic Partnership
Thursday, April 23, 2026
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM PST
Location: Plaza Foyer, Plaza Level
Area of Responsibility: Area III: Implementation Keywords: Partnerships and Coalitions@@@Systems Thinking@@@Workforce Development, Subcompetencies: 8.3.4 Build relationships with other professionals within and outside the profession., 7.5.1 Facilitate the development of strategic and/or improvement plans using systems thinking to promote the mission, vision, and goal statements for Research or Practice: Practice
Executive Director Health & Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties Fairmont, Minnesota, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Describe at least three strategies used by the Collaborative for Rural Public Health Innovation (CRPHI) to strengthen foundational public health services in rural communities. Identify practical approaches used in the CRPHI initiative to enhance foundational public health services, including community health assessment, strategic planning, communication, and leadership development.
Analyze how academic-practice partnerships can enhance student learning and workforce development through real-world public health experiences.
Evaluate tools, governance structures, and shared infrastructure developed through CRPHI and explore how these strategies can be adapted to build sustainable, equitable public health systems in similar contexts.
Brief Abstract Summary: In an era of dwindling public health resources and rising health disparities impacting rural communities, collaboration, training, and resource sharing is more important now than ever before. To address these issues, and more, the grant-funded Collaborative for Rural Public Health Innovation (CRPHI) was developed. Participants will gain insight into how 25 rural Minnesota counties partnered with a local, state university to implement a regional model that strengthens foundational public health services. Discover how this academic-practice collaboration addresses rural challenges and enhances student learning through real-world experience. Learn how the CRPHI supports assessment, planning, communication, and leadership development while building a more resilient and equitable public health system.
Detailed abstract description: In an era of dwindling public health resources and rising health disparities impacting rural communities, collaboration, training, and resource sharing is more important now than ever before. To address these issues, and more, the grant-funded Collaborative for Rural Public Health Innovation (CRPHI) was developed. Participants will gain insight into how 25 rural Minnesota counties partnered with a local state university to implement a regional model that strengthens foundational public health services. Learn how this innovative collaboration enhances assessment, planning, communication, and leadership development to build a more resilient and equitable public health system.
Rural public health agencies face unique challenges: limited resources, workforce shortages, and geographic barriers that hinder their ability to deliver essential services. Universities also face barriers, including limited access to field opportunities for students, resource constraints, difficulty aligning real-world experiences with academic curricula, and ensuring equitable access for all students.
In response, 25 counties across southern Minnesota joined forces with a local state university to launch the CRPHI initiative. This academic-practice partnership is transforming how foundational public health services are delivered in rural communities and how students train to work in public health.
Attendees will gain insight into how this regional model was designed and implemented to support core capabilities such as community health assessment, capacity building, strategic planning, communication, and leadership development. The presentation will highlight how shared infrastructure and collaborative governance reduce duplication, increase efficiency, and foster equity across jurisdictions. Participants will hear real-world examples of how the model has strengthened local public health systems, supported workforce development, and improved community engagement. The session will also explore lessons learned, tools developed, and how this approach can be adapted in other rural or resource-constrained settings.
Implications for this initiative will be applicable for public health leaders, practitioners, educators, and policymakers. This session offers practical strategies and inspiration for building sustainable, collaborative systems that meet the evolving needs of communities.
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