Rural Public Health Strategic Plan

FY 2024-2029

At a glance

CDC's Rural Public Health Strategic Plan represents the agency's inaugural blueprint outlining key priorities, objectives, and outcomes for working internally and with external and federal partners to improve the health of people living in rural America.

Download and print the plan

CDC Rural Public Health Strategic Plan

Picture of rural town with mountains in the background
A picture of a rural town

Purpose

To improve the health of rural communities by advancing the best rural public health science and practices through a coordinated, transparent, and strategic approach.

Values

Image displaying five icons arranged horizontally with titles underneath each. From left to right, the titles are Leadership, Collaboration, Scientific Curiosity, Innovation, and Empowered Decision Making.

Rural Public Health Strategic Plan: FY 2024-2029

As part of the FY2023 Congressional appropriations, CDC created an Office of Rural Health (ORH) to coordinate its growing rural health portfolio across the agency. ORH was tasked with developing a CDC strategic plan specifically focused on improving health outcomes in rural areas.

CDC's Rural Public Health Strategic Plan focuses on improving the health of rural communities by advancing the best rural public health science and practices through a coordinated, transparent, and strategic approach.

The Rural Public Health Strategic Plan outlines key priorities, objectives, and outcomes for the next five years for collaborating with both internal and external partners, including federal agencies. The document includes background on CDC's rural public health efforts, the science and practice of rural public health, the structure and role of ORH, and the strategic plan's development. This plan will guide CDC's programs and research to ensure rural needs are part of public health programs at the outset.