Obama Administration announces Rural IMPACT Demonstration

The White House Rural Council in February launched “Rural Impact,” a sustained campaign to enhance quality of life and upward mobility for children in rural and tribal places. Through this effort, the Obama Administration aims to build upon the progress already made in reducing rural poverty by leveraging technology, forging new partnerships, and exploring new models of program delivery, to ensure that all kids have an opportunity to succeed.

In support of Rural Impact, the Obama Administration is announcing a new technical assistance demonstration initiative: Rural Integration Models for Parents and Children to Thrive (IMPACT) Demonstration. The Rural IMPACT Demonstration will focus on providing technical support for rural and tribal communities to incorporate a two-generation approach, with the goal of reducing child poverty.

The Demonstration will be administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and will be implemented in collaboration with a broad range of Federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Labor, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. HHS has cooperative agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Community Action Partnership (CAP), to administer the demonstration and provide technical assistance to participating rural and tribal communities. By embedding a two-generation approach in programs and systems, HHS and its partners anticipate improvements in service delivery, participation, and outcomes for low-income families in rural and tribal communities. 

The Rural IMPACT Demonstration will provide technical assistance and other supports for up to 10 rural and tribal communities that have vision, capacity, and assets to develop innovative two-generation strategies.

Through Rural IMPACT’s two-generation approach, HHS and its partners will work with rural and tribal communities to address concurrently the needs of both vulnerable children and parents, with a goal of increasing parents’ employment and education and the well-being of their children and families.

August 31, 2015: Deadline for communities to submit their statement of interest

For more information, find the invitation letter or contact: RuralIMPACT@aap.org