News from rural America.

Telehealth is a lifesaver for aging populations in rural Texas, but experts say it shouldn't replace in-person care, South Dakota's ag university sees more students majoring in rangeland management, and Maine improves kids' success by embracing rural community schools.

TRANSCRIPT

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, this is the news from rural America.

Telehealth offers an alternate medical pathway, but experts say it should supplement, not replace, human care.

Susanna Brown reports on one rural West Texas clinic finding that balance.

Expanding telehealth for aging populations requires reliable broadband, digital literacy, and trusted community health workers, like Carol Brewer.

The Davis Mountain Clinic opened in a converted shipping container last October with Brewer as its director and nurse, who helps patients navigate telehealth appointments.

The advantage is when they come here to see the doctor, I manage the technology on my end.

They don't have to deal with that at all.

Brewer says the hands-on model supports the rural population, using strong internet connectivity to access distant specialists who might be out of reach otherwise.

I think it's a great model for other rural communities.

The physicians, they're very supportive and they're wanting to help in the community.

I'm Susanna Brown.

The world needs scientists to track changes in the natural landscape, and that's drawing South Dakota college students into rangeland management.

The vast open grasslands across the Upper Plains are among North America's most imperiled ecosystems.

South Dakota State University professor Sandy Smart says students are working with partners to advance practices that improve land resiliency.

It's kind of a nice degree because you don't have a lot of competition and you can find work.

But if you don't really know about it yet, it's kind of hard to find.

SDSU is one of only 14 schools accredited by the Society for Range Management.

But Smart says it's becoming a more sought-after degree, maybe because younger generations want a career outside the digital realm.

Getting out in nature, I think that's something that's missing, and I think you've got to put the phone down and just go outside.

Rangelands cover more than 50 percent of the Earth's land surface.

Researchers say community schools that adopt a whole-child approach improve attendance and academic performance.

Schools in rural Maine are offering students and families access to food and clothing pantries, dental and mental health services, and even child care.

Anne Hanna is a community school specialist with the state's Department of Education.

We really believe that children can learn and thrive when their full sets of needs are met, and so we need to think about how to provide more of those services within the school.

Hanna says it's removing barriers to learning, connecting students to their neighborhoods, and exposing them to possible careers.

Six main community schools use the whole child model, with another two in development.

Partners in what she calls a hyper-local strategy include businesses, faith-based organizations, and local colleges.

There are people out there who want to help, so you find the partners and you work with them, and it's a really powerful way to make a difference.

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, I'm Roz Brown.

For more rural stories, visit dailyyonder.com.