By bringing essential services to rural areas, providing educational programs to empower rural residents, assessing needs and assets, and advocating for the needs of rural communities, Rural Health Network is committed to improving overall well-being in South Central New York.

Rural Health Network takes a holistic approach to well-being. We believe that well-being is about more than access to healthcare. Well-being is a complex interaction of factors that includes health, environment, and social engagement. The physical isolation of rural communities can compound the effects of social isolation. The effects of social isolation include depression, delayed care, poor nutrition, and re-hospitalization.

Determinants of health can be measured by either the material conditions in which we live, or the social structures that guide our lives. Both serve to situate our lives in a definable place that impacts health outcomes. Social determinants of health look at the conditions in which people live, and use those to explain health outcomes. The five key areas of social determinants of health are: economic stability, education, social and community context, health and healthcare, and neighborhood and built environment. Rural Health Network addresses social determinants of health through improving access to healthcare, promoting educational initiatives, and increasing the transportation options available to rural communities.

Rural Health Network enhances service planning and assessment, policy implementation, and program evaluation by coordinating and collaborating with a range of health and human service providers in order to address all aspects of well-being.