This book examines the implications of rural residence for adolescents and families in the United States, addressing both the developmental and mental health difficulties they face. Special attention is given to the unique circumstances of minority families residing in rural areas and how these families navigate challenges as well as their sources of resilience. Chapters describe approaches for enhancing the well-being of rural minority youth and their families. In addition, chapters discuss the challenges of conducting research within rural populations and propose new frameworks for studying these diverse communities. Finally, the volume offers recommendations for reducing the barriers to health and positive development in rural settings.

Part I. Family Life and Work in Rural Communities.- Chapter 1. Rural Poverty: Research and Policy for U.S. Families.- Chapter 2. Changes in Work and Family Across the Rural United States.- Chapter 3. Employment and Wages in the Places Left Behind.- Part II. Economic and Health Challenges Facing Families in the Rural United States.- Chapter 4. Rural Job Loss to Offshoring and Automation.- Chapter 5. The Opioid Crisis in the Rural United States.- Chapter 6. Demographic Components of Aging in the Nonmetropolitan United States, 1980-2017.- Part III. Family Roles, Well-Being, and Development Pathways in Rural Areas.- Chapter 7. Rural African Americans' Family Relationships and Well-Being.- Chapter 8. Early Development and Family Life in Rural United States.- Chapter 9. Latino Prosocial Development in the Rural United States.- Chapter 10. Rural Families in the United States: Theory, Research and Policy.