| Here are a few examples of ways that Family Social Science faculty partner with the community, contributing to the public good
Families and Democracy Project (Bill Doherty) - moves professionals into communities with new thinking and a new set of public skills for working on health, family, and social problems. The project brings together an understanding of family dynamics, democratic theory, community organizing, and community based participatory research. Based on the Public Work Model of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, the underlying model stresses the importance of civic engagement to strengthen family life, the need to transcend the traditional provider/consumer model of education, health care and professional service delivery, and a vision of families and communities creating public initiatives to change their world.
Family Caregiving Center (Wayne Caron) - improve dementia care by supporting family centered care through the entire course of the illness We dedicate efforts towards research, project innovation, training and outreach to increase our understanding of how to support family centered care.
NorthPoint Project (William Turner) - a research project commissioned by the NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center of Hennepin County examining evidence-based best practices for the health and mental health needs of African American, Latino, Hmong and American Indian families. Dr. Turner and his research staff are in the process of identifying and collecting into one volume many of the most important family and community level prevention and intervention programs that have proven efficacy for individuals and families of color. Many of these programs emphasize cultural specificity and appropriateness in their development and delivery. The research team has developed a sensitivity and understanding of the cultural needs of the community, and advocates the active engagement of community members at all levels of the research—from conceptualization to dissemination—including taking a more participatory, engaged approach.
Community-Campus Health Liaison (Sara Axtell) - promotes collaborations between community and university partners that involve authentic, equitable partnerships, and an exchange of skills, knowledge, and resources to solve community-identified problems in living. The position is supported by the Department of Family Social Science, the University of Minnesota Extension Service, and the Academic Health Center.
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