April 09, 2012

CRHSSD hosting open house on April 16

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development (CRHSSD) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting an open house on April 16 to highlight its many outreach programs and services while also promoting innovative campus and community partnerships.

The event is set for 3-5 p.m. at the center, located in the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center at 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road in Carbondale.

“We especially want to reach out to the campus community in an effort to network and share mutual opportunities for research and other projects.  The CRHSSD is the perfect platform for faculty research projects involving community partners and regional collaborative networks,” said Kim Sanders, director of CRHSSD.  

The mission of the center is strengthening the region’s rural health infrastructure and promoting opportunities to enhance public health.  The center strives to serve the surrounding communities as a resource center, providing information and professional services to health care professionals, agencies and governmental entities as well as to collaborative partners. 

Sanders said the center accomplishes its goal of being a resource impacting the lives and productivity of citizens by stimulating and conducting cooperative research efforts, developing alternative service delivery systems, coordinating and conducting program demonstrations, recommending alternative policies and coordinating and conducting continuing education activities for the regional health and social service workforce.  CRHSSD staff focuses on grant and project development, research and evaluation, and training and curriculum development.

“Through a highly successful track record of both external funding and impact of projects, CRHSSD continues to position itself as a link between SIU Carbondale faculty resources and the region.  By utilizing its stable framework, successful grant management experience and rural expertise, CRHSSD advances research and development activities that have a mutually beneficial outcome for the University and the Southern Illinois region,” Sanders said. 

The center’s goals for this year include further building its capacity as a research center with increased expertise in rural issues and community engagement activities.  In addition, they also hope to increase the center’s presence in the University and community as more people become aware of the center and its mission and activities. 

For more information about CRHSSD, visit the website at http://crhssd.siu.edu, call 618/453-1264 or email ksanders@rural.siu.edu.