CARE Celebrates 10 Years and a Transition with Southern Connecticut State University

On June 9, the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE) held its first fundraiser and celebrated its 10th anniversary with a live band, dancing, food and conversation among its many supporters. CARE was started in 2007 with the mission to improve the health of the residents of New Haven through community action research. Donaghue has been one of the many supporters of CARE with grant funding between 2008 and 2013 and support of its Big Food exhibit at the Peabody Museum in 2011.

One of CARE’s research accomplishments was a survey of more than 3,600 households in six low-income neighborhoods in New Haven. Local residents who were hired to conduct the survey asked about their health, diet, exercise, smoking and neighborhood safety. Community forums were held shortly after data collection was completed to report the survey results back to residents.

Currently, CARE is undergoing a three year transition to a partnership between Yale School of Public Health and the School of Health and Human Services at Southern Connecticut State University. During this time, the research component will be administered by Yale and will then be transferred to SCSU. CARE’s community activities are now directed by Alycia Santilli, MSW, CARE’s new Director at SCSU. Santilli served as the Deputy Director of CARE at Yale.

In considering this transition, Santilli said that “the opportunity to join forces between a community-focused state university and an elite private institution provides a powerful platform to contribute more substantively to improving health in New Haven. Building on our past decade of work, we’re excited about what the future holds for our community.”

Click Here to view the 2016 Annual Report and the initial issue of the Donaghue Journal