Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

• National updates were provided by Ahlishia Shipley, NIFA
• States provided updates related to progress addressing objectives during year three of the project renewal, as well as ongoing professional challenges they were facing during the transition out of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was great to again meet in person.
• Guest presentation by Tara Mastel, MSU Extension Community Development, on the Montana Reimagining Rural Project provided team members with current findings on characteristics of new rural residents and their community integration and ignited stimulating discussion and insights in furthering project focus on resilience.
• Interviews of Community Key Informants across 13 states were completed this year. Team members discussed implications of initial findings and strategies for analyses of the qualitative data to inform subsequent family-level data collection.
• Communication Strategy: Box remains our repository of administrative documents. Our new website is now live and provides project history, publications, and links to outreach materials. https://ruralfamilies.wixsite.com/website
• The NC1171 Governance Document was updated to include RFSR team composition.
• Executive Board nominations were made, and the 2022-23 Board was voted in.
• Outcomes and projected impacts were reviewed with notable achievements below.

Objective 1: Create Community Profiles via secondary data compiled by the Community Context Data workgroup and qualitative data to be collected through remote interview protocol developed by Community Key Informants workgroup.

Objective 2: Examine Existing Data (from previous projects) will be implemented through writing teams consisting of researchers from two or more NC1171states examining factors impacting family resilience.

Impact 1 – Improved knowledge of community-level assets and challenges: We have developed community profiles. The Community Key Informant data provides great insight into community resilience strategies.

• Impact 2 – New and strengthened partnerships: The webinar brought to us new partnerships and audiences from across the country.
• Impact 3 – Improved understanding of factors and processes of resilience at the family level.
• Impact 4 – Developed student researchers by training and engaging them in the data collection process, mentoring students as co-authors/data analysts on our manuscripts, and guiding them in theses and dissertations.
• Impact 6: Informed Extension and mobilizing community capacity; our webinars and the corresponding handouts speak to this one; the synergy that has been engaged from the project has informed research projects that help communities.

Accomplishments: Despite their vulnerability, many individuals and families living in rural areas demonstrate the capacity for resilience in the face of these adverse conditions and events. Resilient individuals, families, and communities can survive, and potentially thrive, through adversity. This project is poised to capture the challenges faced by families in rural communities impacted by natural disasters and unprecedented pandemic disruption. It is critical to determine both the unique community needs and resources within rural areas, as well as the best mechanisms for supporting resilient rural families.

Short-term Outcomes: Themes emerging from our Community Key Informant (CKI) interviews indicate that technology is extremely beneficial to family serving organizations and that they have relied on social media and text messages to stay connected and serve low-income rural families. Communities have found innovative ways to make broadband work; however, some areas still have significant barriers regarding internet access/cell towers for community members living in rural areas outside of town. Connecting people to food resources is prominent with schools serving as a key source of food security for families. During the pandemic, pre-existing partnerships with family serving organizations have been strengthened out of necessity to cope with increased demand and new partnerships have developed within communities to leverage limited resources.

Outputs:

• Publications and presentations: The Rural Families Speak about Resilience team of scholars with both research and Extension appointments have been productive this year addressing the challenges faced by low-income rural families. Collaborative teams have published five articles with one additional article in press, five more in review and eight manuscripts nearing completion for submission. Despite the challenges of Covid, six juried presentations were presented at virtual meetings.
• Webinars – We continued our quarterly national webinar series entitled Relying on Rural Resilience: Translating 20+ years of research into practice. Each series installment generates interest from professionals across the country, regularly ranging from 70-160 registrants. While not all registrants attend the live event (usually 30-60 live participants), all receive the research presentation recording, cited resources, and a newly developed handout that captures action ideas brainstormed by their participating peers. For example, after attending the webinar on Health Messaging in 2020,one professional stated that their next action step would be “to connect with rural community health partners to obtain input on where they feel they have been successful and where they have experienced barriers.” And another stated they would “create tailored messaging for social media efforts.” Presenting researchers can also hear direct feedback on research implications and its transformation to real-world practice.
• Grant writing - Team members successfully had five grants funded to support work focusing on low-income rural families and communities, including the Kansas State Univ. grant that supported three graduate student interviewers for centralized CKI data collection across 13 states.

