Center for High Risk Children and Youth

Overview

The School of Nursing has a long history of research related to vulnerable children and youth, progressing to the establishment of the Center for High-Risk Children and Youth in 1999. The main focus of this center is to develop and test theoretically-based interventions to enhance health outcomes in chronically-ill and high-risk children and adolescents.

The Center provides pivotal linkages between faculty researchers, nurses, physicians, and other health care providers, and the community to foster partnerships around common research interests.

Center activities include federally funded research projects, study programs, and a range of services to advance research on preventing and managing chronic illness in vulnerable people.

Objective

Estimates are that 20 to 25 percent of children have at least one physical chronic illness, while 20% live at or below poverty guidelines. In addition, psychosocial morbidities (e.g., substance abuse, violence, mental health disorders, sexual activity) are on the rise in children and adolescents. As a result, one of the most pressing national priorities facing health care providers today is to improve outcomes for these high-risk populations. If the health and development of these vulnerable children are enhanced, there is increased likelihood that their adult years will be accompanied by increased rates of economic and personal independence, lower rates of chronic illnesses, lower costs of health care and social services, and improved well-being as parents.

Areas of Emphasis

• Children and youth with chronic illness and disabilities

• Children and youth living under difficult social circumstances

• Children and youth at risk for mental health problems/psychosocial morbidities.

Achievements

• The high caliber of research conducted through the Center for High-Risk Children and Youth has been affirmed by the increasing level of federal and private grants our researchers receive.