In response to the growing need to provide health and social services to rural America, the conference addressed the political, economic, and social issues involved in providing appropriate health and social services to rural residents. A cadre of individuals from various disciplines presented alternatives and solutions to these issues. This document presents the proceedings of the conference, the issues addressed, and some of the major speeches given. Some of the papers deal with strategies of other countries in improving medical resources, the identification of the specific medical problems and needs of a rural community, and government financing of rural health care. Another paper gives the perspective of a rural resident on social welfare consumers, policymakers, and providers. Other papers deal with community development and health care, a case study of human service delivery in rural Tennessee, and rural community development as seen by a person who has served both as a rural county agricultural agent and a community action leader and director. In the paper titled "Reviewer's Notes", the contributions of a panel discussion on rural community organization and development are summarized and the inputs synthesized into a systems model. The final three paper present social service models, health service models, and a discussion on policy making and funding. (DS)