Rural Research Needs and Data Sources for Selected Human Services Topics, Volume 2: Data Sources

Although rural America is diverse, ever changing, and different from urban America, less is known about rural human and social services conditions and needs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which plays a major role in protecting and enhancing human capital and self-sufficiency in rural America, launched a study to learn more about social and economic conditions and trends in rural areas, identify high-priority family and community needs, and assess knowledge about these needs and the services available to address them. This report describes the study and findings. It also identifies data that could support empirical research, presenting information on 80 data sources that the research community could use to study three human services topics in rural areas: work supports for low-income families, substance abuse, and child welfare.