Mission
To enhance community capacity, strengthen collaborative approaches to problem-solving, and offer services that support healthy youth development in New Jersey using transdisciplinary, translational research.
Values
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- Translational Outcome Research: We conduct research and apply findings to real-world practices that benefit healthy child and youth development.
- Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity: Our work addresses interrelated social determinants of health that have disproportionately and negatively impacted people from historically marginalized communities to improve opportunities for everyone to live healthy lives. Our work is focused on historically under-resourced areas, with special attention to urban and rural communities.
- Community Engagement: We employ community-engaged research approaches that empower communities and effect change by democratizing knowledge through inclusive practices.
- Service. We offer high-quality, data-driven services to university and community stakeholders to help them achieve their programmatic and research goals, including high-impact, experiential learning opportunities that prepare university students for future success.
- Intersectionality. Transdisciplinary insights are essential for solving complex problems, as they allow us to see the world from different angles and draw on a wider range of knowledge and expertise. We also believe healthy youth development includes physical, social-emotional, and mental health.
Goals
To support New Jersey schools, community organizations, and stakeholders in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving programs that foster and improve children’s knowledge, skills, and behaviors in a holistic approach to child health.
