The University of Wisconsin–Madison has awarded funding to four projects that aim to support rural communities and tribal nations in Wisconsin. The projects will focus on issues such as rural livability, children's mental health, food system resilience, and health inequities.
The Rural Livability Project will identify the key assets needed to sustain rural communities and develop policies and strategies to support rural livability.
The Promoting Family-Centered and Family-School-Community Mental Health Support for Children in Rural Wisconsin Communities project will build capacity for sustained and integrated mental health support for children in rural Wisconsin communities.
The Connecting Cultural Values and Indigenous Research Towards Food System Resilience project will engage tribal nations and a broad network of partners to co-create research, education, and outreach projects to help Wisconsin Tribes sustain and expand food sovereignty.
The Community Health Workers as a Bridge Between Extension and Rural Healthcare Systems to Support Whole Family Health and Well-Being project will establish a network of Extension-based Community Health Workers to address health inequities in rural areas.
These projects are part of the Wisconsin Rural Partnership initiative, which is funded by a $9.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The initiative aims to advance the land-grant mission of UW–Madison and support community-based projects that address the challenges faced by rural communities and tribal nations in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Rural Partnership initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is part of a broader $28 million USDA-funded Institute for Rural Partnerships. The institute aims to promote equitable, resilient, and prosperous food and agricultural systems and expanded opportunities for rural community development.
The four projects selected for funding are a great example of the work that is being done to support rural communities in Wisconsin. These projects will help to improve the livability of rural communities, the mental health of children in rural areas, the food security of tribal nations, and the health of rural residents.
Photo Credit: istock-alenamozhjer
Categories: Wisconsin, Education