LAWRENCE – A new research center at the University of Kansas School of Social Work will enhance health-related research, training and collaboration. The Center for the Advancement of Health Equity (CAHE) works to improve health, behavioral health, and long-term care systems and promote health equity and access.
Four researchers from the Faculty of Social Welfare serve as founding directors of the center. Cheryl Holmes, Michelle Levy, Jason Matejkowski, and Carrie Wendel-Hummell have health-focused research and a history of working to advance health equity for disadvantaged populations.
CAHE’s work aims to improve the performance and access of health, behavioral health, and long-term care systems that improve the health and quality of life of diverse populations across the lifespan. Part of CAHE’s mission is a focus on the social determinants of health and a commitment to promoting health equity and access.
“The need to advance health equity research, training, and collaboration is as great as ever,” Matejkowski said. “Locally, regionally, and nationally, access to health and behavioral health care remains uneven and uneven. The Center will develop, implement, and evaluate innovative systems-level targeted care approaches. We aim to alleviate this problem by doing so.”
the study
The Center for the Advancement of Health Equity brings a social work perspective to research on health systems and health equity.
Current research projects associated with the center include training programs for social workers in integrated behavioral health; Vaccine education, outreach and engagement project. Training programs for direct service workers in home and community-based services.
CAHE brings the School of Social Work’s social and behavioral health expertise to inform and promote equity in practice, policy, research and development within the health and behavioral health care system.
“Although this center will seek research collaborators from multiple disciplines, there are also advantages to having the center in the Faculty of Social Work,” Professor Matejkowski said. This center provides an opportunity to enhance and strengthen this scholarship through more formal center-based collaboration. ”
training
The center aims to meet the growing demand for social workers in the health and behavioral health fields through training programs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social workers in health care, mental health, and substance abuse is expected to grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030.
The Integrated Health Scholars Program provides scholarships, training and career development support to approximately 30 students in KU’s clinical social work master’s degree program each year. Sponsored by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this program is poised to provide high-quality, comprehensive behavioral health services in rural and other highly developed areas. It aims to increase the supply of social work professionals. -We need communities in Kansas and western Missouri. More than 270 students have graduated from the program over the past 10 years.
The center’s founding director has also trained future social workers through the Graduate Research Assistantship and MSW Research Scholars programs.
collaboration
An important mission of this center is to strengthen opportunities for partnership and collaboration among health scholars in the KU School of Social Work.
The school has a history of interdisciplinary research and interprofessional collaboration. KU social work researchers work as principal investigators with KU research centers such as the KU Center for Public Partnerships Research, the Lifespan Institute, the Institute for Policy and Social Studies, and the KU Medical Center, in addition to external partners such as other universities and community partners. We are cooperating.
“The Center for the Advancement of Health Equity will immediately begin recruiting affiliates to join us in our mission to improve and increase access to the care system,” Matejkowski said. “This work is challenging and complex, so we want to collaborate with people from a variety of disciplines and professions who are committed to improving the health and quality of life of diverse populations.”
The Center works with community partners to identify research questions that matter to community members, design data collection instruments that meet the needs of community members, and disseminate research results in an accessible and useful manner. emphasizes the value of community cooperation. our community.
“Our community partners keep us informed about pressing issues in our communities and help us expand the reach and impact of our efforts,” said Wendell Hamel. .
Vision – Health Equity Promotion Center
The Center for the Advancement of Health Equity envisions systems of health, behavioral health, and long-term care that effectively meet the needs of all people and eliminate social inequalities that negatively impact health and well-being.
