Joel Halverson, PhD

Completed Projects - (2)
Publications - (6)

Completed Projects - (2)

Rural Food Security, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes
This project will examine the characteristics of food security and food availability across the rural-urban continuum. The study will test the hypotheses that food insecurity will differ significantly between rural and urban counties in the U.S. with rural areas experiencing more adverse conditions; and that there will be a significant relationship between food insecurity, food availability and selected adverse health outcomes in non-metropolitan counties in the U.S.
Research center: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Topic: Obesity
Rural Socioeconomic Risk and Resiliency Inventory and Associated Health Outcomes
This study will create a national inventory of social and economic risks and resiliencies for every county in the nation, and relate those risks to health outcome data. The study will test whether rural areas with fewer risks and greater resiliencies are related to better health outcomes.
Research center: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Environmental and agricultural health, Poverty

Publications - (6)

2011

A Rural Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Resiliency Index and Associated Health Outcomes
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2011
These analyses provide evidence to support the development of programs and policies that foster educational development, and economic diversity and vitality, as means of public health improvement, especially in rural areas in selected regions of the country.
Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2011
This project will examine rural and urban food security/availability. It will test the hypotheses that food insecurity will differ significantly between rural/urban counties and that there will be a significant relationship between food insecurity and availability and selected adverse health outcomes in non-metropolitan counties.
Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2011
Rural counties are disproportionately associated with high food insecurity risk relative to urban counties. Programs and policies may focus on improving food availability and access for rural populations.
A Rural Socioeconomic Risk and Resiliency Inventory and Associated Health Outcomes (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 03/2011
Rural areas, especially in the Southeast, Appalachia, and parts of the West, have worse VRI (Vulnerability and Resiliency Index) scores, which are a measure of six socioeconomic indicators across counties in the United States.

2010

Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2010
Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates, adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity.
Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2010
Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates, adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity.