Newly named Child Health Research Center to advance health of children, families

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Since 2004, the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development has developed evidence-based strategies to promote healthy growth and eating behaviors in children and families.

In recognition of the interconnectedness of children’s physical, mental and emotional health, the center has been reimagined — and has adopted the new name of the Child Health Research Center — to reflect a broader range of child health research initiatives. Building on its strong legacy, the center has expanded its mission and renewed its commitment to improving child health and well-being across all areas of child development in Pennsylvania, across the United States and globally.

The Child Health Research Center (CHRC) now serves as a dynamic hub that seeks to advance scientific knowledge and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions that promote the physical, mental and emotional health of children and families across a variety of domains. Its mission is to inform policy, practice and programming from early childhood through adolescence by addressing the complex biological, behavioral, social and environmental factors that shape child health outcomes.

Building connections

Connecting important research across maternal and child health, developmental science and social determinants of health can at times be difficult to influence solutions at scale. A key aim of the CHRC is to foster collaboration across disciplines to address complex challenges facing children and families today across these domains.

“We know that healthy children grow into healthy adults, and we also know that children’s well-being is shaped by many interconnected factors — from their families and communities to their nutrition, sleep, stress and more,” said Jennifer Savage Williams, professor of nutritional sciences who has directed the Center for Childhood Obesity Research since 2014 and who will continue to direct the newly named Child Health Research Center. “Moving our work beyond obesity prevention embraces a more holistic, collaborative approach to child health — one that mirrors the complexity of real life. This new name reflects our broader vision.”

Focusing on the health of all children

A leading motivation for this transformation is recognizing that optimal development depends on the interplay of physical, mental, emotional and social health, Savage Williams said. Rather than focusing solely on disease prevention, the CHRC will examine protective factors that promote resilience, family stability and positive developmental trajectories.

Efforts throughout the center will integrate expertise from multiple domains in the following focus areas:

• Child Health Behaviors: Researching nutrition, physical activity, sleep, self-regulation and behavioral health to support children's physical, emotional and cognitive health.
• Child Welfare, Support and Well-being: Exploring the social and structural determinants of health, child welfare, family support systems, and societal conditions that influence child safety and well-being.
• Children with Special Health Care Needs: Investigating the unique developmental, medical and support needs of children with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

A collaborative approach

The CHRC will take a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the complex, interconnected factors that shape child health, well-being and development by bringing together experts from across the College of Health and Human Development, the University and beyond.

The CHRC is actively seeking faculty members, researchers, practitioners, community partners and policymakers to join its mission. By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, the center aims to bridge any gaps in child health research and practice.

Supporting Penn State’s land grant mission is also a key goal for the center. The CHRC plans to collaborate closely with Penn State Extension to extend its reach into communities across Pennsylvania. Through Extension’s established networks and programs, the center aims to implement and evaluate interventions in real-world settings. This collaboration will help make measurable, lasting impacts on the health and well-being of children and families across the commonwealth.

Community-driven, research-focused

The center will continue to partner with community organizations and clinical providers associated with child health, including nutrition, maternal and child health, early childhood education, behavioral health, child disabilities, advocacy, youth protection and more.

“A critical component of the center’s activities is engagement with both the communities we serve and those who help us carry out this important work,” Savage Williams said. “Through these partnerships, we aim to produce rigorous, actionable science that addresses real-world challenges facing children and families.”

To keep its work grounded in the real needs and priorities of families and communities, the CHRC will also create a dedicated community advisory board to help guide the center’s efforts.

“This transformation represents our ongoing commitment as a college and University to improving the health and well-being of children and families,” said Craig J. Newschaffer, Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean of the College of Health and Human Development. “The reimagined center will place a strong emphasis on child safety and well-being, childhood disabilities, social determinants of health and health equity, ensuring that children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, geographic regions, and racial and ethnic communities have the best chance to thrive.”

Get involved

The Child Health Research Center is firmly committed to scientific excellence and real-world impact to ensure that every child has the chance to reach their full potential.

Investigators, collaborators and community stakeholders can get involved with the center to participate in its vision of improving the lives of children across the commonwealth and beyond in shaping a healthier future for the next generation, visit childhealth.psu.edu, email ChildHealth@psu.edu or fill out an interest form.