Connections for Health: Centering school connection and health for rural teens
Official title: RFA-DP-24-138, Connections for Health: Centering school connection and health for rural young people
Funded at Education, Training, & Research Assocs · NIH-11351471 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national effort to help rural high school students get better health education and support in schools where resources are tight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Education, Training, & Research Assocs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Watsonville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $500,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DP006888-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11351471 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are students in rural middle or high schools and the educators who work with them who would benefit from enhanced health education and supportive school resources.
✕Less likely to help
Students in urban or well-resourced districts may see less direct impact from this rural-focused program.
What this research studies
This project aims to adapt comprehensive health education to the rural school context, focusing on social, emotional, and sexual health to improve health behaviors among rural adolescents. It addresses barriers like funding, staffing, and teacher wellness, and includes professional development to support educators working with rural youth. The program recognizes the unique challenges of rural poverty, trauma, and community scrutiny that can affect school health initiatives. By partnering with rural schools, the initiative seeks to strengthen school connection, access to services, and overall student well-being over a multi-year period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, rural teens could experience better health knowledge, more supportive school environments, and greater access to appropriate health services.
How similar studies have gone: Prior rural health education efforts have shown promise, though tailoring to rural school contexts is still developing.
Where this research is happening
-
Education, Training, & Research Assocs
Watsonville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kosciw, Joseph — Education, Training, & Research Assocs
- Study coordinator: Kosciw, Joseph
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.