Newly named Child Health Research Center to advance health of children, families

A collaborative approach

The CHRC will take a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the complex, interconnected factors that shape child health, well-being and development by bringing together experts from across the College of Health and Human Development, the University and beyond.

The CHRC is actively seeking faculty members, researchers, practitioners, community partners and policymakers to join its mission. By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, the center aims to bridge any gaps in child health research and practice.

Supporting Penn State’s land grant mission is also a key goal for the center. The CHRC plans to collaborate closely with Penn State Extension to extend its reach into communities across Pennsylvania. Through Extension’s established networks and programs, the center aims to implement and evaluate interventions in real-world settings. This collaboration will help make measurable, lasting impacts on the health and well-being of children and families across the commonwealth.

Community-driven, research-focused

The center will continue to partner with community organizations and clinical providers associated with child health, including nutrition, maternal and child health, early childhood education, behavioral health, child disabilities, advocacy, youth protection and more.

“A critical component of the center’s activities is engagement with both the communities we serve and those who help us carry out this important work,” Savage Williams said. “Through these partnerships, we aim to produce rigorous, actionable science that addresses real-world challenges facing children and families.”

To keep its work grounded in the real needs and priorities of families and communities, the CHRC will also create a dedicated community advisory board to help guide the center’s efforts.

“This transformation represents our ongoing commitment as a college and University to improving the health and well-being of children and families,” said Craig J. Newschaffer, Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean of the College of Health and Human Development. “The reimagined center will place a strong emphasis on child safety and well-being, childhood disabilities, social determinants of health and health equity, ensuring that children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, geographic regions, and racial and ethnic communities have the best chance to thrive.”

Get involved

The Child Health Research Center is firmly committed to scientific excellence and real-world impact to ensure that every child has the chance to reach their full potential.

Investigators, collaborators and community stakeholders can get involved with the center to participate in its vision of improving the lives of children across the commonwealth and beyond in shaping a healthier future for the next generation, visit childhealth.psu.edu, email [email protected] or fill out an interest form.