Rural Health

The focus area of the Rural Health Extension Educator position will align with UNL Grand Challenges and IANR communities of Healthy Humans and Thriving Communities. 

A healthy and resilient population is critical and requires an intentional effort to achieve health equity by reducing and ultimately eliminating unjust and avoidable differences in opportunity and health in rural Nebraska.

It is estimated that 35% of Nebraska’s population lives in non-metro areas, with 11 of the Federally Qualified Health Center sites existing outside urban areas. Communities and cultures vary, however, health challenges to living in a rural area include a higher percentage of older adults, more residents without health insurance, less access to health care, higher rate of certain substance use and chronic health problems such as hypertension or obesity, and more exposure to environmental hazards.

The long term rural health outcome is to “Improve the quality of life, in which all Nebraskans can achieve their full potential for health and wellbeing across the lifespan”. 

Rural health is a key priority for Nebraska Extension, which serves residents across the state, regardless of location.