Center for the Advancement of Healthcare for Everyone

Center for the Advancement of Healthcare for Everyone

Our Vision

CAHE envisions health, behavioral health, and long-term care systems that effectively meet the needs of all people and the elimination of social inequities that adversely impact health and well-being.

Our Mission

Aligning with one of the Grand Challenges for Social Work, to “close the health gap,” the Center for the Advancement of Healthcare for Everyone (CAHE) is a valued resource for community and academic partners interested in health equity research, training, and collaboration.

Our work seeks to improve the performance of and access to health, behavioral health, and long-term care systems that improve the health and quality of life of varied populations across the lifespan.

As part of our commitment to promoting health equity and access, CAHE’s work includes a focus on social determinants of health (SDOH). CAHE also mentors and educates tomorrow’s practitioners and researchers in health and behavioral health care systems.

Community collaboration, interdisciplinary/interprofessional partnerships, and the centering of the experiences of historically marginalized populations are vital to our efforts, ensuring that our research and programs are responsive to real world needs.

CAHE Leadership

CAHE projects

Dr. Carrie Wendel-Hummell

Direct Support Workforce Development

Direct Support Workers (DSWs), such as personal care attendants, home care aides, and direct support professionals, provide essential personal care, homemaking, and community engagement supports that help keep older adults and individuals with disabilities in their own homes. Dr. Carrie Wendel-Hummell is collaborating with the Life Span Institute, KU Medical Center, and community-based partners to develop trainings and design a career ladder for this workforce, through projects funded by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).

Health Access for Rural and Agricultural Populations

Cheryl Holmes is engaged in various projects focusing on health access and equity for populations living in rural areas and/or working in agriculture. These research, evaluation, and technical assistance efforts involve systems, community organizations, providers, and individuals at the local and national levels. Projects cover rural topics broadly as well as considerations for specific populations including farmworkers and refugees. Funding has been provided in part through various PCORI Engagement awards.
IHSP

Integrated Health Scholars Program

The Integrated Health Scholars Program at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare is a behavioral health workforce education and training program aimed at increasing the supply of social work professionals prepared to provide high-quality integrated healthcare in rural Kansas, particularly with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Launched in 2014, the program has provided over $3 million in scholarship support offering value-added interprofessional training and graduating 305 new MSWs employed throughout Kansas and beyond.

Enhancing SBIRT through Provider Workforce Development

SBIRT (Screening, Intervention and Referral to Treatment) is an evidence-based approach to talking with people about their substance use that includes engaging with individuals who use alcohol and other drugs at an increased level of risk about making a change. This project, led by Michelle Levy and Christina Boyd in partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies, is revising SBIRT training and resources (available at SBIRT.care) to reflect current guidelines and best practices. Funding for this project is provided by the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board with grant administration support from the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans.
Research project director Christina Boyd, left, talks with a simulated patient for a training video for SBIRT training.

More about Enhancing SBIRT

Enhancing SBIRT through Provider Workforce Development in Kansas prepares Kansas health care providers to have honest conversations with patients about risky drinking or drug use.

Enhancing SBIRT Project

Community Collaboration

The center emphasizes the value of community collaboration at all stages of research, from working with community partners to identify research questions that are important to them and designing data collection measures that meet community member needs to disseminating research results in ways that are accessible and useful to our communities.

“Our community partners keep us informed about pressing issues in our communities and help amplify the reach and impact of our efforts,” Dr. Carrie Wendel-Hummell said.

CAHE affiliates

Interested in being a CAHE affiliate member?
All scholars, in or outside of KU, whose work aligns with the CAHE mission and vision are invited to become affiliate members. Expectations include attending a semi-annual meeting and contributing to opportunities for collaboration and outreach.
CAHE Affiliate Member Application

Connect with CAHE

cahe@ku.edu