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KU Work Group projects provide opportunities to learn and contribute with outstanding partners in three domains: a) Community and Public Health, b) Child/Youth Health and Development, and c) Community Development and Capacity Building. Some illustrative projects include:
* Latino Health for All Partnership (NIH/National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities)
The KU Work Group received a five year grant (2008-2012) to test a model to reduce health disparities in the Latino community of Kansas City. The mission of the LHFA Partnership is to reduce risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease among Latinos in Kansas City/Wyandotte County through a collaborative partnership to promote healthy nutrition, physical activity, and access to health services. This project uses community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to help understand and improve the partnership's change efforts. To learn more about the Latino Health for All Partnership, click here.
Kansas City Chronic Disease Coalition (CDC, REACH 2010)
KC-CDC's mission is to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular disease among the African American and Hispanic residents of Kansas City’s urban core through the implementation of new programs, policies and practices related to risk for chronic disease. The KU Work Group provided training, technical assistance, and evaluation supports for staff and partners throughout its operation from 2001-2008.
*STEPS to a Healthier Austin (SHA) (DHHS)
SHA is a collaborative effort between a local health department (City of Austin/Travis County, Texas) and multiple agencies and organizations to reduce diabetes, obesity, and asthma among residents of East Austin through the implementation of new programs, policies and practices related to risk for these three diseases. The KU Work Group has provided training, technical assistance, and evaluation supports for staff and partners since its inception in 2003.
*Prevention Infrastructure for the State of Kansas (SRS/AAPS)
The Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) Addiction and Prevention Services (AAPS), has engaged partners in developing an infrastructure to support state and local efforts to prevent substance abuse. The KU Work Group has provided participatory evaluation, documentation, and technical support for this ongoing effort since 1998.
*Testing the Community Change Model with Substance Abuse Coalitions (NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse)
The mission of the NIDA Coalition Project is to understand and improve the functioning of substance abuse coalitions through participatory research. This project (2007-2009) tests the effects of training and technical support on change efforts of participating substance abuse coalitions in the Midwest.
*Strategic Prevention Framework - State Incentive Grant to Reducte Underage Drinking in Kansas (SAMSHA/CSAP))
The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) is a community-focused approach to substance abuse prevention. The State of Kansas received a grant (2008-2013) to engage state and community partners in reducing underage drinking in Kansas communities. The KU Work Group has a grant to support and evaluate collaborative efforts and to reduce underage drinking at community and state levels.
*Collaborative Efforts to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (CDC)
This collaborative engages multiple states and communities in CDC-funded efforts to increase adult and community responsibility for the primary prevention of child sexual abuse. The KU Work Group provides training, technical assistance, and evaluation support to the state health departments (GA, MA, MN) participating in the collaborative.
*The ESCAPe Initiative to Prevent Child/Adolescent Violence (CDC)
This initiative involves state and community efforts to address environmental conditions contributing to child and adolescent violence. The KU Work Group provides training, technical assistance, and evaluation support to the participating state health departments (in CO and VA) and their community partners.
*The DELTA PREP Initiative to Prevent Domestic Violence (CDC Foundation)
DELTA PREP is a capacity-building project for state domestic violence coalitions not currently receiving CDC's DELTA funds. Selected DELTA PREP coalitions receive funding, training and support to enhance primary prevention efforts in their state. The KU Work Group provides online WorkStation solutions, as well as training and technical support to DELTA PREP grantees. In particular, the KU Work Group supports action planning and documentation efforts of the 22 state grantees.
School/Community Phase II Initiave to Prevent Adolescent Pregnancy (Kansas Health Foundation)
This project replicated a multicomponent adolescent pregnancy prevention approach by implementing locally-developed interventions in three Kansas communities. The KU Work Group provided technical support and participating evaluation services for this project. Technical assistance began with the grant application process and continued through project planning, implementation, evaluatoin, and institutionalization of interventions.
*The Community Tool Box (KU Work Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and other funding partners)
Our Community Tool Box (CTB), http://ctb.ku.edu/, is a free, capacity-building web site available to communities. The CTB is developed and maintained by the KU Work Group and other national and global partners. With over 7,000 pages of information (and growing), it includes training materials for key skill areas, real-life examples, and technical supports for problem solving. The CTB is the largest and most comprehensive resource of its kind in the world. The ultimate goal is to make the CTB available in all of the United Nations languages. Translation of the Tool Box into Spanish is nearly complete thanks to a recent grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
*Project Aim4Peace (City of Kansas City, Missouri)
AIM4PEACE is a comprehensive public health strategy designed to reduce violence by supporting people active in their community and by connecting residents to basic services. The misison of Aim4Peace is to increase the community's capacity to handle its own disputes and empower citizens through community mobilization to peacefully resolve their conflicts. The KU Work Group provides training, technical support and participatory evaluation services for this project. Check out the Aim4Peace website here.
*Communities in Schools of Kansas City, KS/Wyandotte County
Communities in Schools of KCK/Wyandotte County (formerly known as School Linked Services of Wyandotte County, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools to improve student performance. The KU Work Group provides training, technical support, and participatory evaluation. To learn more, click here.
*Kansas City Weed and Seed Site #117 (US Department of Justice)
Operation Weed and Seed is a multi-sector approach that aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods. The strategy involves working with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to "weed out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse; and "seed in" human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization. The KU Work Group provides training, technical support, and participatory evaluation services.
Community Building in the Heartland and Ivanhoe Neighborhood initiative (Kauffman Foundation)
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation selected three urban core areas (including the Ivanhoe Neighborhood) in the Kansas City metropolitan area to concentrate its efforts to foster holistic youth development through community-based action. The KU Work Group provided technical assistance and evaluation support to convene neighborhood leaders and organizations, support the development and implementation of strategic plan, support leadership development, and provide tools and assistance in the ongoing documentation and evaluation of the community change process in the neighborhood. The Ivanhoe Neighborhood Initiative was a particularly effective example of community action.
* Denotes current project.
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