community engagement

Dr. Andrew Case

September 28, 2018 by Andrew Case
department: Psychological Science

Andrew CaseAssistant Professor
Department of Psychological Science

My work focuses broadly on issues of equity related to race and ethnicity. [read more=’Read more’ less=’Read less’] Through basic and applied research, I seek to: (a) identify the causes of health disparities as well as other racial disparities in r life outcomes; and, (b) support community-driven strategies that reduce these disparities. One line of my current research is focused on examining community and societal risk factors (e.g., poverty and discrimination) that underlie the disproportionate disease burden experienced by African Americans in reference to cardiovascular disease. A second line of my research utilizes ethnographic and community-based participatory research to address factors within organizations and communities that underlie racial disparities in health and life outcomes. Current investigations focus on empowerment as an anti-poverty strategy and empowering counterspaces as a means reducing juvenile offending and incarceration among racial minority youth.
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For more information: Faculty Connections > Dr. Andrew Case

keywords: community engagementcommunity healthcommunity-based participatory researchhealth disparitiesrace and socioeconomic status

Dr. Jim Cook

September 28, 2018 by Jim Cook
department: Psychological Science

Jim CookProfessor
Department of Psychological Science

My area of research is community psychology, which focuses on changing systems and settings to better meet the needs of individuals and families. [read more=’Read more’ less=’Read less’] With a strong emphasis on community-based participatory research (CBPR), my faculty and student colleagues and I work with community groups as partners. We work together to develop research questions, collect data, and use the knowledge gained to improve the community. Examples of current partnerships (with Ryan Kilmer) include: evaluation of a major children’s mental health initiative; evaluation of family support programs within both mental health and child protective services (CPS); pilot efforts to improve social workers’ ability to identify and meet the mental health needs of youth in CPS; evaluating efforts to increase school readiness and skills for young children. Through working with these programs to evaluate their impact, we help them improve their ability to help children and families.
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keywords: community engagementcommunity healthcommunity-based participatory researchmental health

Dr. Ryan Kilmer

September 28, 2018 by Ryan Kilmer
department: Psychological Science

Ryan KilmerProfessor
Department of Psychological Science

A child clinical-community psychologist, my interests center around children and families and: (a) factors influencing the development of children at-risk for emotional, behavioral, and/or academic difficulties, particularly risk and resilience and youngsters’ adjustment to trauma; and (b) the use of evaluation research to guide system change, program refinement, service delivery, and policy. [read more=’Read more’ less=’Read less’] One recent effort involved a multi-year partnership with our local school system’s pre-kindergarten program and office of research, analytics, and evaluation. We worked to increase their capacity to collect, manage, and use data to better support teacher coaching, teacher differentiated instruction, teacher curricula implementation, and research capacity.
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keywords: behavioral healthclinical researchcommunity engagementcommunity healthcommunity-based participatory researchhealth policy

Dr. Nicole Peterson

September 28, 2018 by Nicole Peterson
department: Anthropology

Associate Professor

Photo of Nicole Peterson

Dr. Nicole Peterson

Department of Anthropology

I am a sociocultural, environmental, and applied anthropologist who works at the intersection of culture and food. [read more=’Read more’ less=’Read less’] I have examined how fishing communities adapt to changing economic, environmental, and political contexts in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, how agriculturalists in Ethiopia adapt to changing climates, and how and why Charlotteans experience food insecurity. I have collaborated with a variety of organizations on these projects as a way to ensure the research questions and outcomes are relevant for policies of non-profit organizations, government agencies, and research participants. My undergraduate and graduate students are also collaborators on the long-term research project on Charlotte food systems through class projects, internships, and thesis research.
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keywords: community engagementcommunity-based participatory researchfood justice

Dr. Victoria Scott

September 28, 2018 by Victoria Scott
department: Psychological Science

Victoria scottAssistant Professor
Department of Psychological Science

I am an applied, interdisciplinary social scientist with background and formal training in community psychology, clinical psychology, and business administration. [read more=’Read more’ less=’Read less’] My research focuses on systems-level (organizational and community) improvement, primarily in health and human service organizations. Fostering collective wellness – that is, the health and well-being of individuals and their communities – rests at the heart of my commitment and contributions as a professional. As a faculty member in the Health Psychology Doctoral program, I concentrate on how systems and settings can be improved to promote health as a key aspect of wellness. For example, how can sectors of a community work together to increase access to preventive healthcare? Or, how can a healthcare system change its organizational culture to facilitate healthier employee behaviors? To better understand and advance collective wellness, I engage in evaluation, interdisciplinary approaches, and cross-sector collaborations. With a commitment toward bridging the gap between research and practice, my colleagues and I are continuously working to bring the fruits of our research into the hands of practitioners.
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keywords: behavioral healthclinicalcommunity engagementcommunity healthcross-sector collaborationhealth systems and organizations

Dr. Heather Smith

September 28, 2018 by Heather Smith
department: Geography and Earth Sciences

Heather SmithProfessor
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences

I am a founding member of the Mecklenburg Partnership for Primary care Research (MAPPR) and collaborate closely with Dr. Michael Dulin (CHHS).[read more=’Read more’ less=’Read less’] MAPPR seeks solutions that eliminate barriers to primary care access for Hispanic immigrants and improves overall health and well-being. The MAPPR research group has received support from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Charlotte Research Institute.
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keywords: community engagementcommunity healthplace and healthrace and ethnicity

Dr. Janni Sorensen

September 28, 2018 by Janni Sorensen
department: Geography and Earth Sciences

Janni SorensonAssistant Professor
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences

I am collaborating with Dr. Mark Dehaven (College of Health and Human Services, CHHS) on efforts that link neighborhood planning, community development and health (see http://arches.uncc.edu/ucity-family-zone ), a proposal is in preparation to seek external funding from Center City Partners.[read more=’Read more’ less=’Read less’] I am also working closely with Dr. Beth Racine, CHHS on securing funding for a research project on childhood obesity specifically focusing on community interventions (focused on Downtown Concord, NC) and the built environment leading to knowledge that will inform medical practitioners as they advise families on issues around obesity in children. A new NIH proposal is in discussion.
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For more information: Faculty Connections > Dr. Janni Sorensen

keywords: community engagementcommunity healthplace and healthrace and gender