Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development

Welcome

At the Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development (CRHSSD), we partner with area agencies to address the most pressing health and social service concerns affecting our communities. As part of SIU School of Medicine, our aim is to reduce health disparities in the 66 urban and rural counties across central and southern Illinois.

We support and empower residents from 66 counties through research, program evaluations, needs assessments, advocacy work and policy recommendations. We’re regularly testing new models of health care delivery to promote meaningful change in our neighbors’ lives and ensure at-risk communities receive the quality health care they deserve.  

We value more than anything else service to our communities, to our professions, and stakeholders. We value our motivated, professional, and productive staff, along with honesty, integrity, mutual respect, creative thinking, and excellence.

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Rural Land with Road and Fields

Regional Offices

To contact, please call 618-453-1262.

Center services

The CRHSSD is in place to help address health care and social service issues impacting the lives and productivity of those in our state and nation. We do this through grant and project development, research and evaluation, training and workforce development, and community engagement and outreach.

Rural Field with Sunset

Latest articles

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Continuing education scholarships available for rural nurses

Keeping rural health care healthy: Applications are now available for scholarships to the 2024 Nurse Scholar program!
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Virtual event aims to tackle mental health challenges in agricultural communities

Farmers and their families often grapple with various stressors, including financial pressures, unpredictable weather conditions and the isolation of rural living. These challenges can contribute to
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SIU Medicine offers virtual series on farm succession planning

Join us for an upcoming live virtual series, "Planning for the Farm's Future and Yours." The FFRI programs are designed to assist farmers and farm families in developing a succession plan for future generations.