Current fiscal and economic conditions, coupled with unique challenges facing rural residents, have created an unprecedented need for human services.   The global recession and its impacts have placed a huge burden on state and local budgets, and the unemployment picture is expected to further depress the ability for states to provide essential human services. 

 

In rural areas, unique challenges add to the already heavy burden of social services provision.  Rural areas often face additional challenges of isolation, scarcity of services, extreme weather conditions, and higher levels of behavioral problems such as domestic violence and substance abuse.  To compensate, informal networks such as faith-based organizations, civic groups, and neighbors often form the safety-net where service providers are not existent.  

 

However, the new federal commitment to place-based investments offers a unique opportunity to reverse the long standing disadvantage in rural human service provision.  this placed-based approach would more effectively allow for and promote integration of services within the broader human services delivery continuum and ultimately with rural health care services. The Panel argues for a regionally integrated rural human services system, in which essential human services would be integrated into client-centered systems in geographic population centers.  In many rural areas, micropolitan centers provide a logical hub for these integrated services.  The rural healthcare sector and the innovative and integrative programs of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy provide excellent models for building an alternative rural human services infrastructure.   

 

The resultant infrastructure will mean less travel time, fewer stops to access services, and a more rural-based framework.  The creativity and resilience of rural people, and the informal networks so prevalent in rural areas would complement and enhance such an integrated approach.