Current Projects - Center for Rural Health

In celebration of National Rural Health Day, recognized each year on the third Thursday of November, the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan, the Michigan Center for Rural Health (Michigan's State Office of Rural Health) and the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health partner and host the National Rural Health Day Essay Contest. The contest is open to high school seniors who reside AND attend school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, are college/university bound the following fall semester and intend to pursue a healthcare career in human medicine. 

On August 1, 2022, Upper Peninsula Workforce Innovation Network (U.P WIN) project partners learned they received a $1.4 million dollar grant over a three-year period from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. This collaborative effort will increase Upper Peninsula residents’ access to healthcare by expanding relevant workforce training, education and employment. Elise Bur, Director of the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health, is the Project Director. One of the central elements of U.P. WIN is to create stronger links between training programs and the health care entities that will ultimately employ or rely on these public health professionals.

Mission: To empower and unite Upper Peninsula Community Health Workers

Network Objectives:

• Make Connections
• Share Resources
• Discuss Challenges
• Brainstorm Solutions

You do not need a CHW certification to participate in the network!

Dates can be found at the link below.

Each year, March is Reading Month in Michigan is celebrated by the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health in partnership with the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan, Copper Shores Community Health Foundation and the Student Leadership Advisory Council of the Keweenaw (SLACK). This collaborative effort improves oral health literacy and educates close to 1,000 elementary students in communities across the Central and Western Upper Peninsula about life-long, best practices for developing and maintaining a healthy smile and mouth.

A camp dedicated to health education and health career exploration!

Who: Open to all fall 2026 high school freshmen & sophomores

When: Sunday, July 19th to Friday, July 24th     Where: NMU

What: Coordinated this year in partnership with the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, U.P. FHLC is a summer camp dedicated to health education and health career exploration for 9th and 10th graders across the U.P. The camp involves six immersive days of learning about various aspects of health, meeting health professionals, exploring simulation labs, visiting a local hospital, practicing hands-on techniques and getting a glimpse into health care careers.