WED-023 - Advancing School Health in Rural Communities – Early Insights from the Community
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PST
Location: Plaza Foyer, Plaza Level
Area of Responsibility: Area I: Assessment of Needs and Capacity Keywords: Child and Adolescent Health@@@Rural Health@@@School Health, Subcompetencies: 1.3.2 Determine the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills, and behaviors that impact the health and health literacy of the priority population(s)., 1.3.4 Assess existing and available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions. Research or Practice: Practice
Senior Manager, Public Health RTI International ARLINGTON, Virginia, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Describe at least two facilitators to supporting adolescent health and well-being in rural schools.
Describe at least two barriers to supporting adolescent health and well-being in rural schools.
Describe one framework that is being used to advance adolescent health and well-being in rural schools.
Brief Abstract Summary: Schools in rural communities are a key place for advancing adolescent health because of challenges with transportation and limited access to providers. RTI is partnering with two rural school districts in North Carolina. An overarching goal of the project is to understand community perceptions about adolescent health priorities and how schools can support or hinder efforts to promote health behaviors and address health challenges among adolescents. We will share findings from interviews with 17 community members, including parents, school administrators, school health providers, and local health department staff, about facilitators and barriers to student health and well-being. We will also share community members’ perspectives on the quality of health education provided in schools, as well as schools’ efforts to create safe and supportive environments, ensure access to health services, and strengthen family engagement.
Detailed abstract description: Between March 2025 and May 2025, RTI conducted in-depth interviews with 17 community members in two rural school districts to better understand the facilitators and barriers to student health and well-being. We also explored perceptions of health education, health services, family engagement and safe and supportive environments. Findings from these interviews suggest that facilitators to student health and well-being include trust and connectedness across parents, students, and staff, collaboration among school personnel, and partnerships with external health providers. Common barriers to student health and well-being include limited access to providers and concerns about privacy, stigma surrounding health issues, insufficient funding for school-based support positions and time constraints that limit the breadth and frequency of health education. We will highlight key themes, including strengths and weaknesses, related to health education, health services, safe and supportive environments, and family engagement will also be presented. These findings offer valuable insights into how rural educators can better understand and respond to diverse community perspective on adolescent health and well-being. We will also share how our team is applying these insights to inform and strengthen school-based health programs, practices and services.
