Community Health and Development
Research to improve the health of communities for the betterment of the individuals who live and work in them.
The communities around us greatly influence our long-term health and welfare. Through research and service, we seek to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve through collaborative and community-based participatory research, training, resources and services in areas as diverse as early childcare, juvenile justice, and community enrichment.
Research Highlights
Introducing Christina Holt
Christina Holt works to give people tools to change the world and to measure progress along the way. She specializes in capacity building for community change and improvement and supporting evaluation of community-based efforts.
News: Justice Action Toolkit
When protests erupted over ongoing systemic racism in spring 2020, entrepreneur David Dennis was reminded of the stories his mother had told him of the civil rights movement in the 60s. In a search for resources and answers, he discovered the Community Tool Box, a global resource developed at KU.
Community Health News
At the Life Span Institute, we improve the quality of people’s lives through research. Explore and share stories you’ll find here about our investigators, students and staff, and the outcomes of our research.
Community Health and Development News
Browse news and blog posts about our community health and development research.
Social stigma creates barriers to treatment for people with substance use disorders
Stigma associated with substance use can dehumanize people, increase shame and be a roadblock for those who might seek assistance or health care.
Life Span Institute research explores impact of adaptive exercise for people with disabilities
KU Life Span Institute researcher Lyndsie Koon is leading three pilot projects assessing the effectiveness of HIFT to improve various health outcomes, including fall risk, metabolic health, strength, flexibility, quality of life, psychosocial health and more.
Using KU Resource, Programs in Kansas Presented as a Model to Address Sexual Violence by Reducing Health Disparities
Presenters from Kansas and the University of Kansas shared how initiatives in the state are working to end sexual violence using a framework of support structures that include reducing disparities and addressing social determinants of health.
National study led by Life Span Institute researchers asks people with disabilities to share their experiences
People with disabilities are invited to participate in a national study based at the University of Kansas that aims to document their experiences with a variety of issues to understand the needs of underrepresented communities.
Community health researchers support program that aims to reduce family separation
The KU Center for Community Health and Development provided support for an initiative to prevent poverty-related issues that lead to family separation in Louisiana.
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 for Community Health and Development.
Pharmacy researcher develops intervention for metabolic diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart disease
Liqin Zhao, KU associate professor of pharmacology & toxicology and investigator at the Life Span Institute, has developed a treatment that could apply to heart disease, stroke and a host of other human diseases related to metabolism.
KU researcher awarded Defense Department funding to study eating disorders in active-duty military
A University of Kansas researcher who developed the first screening tool for eating disorders in veterans has been awarded a four-year, $4.2 million grant by the Department of Defense to address this condition in active-duty members of the military.
Cofrin Logan Center researcher featured guest on nutrition science YouTube channel
KU Life Span Institute investigator Tera Fazzino’s research on “hyperpalatable” foods caught the attention of YouTuber Chris MacAskill, who on March 25 featured her on his Plant Chompers channel.
Cofrin Logan bar lab plays host to SAPEC 'Barstander' intervention training session
The Cofrin Logan Center's bar lab plays host to SAPEC 'Barstander' training session to help students identify warning signs of escalating behavior, build their confidence as bystanders and to allow them to fail safely at trying out different intervention strategies.