Reaching Rural Initiative

The Reaching Rural Initiative brings together rural practitioners from different professional backgrounds and communities throughout the country to support them as they grow as leaders and advance solutions to address the persistent challenges of substance use in their communities.

The inaugural class of 67 Reaching Rural fellows was launched in December 2022. Fellows are selected through a competitive application process and participate in the Reaching Rural Initiative through one of two tracks, either as part of a cross-sector team from their community or as individuals. Throughout the year-long program, fellows learn directly from rural practitioners and each other, receive coaching, and participate in skill-building workshops and peer-to-peer learning experiences.

The Reaching Rural Initiative is co-sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the State Justice Institute.