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

A woman holds her child outside a home marked with an eviction notice next to stacked cardboard boxes

Douglas County tenant survey explores intersections of income, housing and violence

KU project documents the experiences of 1,051 Douglas County tenants to help the community understand how the experiences of people facing housing insecurity.
Christina Holt and Belinda Flores speaking at the conference

Programs in Kansas Presented as a Model to Address Sexual Violence by Reducing Health Disparities

Christina Holt and Belinda Flores spoke at the National Sexual Assault Conference in San Francisco about efforts to reduce disparities and address social determinants of health.
Overhead shot of people gathered around a table on computers and other devices.

KU resource for community change expands to offer online courses

An online resource based at the University of Kansas and accessed by more than 6 million people annually has expanded to offer a group of online courses focused on leadership, communication, advocacy and much more. The courses are a part of the Community Tool Box, a project of the Center...

Jomella Watson-Thompson being interviewed for a Q&A.

'I am striving to help contribute to safe and supportive communities where all our young people are able to thrive'

University of Kansas faculty are striving to advance knowledge, interpret our world, solve problems, spark innovation, create beauty and catalyze imagination through their research, scholarship and creative activity. Through the “I Am Striving” series, we’ll learn more about what inspires KU researchers, as well as the goals and impact of...

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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.
Group of people gathered around a whiteboard.

Evaluation

Our Center provides support and evaluation services for local, state, national, and international initiatives.
Open road with hills and trees on either side.

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.
Stack of books with a green apple on top.

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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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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