RAPID and Delta Health Alliance partnership
Community served
As Mississippi’s largest community-based nonprofit , Delta Health Alliance serves the rural, low-income counties in a region known as the Mississippi Delta — one of the most disadvantaged and underserved places in the U.S., burdened by a long history of poor health outcomes, intergenerational poverty, low literacy, and lack of educational attainment. Residents of the Delta have significant unmet needs, driven by poverty, geographic isolation, poor coordination between limited services, low literacy rates, and lack of economic opportunities.
Priorities and goals
Founded in 2001 as a consortium of like-minded agencies to coordinate critical programs, Delta Health Alliance engages in research on effective means for improving the health and well-being of families and communities. They do this by:
- Understanding the fundamental causes of poor health in the region through comprehensive research programs and statistical analysis of relevant data.
- Supporting programs that provide training to healthcare professionals in the area.
- Educating residents and encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Engaging families
In a continuing tradition of community involvement, the RAPID Survey Project and Delta Health Alliance began partnering in 2024 to listen to parents and gather data that support the expansion of programs and services that reflect what the community needs and wants.
Data and insights
Delta Health Alliance manages health, education, workforce, and community programs in 29 counties, and partners with nonprofits, public institutions, local governments, healthcare providers, faith-based groups, and communities to co-develop and sustain initiatives.
Data and parent voices are crucial for shaping future projects and improving existing ones. This survey data can also inform the development of national policies, providing insight into a population that has historically been underrepresented – Black, rural, low-income families living in the South.