Health is about more than health care. Where people live can have a profound influence on daily choices that can promote population health — or harm it. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) scientists work to improve and sustain community conditions that support health and equity.
At KPWHRI’s Center for Community Health and Evaluation (CCHE) we are working with foundations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to evaluate their community health improvement initiatives. A few examples:
CCHE serves as the evaluation partner for Kaiser Permanente Washington’s (KPWA) Community Health and Benefit program, providing evaluation and strategic support for a wide range of regional initiatives, including built environment improvements in the community, school-based health centers, and healthy eating/active living programming for teachers. Beyond CCHE, other KPWHRI researchers are exploring opportunities to improve population health by creating healthier communities. Among these efforts are:
Answering questions about what makes a healthy environment gives policymakers, urban planners, and others the information they need to create healthier communities in the future.
Chen R, Cheadle A, Johnson D, Duran B. US trends in receipt of appropriate diabetes clinical and self-care from 2001 to 2010 and racial/ethnic disparities in care. Diabetes Educ. 2014 Nov-Dec;40(6):756-66. doi: 10.1177/0145721714546721. Epub 2014 Aug 20. PubMed
Cromp D, Cheadle A, Solomon L, Maring P, Wong E, Reed KM. Kaiser Permanente's farmers' market program: description, impact, and lessons learned. J Agr Food Sys Comm Dev. 2012 2(2):29-36.
Ding D, Sallis JF, Kerr J, Lee S, Rosenberg DE. Neighborhood environment and physical activity among youth: a review. Am J Prev Med. 2011 Oct;41(4):442-55. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.06.036. PubMed
Drewnowski A, Rehm CD, Arterburn D. The geographic distribution of obesity by census tract among 59,767 insured adults in King County, WA. Int J Obes (Lond). 2014 Jun;38(6):833-9. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2013.179. Epub 2013 Sep 16. PubMed
Drewnowski A, Rehm CD, Moudon AV, Arterburn DE. The geography of diabetes by census tract in a large sample of insured adults in King County, Washington, 2005-2006. Prev Chronic Dis. 2014 Jul 24;11:E125. doi: 10.5888/pcd11.140135.
Allen Cheadle, PhDSenior Investigator, KPWHRI; Senior Research Associate, CCHE |
Clarissa Hsu, PhDAssociate Investigator |
Dori E. Rosenberg, PhD, MPHSenior Scientific Investigator |
Maricela Cruz, PhDAssistant Biostatistics Investigator |
Nicole M. Gatto, PhD, MPHPrincipal Collaborative Scientist |
Meagan C. Brown, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
Kimberly Arthur, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
David Grembowski, PhD
Professor, Health Services and Oral Health Sciences
University of Washington