Children and adolescents

Current Projects

• Access to and Provision of Child and Youth Behavioral Health Services in the Rural and Urban U.S.
  The need for behavioral health treatment for youth has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the availability of youth behavioral health providers in rural areas. This study will investigate who provides behavioral health services to youth, how the workforce is distributed, and gaps in service availability.
  Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Allied health professionals, Children and adolescents, Health services, Healthcare access, Mental and behavioral health, Nurses and nurse practitioners, Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Physician assistants, Physicians, Substance use and treatment, Workforce
  
• Environmental Influences on Child Health: A Snapshot of Children's Health in the United States
  The environment in which a child grows up strongly influences their health in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Using data for 2022 and 2023 from five national data sets, this project will provide a comprehensive update on rural-urban differences in child health in the United States.
  Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Chronic diseases and conditions, Healthcare access, Obesity, Oral health, Poverty, Public health, Social determinants of health
  
• Examining the Costs Associated With Dental Restorative Services in the Absence of Preventive Services Among Pediatric Medicaid Beneficiaries by Rurality
  This project will examine the costs associated with pediatric dental restorative services in the absence of preventive services. This study focuses on children with Medicaid who have historically been less likely to receive preventive dental care with subsequent impacts on pain, infections, and overall development.
  Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Health promotion and disease prevention, Medicaid and CHIP, Oral health, Poverty, Public health, Social determinants of health
  
• Neonatal Care at Rural Hospitals: Describing Access, Closures and Levels of Childbirth-Related Care
  This project will describe access to childbirth-related care for families living in rural and urban communities; it will document access to neonatal care and the levels of that care, describe rural counties that have lost access to neonatal care, and identify rural counties without access to either obstetric or neonatal services.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Healthcare access, Hospitals and clinics, Maternal health, Quality, Women
  
• Oral Healthcare Utilization and Outcomes of Rural and Urban Medicaid-Insured Children in the United States
  Using nationally representative Medicaid claims data, this project will determine rural-urban differences in the prevalence of early childhood caries, preventative dental visits, and restorative dental visits.
  Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Medicaid and CHIP, Oral health, Rural statistics and demographics
  
• Public Health Insurance Coverage Among Rural and Urban Children
  Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are important sources of health insurance coverage for rural children, yet analyses have shown a decline in overall U.S. coverage in recent years. This study will use the American Communities Survey to examine rates of Medicaid/CHIP coverage among rural versus urban children and whether these have changed over time.
  Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Medicaid and CHIP
  
• Rural-Urban Differences in Provider Counseling About Physical Activity Among U.S. Adults
  This study examines rural-urban differences in health professional counseling about physical activity among U.S. adults, using NHIS data (2020-2024). It explores how advice relates to meeting activity guidelines and whether differences vary by age, chronic condition prevalence, and other factors.
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health promotion and disease prevention, Healthcare access, Obesity, Physicians, Public health