The mission of the Department of Community Health Systems (CHS) is to promote and sustain health in the community and workplace, with particular emphasis on culturally diverse and high-risk populations.

We are committed to improving health and health care for those served by community-based health care systems through educating culturally competent nurses, conducting research, and providing services in the community which address the health issues of those underserved by the traditional institution-based health care system.

CHS faculty research focuses on vulnerable populations and their communities as well as on health care systems and the workforce. Research conducted by CHS faculty aims to:

• advance knowledge and theory through research
• design and evaluate the organization, financing, and delivery of health care
• generate and test innovative professional educational models

Faculty research contributes to our understanding of the effect of disease or conditions on vulnerable populations including:

• homeless and disadvantaged people and communities
• persons with psychiatric disorders and issues of trauma and abuse
• high-risk infants and children
• workers at risk for or living with injury or disability
• individuals with chronic diseases like asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and HIV
• ethnic and immigrant minorities