Rural Health

Rural Health Day

Governor Larry Rhoden and the South Dakota Department of Health are proud to join organizations and communities across the country in celebrating National Rural Health Day on Nov. 20, 2025. Led by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), this annual observance recognizes the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural communities and honors the dedication of those who work each day to support the health and well-being of nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

Proclamation

Rural Health Hero for the 2026 Community Star Recognition

Since 2015, NOSORH’s Community Star Recognition Program has highlighted the people and organizations making a powerful difference in rural communities. Nearly 500 stories have been shared nationwide as part of National Rural Health Day.
The South Dakota Office of Rural Health and Emergency Services is excited to announce that we are now collecting nominations for South Dakota’s 2026 Community Star. If you know an individual or organization creating a positive impact on rural health, we invite you to nominate them today. 

Nomination Survey Form Learn more at Power of Rural

Eligible

Eligible nominees include individuals, organizations, or a consortium/coalition. 
Stars must be located, working, or volunteering in a designated rural area.  

Not Eligible

Government officials who are elected or appointed to positions in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial branches of their State or Federal Government are not eligible. 
Past Community Stars are not eligible 

Who makes a great Community Star?

There is no single definition of a Community Star. Stars come from a wide range of roles and sectors. Strong candidates may include:

• Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grantees
• Rural stakeholders who receive SORH technical assistance
• State-level partners, associations, coalitions, and other organizations engaged in rural health
• Community partners outside of traditional healthcare, such as libraries, schools, and faith-based organizations
• Physicians, nurses, health providers, hospital administrators, board members, volunteers, community health workers, and first responders
• Coalitions or collaboratives addressing a specific health need or leading community-driven health and wellness initiatives
• Individuals expanding access to care or services in underserved rural areas
• Organizations leading innovative programs to address challenges such as workforce shortages, behavioral health, or chronic disease
• Partnerships bringing together multiple sectors to improve community health and well-being 

Strategic Analysis of South Dakota’s Rural Healthcare Programs, 2024

The Office of Rural Health and Emergency Services conducted a Strategic Analysis of Rural Healthcare Programs using a comprehensive five-step process to evaluate South Dakota’s rural healthcare access needs, assess current state programs, and determine their adequacy in addressing those needs. The five steps included an Environmental Scan, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Leading Practice Identification, and Recommendation Development.

This analysis identified four core issues impacting healthcare access in rural South Dakota and provided actionable recommendations, sub-recommendations, and steps to address these challenges.

View the Data Analysis Summary     Access the Infographic Summary     

Final Recommendations Report

For inquiries, please contact Josie Petersen at Josie.Petersen@state.sd.us. 

November 21, 2024 - Rural Health Day Proclamation

Listservs — Email Groups

• Subscribe to South Dakota Rural Health Listserv

  When you subscribe, you will receive about 20 email newsletters throughout the year about various topics, such as recruitment program information; opportunities for attending conferences, webinars, or meetings; sharing information from federal resources; etc. You will also stay up-to-date on grant-related details from the federal level.