The rural population turnaround, rapid and largely unanticipated, has created a gap between the changed social and economic conditions in rural America and public policies and programs, which were formulated in response to 30 years of rural population decline. For several reasons, public policy has not yet responded to the population turnaround with new legislation and new programs. First, the rural turnaround is a relatively new phenomenon and raises issues that are not yet clearly understood. Second, the turnaround is not uniform or universal. Third, rural growth is seen as an indicator of a revitalized rural America, a positive view that complicates the political problems of developing rural policy. The rural population turnaround should be considered in the context of a comprehensive rural development policy concerned with the overall well-being of rural people including the provision of essential services in isolated and sparsely populated areas; the capacity of local institutions to anticipate, plan for, and adjust to change; and the coordination of federal, state, and local programs. Researchers can contribute to this goal by addressing questions relevant to rural policy and by learning to effectively communicate their findings to the policymakers. (JH)