Building partnerships for children’s health

June 29, 2015

The UNT Health Science Center School of Public Health and Texas Prevention Institute took their third “Research Schmooze” out to the community when they recently partnered with the Cook Children’s Center for Children’s Health for a networking event.

The purpose was to network on topics impacting early childhood development, mental health, obesity/healthy lifestyle, oncology and environmental exposures on children’s asthma.

Thirty-two participants joined in table-topic discussions, generating ideas for joint projects and research collaborations.

“The Research Schmooze was a great opportunity for bringing UNTHSC together with Cook Children’s to address some of the highest-priority children’s health issues in our community today,” said Center for Children’s Health Senior Vice President Larry Tubb. “The Center’s goal is to create collaborations that will allow us to make North Texas one of the healthiest places to raise a child, and partnerships with organizations like UNTHSC are key to helping reach that goal.”

With data collected and analyzed by UNTHSC research teams, the Cook Children’s Health Care System presented Community-wide Children’s Health Assessment & Planning Surveys (CCHAPS) in 2008 and 2012 to identify specific health issues affecting children in the local six-county area.

Tarrant, Wise, Parker, Johnson, Hood and Denton counties were studied. A “Share One Thing” online discussion board was also developed, inviting community members to join in and offer their own ideas for improving children’s health.

“After two successful, internal Schmooze events that brought our own faculty and researchers together, it seemed like a natural next step to move out into the community to explore important local issues with partners like Cook Children’s,” said UNTHSC Research Manager Robyn Remotigue, CRA.