Florida Family Network
Working in partnership with families.
Center on Better Health & Life for Undeserved Populations
The FSU Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations (BHL Center) focuses on developing and testing model higher education and community-based programs to address health disparities in underserved populations. The specific mission of the BHL Center is to help underserved populations have better health and life through transdisciplinary research and program development. The underserved is loosely defined as populations that may have been impacted by insufficient social and economic resources in their lives and, as a result, have barriers that impede delivery of services. Age, race/ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status and place of residence (urban/rural) often define those who may be underserved.
BHL Center Goals
-
Develop, implement and evaluate community-based programs to address health disparities in underserved populations;
-
Conduct research on health disparities and underserved populations that informs the program development process; and
-
Develop, implement and evaluate higher education programs to create a pool of educated and qualified graduates for the health professions who desire to work with underserved populations.
Penny Ralston, PhD
Professor, Dean Emeritus;
Director, Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations
A native of Indiana, Ralston received the B.S. degree from Ball State University and the M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. Her previous positions include professor, College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University and professor and head,Department of Consumer Studies,University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The author of over 60 refereed articles, abstracts, book chapters and reviews, Ralston's major scholarly work has focused on program development, including the development of community-based programs and higher education programs.
Research Interests
Community-based programs for older adults, health related outcomes, program development in higher education.
Contact Information
Phone: (850) 645-8110
Office Location: 2010 Levy Ave. Research Building B- Room 287
Office Hours: By appointment only
Fax: (850) 645-8109
Iris Young-Clark
Assistant Director
Contact Information
Phone: (850) 644-2835
Office Location: 288 Research Building B
Fax: (850) 645-8109