The Hunter College
Center for Community and Urban Health (formerly the Hunter College
Center on AIDS, Drugs and Community Health) was founded in 1988 to
respond to the growing public health crises that were devastating
New York City’s low-income communities, especially AIDS (the
advanced stage of HIV infection) and problematic substance use. However,
many members of our client population, or their immediate family and/or
friends, have multiple co-occurring conditions, of which the above
are only two. In fact, in 2004, the New York City Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene published a policy paper, “Take
Care New York: A Policy for a Healthier New York City,”
which identified ten priority areas for health interventions. Therefore,
in 2005, the Center changed its name in order to reflect these health
realities, with the expectation that still other health conditions
are likely to emerge in the future as community concerns.
The Center works
with Hunter College faculty who conduct research that furthers the
health of our constituent communities; we also work with faculty from
other academic institutions and with community-based organizations
throughout the greater metropolitan area. The Center has longstanding
collaborative relationships with many New York City departments, and
has strong ties to numerous local, state and national research centers.
We are affiliated with the National Institute of Mental Health Consortium
of Researchers on Families and HIV, as well as with the New York City
Consortium of Research Centers whose focus is HIV. Center staff represent
a broad range of academic disciplines, and work closely with individuals from
many different backgrounds. As such, we are committed to assisting academic and
community-based researchers to develop scientifically sound, evidence-based
research, training and programs.
The Center is
a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
About
the Center