Health & Community Development: Research Factsheets

The Institute for Comprehensive Community Development has created a series of factsheets that provide an overview of what academic researchers have learned about important issues for health and health care in low-income communities.

These accessible, two-page PDFs are designed to provide local organizations the best evidence of what works well to improve the health of residents. When new initiatives are being considered or expanding, the research overviews can be used to build support by laying out the facts in a clear, documented way.

Health Concerns in Low-Income Communities

Residents in low-income communities are more likely to suffer from diseases such as cancer and diabetes, more likely to be obese, less likely to access preventative health care, and less likely to have access to healthy food.

Physical Activity for Youth

Community organizations can help promote children’s regular exercise by encouraging walking and biking to school, improving local schoolyards and ensuring that school playgrounds are open for use after the school day is done.

Community Health Centers

Community Health Centers have proven to provide primary health care in low-income communities in a cost-effective way.

Access to Healthy Foods

Research shows that increasing access to healthy food—through local grocery stores, corner markets, farmer’s markets and other food vendors—can help improve health.

Community Health Workers

Researchers have found that community health workers increase access to primary care, effective prevention and management of chronic health conditions.