C E N TE R FOR RURAL HE ALTH
DOUBLING DOWN
UND’s Center for Rural Health continues its mission—which may be more important than ever—during COVID-19. Just a few weeks before the Center for Rural Health (CRH)
The Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
planned to celebrate its 40th anniversary in April of this year,
(MHTTC) provides resources, training, and technical assistance
everything changed. With the COVID-19 pandemic, CRH
to those who serve people with mental health disorders.
staff found themselves working remotely and helping others
During COVID-19, MHTTC has gathered COVID-19 mental
navigate through uncertainty on a scale most have never
health resources, including those designed to help parents,
experienced before.
caregivers, and teachers guide children through these difficult
Perhaps it’s fitting that CRH staff are doing what they do best during this anniversary year. Never missing a beat even
related to COVID-19 and mental health issues.
while setting up workstations in their homes, staff continued
The Rural Health Research Gateway, which provides access
the CRH mission to share resources and knowledge to
to the research done by the federally funded Rural Health
strengthen the health of people in rural communities. In fact,
Research Centers (RHRCs) across the country, added a
staff members have even increased their efforts, helping rural
“Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” topic page to its
communities, health care facilities, health professionals, and
website. The page highlights research products related to the
others find their way to the resources they need, including
pandemic completed by RHRC researchers.
those specifically related to COVID-19.
The National Resource Center on Native American Aging also
Online Resources
has a “COVID-19 Resources” webpage. It includes resources
Many CRH projects created COVID-19-specific pages to
offered by its partner organizations, general resources, and
provide resources relevant to their audiences. The Rural Health
guides, fact sheets, and other materials. In addition, the
Information Hub created the Rural Response to COVID-19 issue
National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI) created a
guide. The web-based issue guide lists guidelines, resources,
“COVID-19 Tribal Elder Resources” page filled with trustworthy
events, news, and funding opportunities available from federal
resources for tribal communities.
and state agencies as well as organizations across the country to address COVID-19 in rural communities. In addition, rural communities can share how they are adapting to the pandemic in the “Rural COVID-19 Innovations” section of the guide. 20
times. The MHTTC also has offered a number of webinars
North Dakota Medicine Fall 2020
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in June, NIEJI hosted a video presentation titled “Protecting Our Elders During COVID-19.”
