Our mission: supporting community health and development through collaborative research and evaluation, teaching and training, and technical support and capacity building.
Since 2004, our center has been continually designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health and Development.
Recent Highlights:
KU Researchers Develop New Toolkit for Social Justice Action
The Justice Action Toolkit distills the helpful resources from the Community Tool Box for those seeking to create social change. Step-by-step guidance is provided for direct action techniques and effective advocacy, including registering voters, working with elected officials, organizing demonstrations, digital advocacy using social media, and taking action on systemic racism. Read more.
Dr. Jomella Watson-Thompson is the featured guest on American Public Square at Jewell's "Both Sides."
Dr. Watson-Thompson discusses Thryve, a community-level approach to preventing youth violence. Dr. Thompson is the principal investigator for Thryve, whose goal is to improve youth outcomes by coordinating community and system-level efforts to address risk and protection factors. Listen here.
Researchers Join with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health to Monitor and Evaluate COVID-19 Response
Our center is partnering with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health and other community organizations to evaluate the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CCHD team is leading systematic documentation of policy, systems, and environmental changes meant to combat the spread of coronavirus in the county. Read more.
KU Researchers Lead Effort to Monitor, Evaluate COVID-19 Response in 47 African Countries
The project — in partnership with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa — is led by the CCHD, a designated WHO Collaborating Centre since 2004. The monitoring system is designed to capture and communicate COVID-19 response activities, such as programs and policies related to infection-control and risk communication, to help eliminate transmission of the disease. Read more.
Development of the Coronavirus Response Tool Box
The center’s Community Tool Box team has compiled useful tools from authoritative sources, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Community Tool Box. Inspiring community stories are added each week. Please feel free to share links to your inspiring community stories of taking action. Learn more.