A meadow at sunrise with red and blue flowers.

Working together to transform environments and conditions to assure health and well-being for all.

About the Center

Our Mission

Supporting community health and development through collaborative research and evaluation, teaching and training, and technical support and capacity building.

Recent Highlights

Barry Anderson

Program to reduce youth violence sees its first class of college graduates

ThrYve has supported hundreds of students through the program out of the KU Center for Community Health & Development and is based on decades of research on reducing youth violence. “Our best indicators of success are our young people,” Jomella Watson-Thompson, ThrYve director, said.
An illustration of people in a community against brightly colored city skyline

KU Center for Community Health & Development chosen to partner with Kauffman Foundation to improve economic mobility

The Life Span Institute's center will serve as third-party evaluator to support the Kauffman Foundation's Collective Impact Initiative and will provide a wide variety of educational and action support for staff and coalition partners.
ThrYve youth, staff, police chief, and mayor in a group photo in front of Thryve table at the peace walk luncheon

ThrYve Youth and Staff Participate in KCK PD's Community Peace Walk

Saturday, April 12th, 2025, ThrYve participated in the KCKPD's Annual Peace Walk. The community is celebrating how working together continues to reduce crime in our neighborhoods
Panelists at a Public Health After Dark event on March 27, 2025, from left, Dr. Jomella Watson-Thompson, Bill Dewitt, Stacy Simmons, and Dee Kinard.

Insights from the Public Health After Dark Event on Violence Prevention, featuring Dr. Jomella Watson-Thompson.

The Lawrence Public Library hosted the Public Health After Dark event on March 27th, 2025, during which experts shared important insights into violence prevention efforts in Douglas County.
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Services

The Center for Community Health and Development offers a variety of services to support the work of promoting community health and development.

Community Check Box Evaluation System

A web-based recording, measurement, and reporting tool for community work that helps practitioners document their community change efforts and share success stories with funders and other stakeholders.
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Evaluation

Our Center provides support and evaluation services for local, state, national, and international initiatives.
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Building Healthy Communities: Online Courses

Our comprehensive courses feature 16 self-contained instructional modules for developing practical skills in core areas of community health and development.
Diverse people holding electronic devices sitting up against a green wall.

Community Tool Box Training Curriculum

Our center has developed a training curriculum based on the Community Tool Box that outlines 16 competencies for promoting community health and development.
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Capacity Building Trainings

People taking action need skills in core areas including assessment, planning, advocacy, evaluation, and sustainability.
Young hands holding a seedling with dirt.

Community Health Assessment and Planning

Our center employs a multi-method, collaborative approach to assessing community needs and resources.
Change barometer.

Facilitation of Community Processes

Our experience includes small and large group facilitation, including coalition meetings, board retreats, town hall meetings/ listening sessions, focus groups, PhotoVoice initiatives, and collaborative community planning.
Row of whiteboards in a classroom, with sticky notes on them for things like "Access to Health Care" and "Mental Health Recognition and Treatment."

World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health and Development

African mother holding her child

World Health Organization Collaborating Centre

KU's WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health and Development received official designation by the World Health Organization in 2004. During these nearly 20 years, the Centre has worked to promote health and development with local and global partners.

About the WHO Centre

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Give to the Center for Community Health and Development
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Learn More About the Community Tool Box

The Community Tool Box is about empowering people with tools to change our world. Visit the Tool Box to discover thousands of pages of tips and tools for taking action on issues that matter.

About the Tool Box

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