Rural People Rural Policy
Southwest Rural Policy Network
The Center for Rural Health is a member of the Southwest Rural Policy Network. The network is a diverse group of organizations that have come together with the goal of influencing policy for the betterment of rural communities. The SWRPN fosters personal and professional connections, shares best practices, and designs new strategies for change. The network is a member of the Rural People, Rural Policy family of networks, an initiative of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The SWRPN is comprised of 14 member organizations located in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Each organization focuses their individual efforts on a variety of social issues that affect the communities of the rural Southwest. The network’s collaborative approach combines the skills of these rural advocates and builds a cohesive and comprehensive voice for the rural Southwest.
To date, the network’s accomplishments include establishing a vision and a mission statement, developing a decision making process, hiring a network coordinator, creating policy-interest action teams, and creating a regular meeting schedule. The SWRPN is now transitioning into a more outward focused stage, seeking to affect policy for the benefit of rural people and rural communities.
Reports
SWRPN Activities
- Holding quarterly face-to-face meetings.
- Focusing on health, economic development, and environmental policy issues that impact vulnerable children and their families.
- Developing strategies and long term plans for achieving sustainability.
Member Organizations
Arizona
- Arizona Community Foundation, Phoenix
- Arizona Rural Development Council, Phoenix
- Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, Tucson
- Children’s Action Alliance, Phoenix
- DNA People’s Legal Service, Window Rock
- International Sonoran Desert Alliance, Ajo
- Nogales Community Development Corporation, Nogales
- Southwest Center for Economic Integrity, Tucson
Colorado
New Mexico
