History of the Iowa Rural Health Association

The Iowa Rural Health Association was established in 1993 through the efforts of the Office of Rural Health within the Iowa Department of Public Health's Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care. The Iowa Rural Health Association, (IRHA) was organized as an Iowa Nonprofit Corporation under 504A of the Iowa Code.

The last meeting of the initial Iowa Rural Health Association was in September of 1994. At that time, the organization had 109 individual members and 26 organizational members.

In 1997, the State Rural Health Association Assistance Program, funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy, provided grant dollars to revitalize the IRHA Board of Directors, increase the membership base, develop effective communication tools, sponsor an annual conference and educational seminar and to develop an advocacy plan.