Improving Health and School Connections for Rural Young People

RFA-DP-24-138, Connections for Health: Centering school connection and health for rural young people

NIH-funded research Education, Training, & Research Assocs · NIH-11167418

This project aims to help rural young people by improving health education in their schools, focusing on social, emotional, and sexual health.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEducation, Training, & Research Assocs NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Watsonville, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11167418 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many young people in rural areas face challenges like limited access to healthcare and higher risks for substance use or sexually transmitted infections. This project plans to develop and implement comprehensive health education programs specifically designed for rural schools. It will also support teachers with professional development to help them address the unique needs of their students, considering factors like rural poverty and community scrutiny. The goal is to create stronger connections between schools and health, leading to better well-being for rural adolescents.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This project is designed to benefit adolescents attending schools in rural areas who may lack access to comprehensive health education and services.

Not a fit: Patients living in urban or suburban areas, or those outside the target age range of adolescents, would not directly benefit from this specific school-based intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to healthier choices and better overall well-being for rural young people by providing them with tailored health education and support.

How similar studies have performed: Comprehensive health education has shown promise in improving adolescent health behaviors generally, but this project specifically adapts it for the unique challenges of rural settings.

Where this research is happening

Watsonville, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.