Recent CURA research projects in the areas of health, human, and social services have included studies of the medical needs of immigrant populations, disparities in healthcare delivery in North Minneapolis, shelter use among the homeless population in Hennepin County, social welfare safety nets for low-income workers, the availability and impact of affordable and healthy foods, sources of error in the child protection system, the health and social service needs of aging baby boomers, and the needs of children in newly poor families during the recent economic downturn.

Much of CURA’s work in human and social services is carried out by Professor Esther Wattenberg, who has a joint appointment with CURA and the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) in the School of Social Work.

CURA programs that support projects in the area of health, human, and social services include:

• Center for Community and Regional Research (Duluth)
• Community Assistantship Program (CAP)
• Faculty Interactive Research Program (FIRP)
• Fesler-Lampert Chair in Urban and Regional Affairs
• Hennepin-University Partnership (HUP)
• Kris Nelson Community-Based Research Program (Nelson Program)
• Resilient Communities Project (RCP)

CURA Contacts: Kathie Doty and Esther Wattenberg