Activities:

• Monthly Executive Board Meetings via Zoom
• Bi-monthly full membership meetings to provide team members opportunity to share updates and discuss Community Key Informant data collection.
• Team of interviewers at Kansas State University interviewed Community Key Informants from family and food security serving organizations, schools, health care and Extension in target communities across participating states.
• An active Webinar Planning Committee developed the strategy for translating 20+ years of research findings from the project into training/discussion opportunities for family professionals across the country. Four successful webinars were held in 2021-22, with additional quarterly offerings in development for 2023.
• Newly developed website went live in early 2022.
• Regularly scheduled subgroup meetings for article/presentation/grant authorship
• Graduate students trained in literature review and presentation skills as well as analysis of qualitative/quantitative data.
• Team members have been actively engaged in research-based outreach activities preparing family professionals to support resilience in low-income rural families in their community contexts.

Milestones: Despite ongoing COVID-19 restrictions during the 2021-22 project year, the research team made solid progress fulfilling year three objectives. Research and outreach activities mined secondary data from community datasets. (Objective 1) and previously collected project data (Objective 2). In 2022, Community Key Informant (CKI) data collection was completed via Zoom interviews (Phase 2 of Objective 2). We are now poised to revisit our pre-pandemic Objective 2 to examine individual and family resilience processes from the perspective of rural, low-income mothers. Early 2023 we are launching a web-based quantitative survey of rural families across our team states to hear their voices and compare insights gleaned from our CKI interviews.

Bao, J., & Greder, K. (2022). Economic pressure and parent acculturative stress: Effects on rural midwestern low-income Latinx child behaviors. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. doi:10.1007/s10834-022-09841-4.

Chandler, K. D., Gunsallus, A. L., Martin, M. A., & Brasier, K. J. (2022). Gas-patch dads: Experiences at the nexus of work, family, and community contexts. Advance online publication. Community, Work, & Family. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2022.2063107

Cox, R. B., Washburn, I. J., Greder, K., Sahbaz, S., & Lin, H. (2022). Preventing substance use among Latino youth: Initial results from a multistate family-based program focused on youth academic success. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 48(1), 69-77, doi:10.1080/00952990.2021.1981357.

Sano, Y., & Mammen, S. (2022). Mitigating the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on rural low-income families. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. 43(2): 227–238. Published online 2022 Feb 22. doi:10.1007/s10834-021-09800-5

Yancura, L., Barnett, M., Pylate, L., Sano, Y., Routh, B., & Contreras, D. (2022). Helping rural families navigate conflict. NCFR Network. 35(2), 10-11.

Journal Publications in Press

Sano, Y., Berry, A. A., & Sneed, C. T. (in press). Extension’s role in promoting family resilience in rural communities. In M. R. T. de Guzman & H. Hatton-Bowers (Eds.), The Role of Social Sciences in Extension. Cambridge University Press.

Publications under Review

Arellanes, J., Greder, K., & Lohman, B. (Under review). The intersection of work and cultural values of Latino fathers in their children’s educational attainment. Journal of Latinos and Education.

Fenton, M. S., Radunovich, H. L., Ontai, L., & Sano, Y. (under review). Does a co-parent relationship serve as a protective factor against maternal depressive symptoms for rural, low-income children? Submitted to Child & Youth Care Forum.

Holst, M., Routh, B., Gilligan, M., Alcívar- Zúñiga, M., & Greder, K. (under review). Latina immigrant mothers in the rural Midwest: The role of family support networks. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.

Sano, Y., Berry, A., & Sneed, C. T. (R&R). Extension’s role in addressing child, youth, and family well-being in rural communities. In M. R. de Guzmn, & H. Hatton-Bowers (Eds.) The role of the social sciences in Extension. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Sano, Y., Greder, K., Mammen, S., Bao, J., & Big Eagle, T. (under Review). Health understanding and health outcomes among rural, low-income mothers. Submitted to Family and Community Health.

Publications in preparation

Cancel-Tirado, D. I., Feeney, S. L., Greder, K., & Sano, Y. (in preparation). Enablers and barriers to health: Comparing White and Latino rural low-income families. Family Relations.

