VISION STATEMENT
OUR VISION
The Lincoln Project is designed specifically to produce targeted, community-centered interventions to reduce the prevalence of OHPND and improve overall community health. We recognize that health and well-being are constantly influenced by a variety of factors over the course of a lifetime, whether those factors be environmental, social, cultural, or medical. When the summation of those factors ends in premature death, the results are devastating to families, friends, and communities. OHPND affects rural populations at disproportionately high levels. We are committed to identifying the determinants that lead to OHPND in rural communities and by introducing novel prevention techniques that focus on the community itself as a building block for improving health and wellbeing. In this way, we are bridging the gap between urban and rural regions and establishing community-centered interventions that can be applied in countless areas to create healthy, thriving communities.
The Lincoln Project Staff
For those living in rural North Carolina, premature death is a reality felt by individuals, families, and communities. Many people have less access to consistent and timely medical care, proper nutrition, and specialized services. But what we’re finding in rural counties is that social determinants have an incredible impact on community health. Attitudes towards health: a lack of trust in health care providers, insufficient health education, etc. result in a disconnect between the knowledge we have about improving health and the reality of rural community wellbeing. Many people may not have access to transportation to and from medical appointments or the funds and time to participate in preventative measures. Those who suffer from social isolation often experience increased negative health outcomes as well as a lack of support during crises. Because these determinants of health are multifactorial and span a variety of disciplines, the Lincoln Project aims to be the foundation of practical research that asks relevant questions about rural medicine, environments, and culture. The data collected in the Lincoln Project will be made available to researchers who wish to expand on our findings or conduct new projects with similar goals.
Ultimately, our vision is to introduce practical community-centered interventions that improve rural health. By viewing communities as the cornerstone of wellbeing, we believe we can produce long-term change that goes beyond local interventions. We hope our research can contribute to national policy decisions that inform community health across the United States.