Colleges form new institute to foster research and action on social issues

The UA has created an institute for children, youth, and families to promote collaborative research and action on issues impacting families and communities.

"There are a lot of people doing research across campus on issues important to children, youth and families. Eventually, we hope to bring some of those people together to share ideas," said Mari Wilhelm, associate professor of family and consumer resource s.

The colleges of agriculture, medicine, education, nursing and social and behavioral sciences all will contribute to the research efforts.

Operating under the unofficial banner of the institute, faculty have applied for major grants, and assessment work has been done on public programs, said Eugene Sander, dean of Agriculture College.

"We'll really be in gear around the beginning of the fall semester. Hopefully faculty will come together and some new core courses can be developed," Sander said.

The institute will incorporate several community programs that are already underway.

They include externally funded programs, such as "Postponing Sexual Involvement," a teen pregnancy prevention program in public schools and "The Arizona Agenda," a community action approach to youth at risk.

The institute will be housed in the College of Agriculture, and through its Cooperative Extension offices, will be spread throughout the state.

Cooperative Extension has offices in each county and on four Indian reservations.

As a land-grant school, the UA has traditionally spread such programs through the Agriculture College, which also houses the department of family studies.

"Agriculture is a very stereotyped name. In the College of Agriculture, only about 20 percent of what we do has to do with production agriculture," Sander said.

No new positions will be needed to staff the institute because about 40 faculty and professional staff have already indicated their intention to participate.

The institute will also have a graduate program supported by a reallocation of Agriculture College funds. However, the majority of institute programs will be funded by external sources.

"We're going to be a very, very successful institute. When you bring the power of a major university to the problems of today's families, there will be success," Sander said.

The Arizona Board of Regents approved the institute at its May 30 meeting.