Cancel-Tirado, D. I., Feeney, S. L., Washburn, I., Greder, K., & Sano, Y. (in preparation). Family and community-level predictors of health and well-being among Latino and white low-income families in rural areas. Social Science and Medicine.

Contreras, D.A., Becker, T..B., & Porth, O. (in preparation). The rural paradox. Journal of Extension.

Sano, Y., Greder, K., Mammen, S., Bao, J., & Big Eagle, T. (in preparation). Health understanding and health outcomes among rural, low-income mothers.

Sano, Y., Ward, C., Houghten, M., Dyk, P. H., Radunovich, H., & Pylate, L. (in preparation). Family health management and coordination among rural, low-income families.

Sano, Y., Big Eagle, T., Dyk, P. H., Morris, J., Arreola, H., & Bird, C. (in preparation). Access to healthcare in rural low-income communities.

Sano, Y., Ward, C., Houghten, M., Dyk, P. H., & Radunovich, H. (in preparation). Navigating health care challenges in rural communities.

Wiles, B., Klutse, A., & Dyk, P. H. (in preparation). Conducting multi-state collaborative research: Methodological challenges and lessons learned.

Yancura, L., Ontai, L., Routh, B., Cancel-Tirado, D., & Sano, Y. (in preparation). Multigenerational household structure in rural Areas: Does grandparent co-residence contribute to overweight and obesity?

Juried National Presentations

Berry, A. A., Sneed, C. T., Franck. K., Metzger, B., Niederhauser, V., & Washburn, L. (2021). We need to talk about health care costs. Presented at Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) Research and Training Virtual Symposium, November 15 - 19.

Big Eagle, T., Sano, Y., Arreola, H., Morris, J., & Kaur, P. (October, 2022). "We do what we have to do to make do": Agency and access to healthcare in rural America. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of Co-Occurring Disorders and Treatment. Yakima, WA.

Greder, K., Bao, J., & Cancel-Tirado, D. (December, 2021). Role of acculturative stress in relationship between maternal depression and rural Midwest Latino children’s behaviors. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Special Topic Meeting: Construction of the “other”: Development, consequences, and applied implications of prejudice and discrimination, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Sano, Y., Ward, C., Houghten, M., Dyk, P. H., & Radunovich, H. (November, 2021). Navigating health care challenges in rural communities. Interactive paper presentation at the annual meeting of National Council on Family Relations. Virtual conference.

Sano, Y., Berry, A. A., & Sneed, C. T. (2022). Extension’s role in promoting food security and nutrition in rural communities. Presented at the National Council on Family Relations, November 16 - 19.

Wiles, B., Kluste, A., Blodgett, R., & Dyk, P.  (2022, November). Remain in light: Resilience processes in rural communities during the pandemic. Poster presented at the National Council on Family Relations annual meeting, Minneapolis, MN.

Grants

Chandler, K. D. (PI). Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) Project NC1171: Rural Families Speak about Resilience. United States Department of Agriculture via College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University. $7,000

Eschbach, C. (PI), Contreras, D.A., Moore, E. (Co-PIs): 2021-2024: Michigan Department of Community Health to fund COVID-19 and other immunization messaging and education for rural youth and families in Michigan.

Johnson, K. (PI); Berry, A., Franck, K. & Sneed, C. (Co-PIs). 1/22. Tennessee Department of Health. $3,200,000 to fund Economic Recovery Centers: Promoting Resiliency of Rural Households and Communities in Response to the COVID-10 Public Health Emergency.

Routh, B. Lead evaluator for Rural Food Prescription Program (GUSnip USDA funding) within a 500K 3 year grant, using NC1171 data to support need.

Wiles, B. B. (2022) USDA Rural Health and Safety Education Grant with Jessica Lane (PI), and Alex Bechnel (Co-PI) in the KSU College of Education ($349,946)

Wiles, B. (2022) KSU Agriculture Experiment Station Competitive Additional Allocation Research Grant ($55,000). Kansas State University. Manhattan, KS.

Grants in Submission / Draft

Routh, B. Submitting $20K internal grant. State of Families in Montana, Internal Extension Grant to support graduate student support.

