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Rural Health

Rural Health

The New Jersey State Office of Rural Health (NJSORH) supports rural communities in New Jersey by improving their access to health services and resources.

We do this by focusing on:

Enhancing rural health services through the exchange of information.
Recruiting health care professionals to stay in rural areas.
Collaborating with rural health stakeholders.
Community engagement.
Strengthening state and federal partnerships.

If you serve rural communities and would like more information, please reach out to Hannah Schonman at NJSR.RuralHealth@doh.nj.gov.

The Definition of Rural

A New Jersey community is considered rural if it has a population density of less than 500 people per square mile.

The federal government's definition of rural is an area that is not urban.

Here is a list of New Jersey defined rural areas (highlighted in yellow).
Here is a brief overview of New Jersey's rural health landscape.

Free Access to the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNET)

3RNET is a workforce recruitment website used by health care organizations and medical professionals. Registering for a free account with 3RNET allows you to browse job postings and to be contacted about the right opportunity for you.

Federal Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes

RUCA codes classify areas according to population density, urbanization, and daily commuting. These codes determine whether an area is eligible for a Rural Health grant.

Learn More

How We are Funded

We are funded through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). FORHP promotes research, policy, and better health care services in rural America.

Learn More about FORHP

Learn More about HRSA

Contact Information

Hannah Schonman
Project Officer, Office of Rural Health
(609) 913-5359
NJSR.RuralHealth@doh.nj.gov