On the Road to Thriving Rural Communities
Past Institutes Recollection: 49th Annual Institute – Hays, Kansas (2024)
Dr. Tim Davis, Chair of the Social Work Dept. at Fort Hays State University, reflects on hosting the 49th Annual National Institute on Social Work & Human Services in Rural Areas.
With attendees from across the U.S.—and even as far as Pakistan—the 2024 conference theme centered on building thriving rural communities. Sessions featured a unique mix of research, practice, and policy, including a panel of Kansas legislators and a presentation on bipartisan rural revitalization efforts by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.
For Dr. Davis, the rural conference offers something rare: an intersection of academic insight, real-world practice, and deep community. It’s also a family tradition—with cross-country road trips and visits to towns most conferences skip.