Wiles, B. Understanding the rural Norwegian early care and education system’s outdoor physical activity practices. Fulbright

Wiles, B. USDA Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) to support internships in Extension for multicultural students in rural communities.

Outreach

Live Webinars held as part of the Rural Families Speak about Resilience Series

Yancura, L. (December 15, 2021). Food, football, and politics: Helping rural families navigate conflict over the holidays. https://ruralfamilies.wixsite.com/website/copy-of-rrr-family-conflict

Contreras, D., H. Tiret, & Routh, B. (February 23, 2002). Building health and resilience by teaching mindful eating/feeding to rural parents of young children. Relying on Rural Resilience. https://ruralfamilies.wixsite.com/website/copy-of-rrr-health-messaging-1

Barnett, M., & Routh, B. (May 25, 2022). It takes three: Mulitgenerational support in rural families. Relying on Rural Resilience https://ruralfamilies.wixsite.com/website/copy-of-rrr-health-messaging-2

Routh, B. (September 7, 2022). Family influence on health behaviors in rural communities. Relying on Rural Resilience https://ruralfamilies.wixsite.com/website/copy-of-rrr-multigen-support

Faculty utilizing NC1171 resources to train graduate and undergraduate students

Routh, B. (2021, October). Health disparities: Rural US experience. Montana State University CHTH 428: Health Disparities Guest lecture using APLU videos/activities developed as part of NC1171.

Routh, B. Regularly use RFSH case studies and web of connection in guest lectures for community health classes (3 times in 2022).

Chandler, K. D. Winter 2022 term (1/22 - 3/22) taught a graduate-level qualitative methods course (HDFS 539: Qualitative Methods II). Six students used the RFSH data to learn how to code and interpret qualitative data.

Dyk, P. University of Kentucky Community & Leadership Development 686 Research Design - Used project as an exemplar in graduate seminar. Discussed proposal design, methodology, implementation, and qualitative analyses.

Feeney, S. I use RFS data when teaching qualitative data analysis (e.g., coding practice). I also use Cancel-Tirado et al. (2018) when teaching quantitative analysis (e.g., t-tests). I also use Sano et al. (2012) and Manoogian et al. (2012) in a grad level course on Families in Poverty.

Cancel-Tirado, D. I., Feeney, S. L., Washburn, I., Greder, K., & Sano, Y. (2018). Health, wellbeing, and healthcare access in rural communities: Comparing Latino and non-Latino White low-income families. Family and Community Health. 41(2), 73 – 82. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000193

Manoogian, M. M., Jurich, J., Sano, Y., & Ko, J.-L. (2015). “My kids are more important than money”: Parenting expectations and commitment among Appalachian low-income mothers. Journal of Family Issues, 36(3), 326–350. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X13490402

Sano, Y., Manoogian, M. M., & Ontai, L. L. (2012). “The kids still come first”: Creating family stability during partnership instability in rural, low-income families. Journal of Family Issues, 33(7), 942–965. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X11430820

Outreach in Preparation

4 webinar sessions planned for 2023 with the first scheduled for January 25, 2023, to be presented by K. Greder on Latinx Families in Rural Communities.

Chandler, K. D., & Cancel-Tirado, D. February 2023 presentation to Oregon State University, College of Public Health and Human Sciences College Research Seminar to discuss NC1171. Working title: Rural Families Speak about Resilience: A family science-public health collaboration.

Chandler, K. D. An undergraduate student is taking research credits with me in the 2023 winter term to review existing NC1171 qualitative data for discussions around family resilience.

Sano, Y. (in preparation). Translating research findings on rural low-income families in college classroom. HD403 Families in Poverty. Washington State University Vancouver.

Professional Development

Yancura, L. Kiley Oeda, MA student at University of Hawai`i at Manoa in Educational Psychology assisted with webinar administration

Sano, Y. Promotion to full professor, 4 undergraduate students experienced research analyzing the RFSR, ACA data.

Wiles, B. B., trained two graduate students (Adelaide Klutse and Becky Blodgett) in all aspects of conducting qualitative research for NC1171: IRB approval, recruitment, scheduling, conducting interviews, data analysis, and dissemination.