With expertise in collaborative problem solving based on multi-system approaches, the Center for Health, Justice, and Equity is driven to improve individual and public health, welfare, and safety. Enhancing public safety and replacing ineffective and inequitable practices in the criminal justice system are essential to the goal of achieving safety and well-being for everyone. Our inclusive approach, embracing communities of color as well as input from those those in law enforcement, emphasizes racial and social equity as vital to maximizing public safety and eliminating health disparities.
The Center addresses systemic factors through collaborative, inclusive, and engaged community processes to identify relevant factors and potential solutions. CHJE processes are designed to align community perspectives and experiences with evidence-based and research-informed practices. Our goal is to identify current, as well as to develop new, strategies, policies, programs, trainings, technical assistance, and data-driven processes to help leadership at all levels to bring about real change in their organizations and communities.
Now is a critical time for proactive leadership and empirical approaches to help realize fairness in health and justice systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed deep cracks in our health and social systems. To address these multi-faceted challenges, CHJE's work includes:
Advance research and evidence-based practices to promote healthy communities and equity outcomes,
- Build leadership that will result in democratically-arrived solutions with broad ownership and accountability to drive and shape lasting change,
- Fill the need for local governments and justice/law enforcement/public safety agencies to have practical solutions grounded in evidence,
- Develop public health and safety research, tools, and methodologies,
- Provide training and technical assistance to staeholders seeking solutions to public health and public safety issues.
- Evaluate the quantitative and qualitative impact of these collaborative efforts.
With strong partners, collaborators, and outreach, we use community engagement, leadership development, and research to implement sustainable changes. Our approach involves the following critical approaches:
- Facilitation and consensus building
- Strategic planning
- Program development and implementation
- Training and technical assistance
- Research and evaluation
- Economic impact and comparative cost analysis
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation's Center for Health, Justice, and Equity includes an interdisciplinary research team of scientists and practitioners. PIRE Staff members collaborate with public health officials, law enforcement and justice agencies, universities, and other organizations from the private, public, and non-profit sectors to research, evaluate, and disseminate initiatives, programs, and resources that promote equity and sustainable efforts.
Affiliates
Strategic Applications International (SAI) offers a deep understanding of different models to successfully facilitate community-wide efforts to build consensus around informed solutions to shared problems and concerns. The collaborative effort can be focused through an ad hoc task force or working group or a summit extending over two days that involves hundreds of stakeholders. The effort can involve a much broader and longer-term practice like community assemblies or inquiry journeys. Whatever the chosen method, the intent is to arrive at democratic solutions with broad ownership and accountability for implementation. SAI's leaders have an aggregate of 165 years' experience at the highest levels of government and non-profit agencies.
