Strategic Priorities
Climate Change, Environmental Health and Justice
A rapidly changing climate has disproportionately threatened communities that
are already experiencing social, health and environmental injustices, shaped by centuries of inequitable social systems. Unsustainable practices, overexploitation of resources and rapid urbanization have put entire ecosystems and communities at risk. Food security in much of the developing world is threatened. Climate refugees are crossing borders to find habitable land. Devastating natural disasters are happening with more frequency.
We must prepare the next generation of social work, public health and social policy professionals to deal with the consequences of climate change—particularly as it affects the most vulnerable—and work toward environmental justice.
Progress Reports
Progress Report 2022
A core team consisting of Reis, Ianotti, and Lesorogol are working to develop data collection techniques for metrics, as well as establish priorities, and identify next steps. Recently, a student was hired to help with a curriculum and research landscape analysis.
A priority and an early win for the Environmental Health area is the open cluster hire for a new faculty member with expertise in climate change, and environmental health and justice, particularly with an emphasis on underrepresented communities. This position is currently posted and the Personnel Advisory Committee is working to fill it this academic year.
Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Integrate climate & sustainability, environmental health, and environmental justice (CSEHEJ) through all the Brown School’s research and partnership strategies.
Objectives:
- Establish partnerships with private and public sectors to develop pipelines of opportunities for meaningful action to advance the work on climate change, environmental health, and environmental justice.
- Establish sustainable partnerships between Brown and other WASHU disciplines and units to advance education, research, and community/policy impact opportunities on CSEHEJ.
Goal 2: Build a cohesive transdisciplinary educational approach for climate & sustainability, environmental health and environmental justice (CSEHEJ) across all Brown School programs.
Objectives:
- Establish partnerships with private and public sectors to develop pipelines of opportunities for meaningful action to advance the work on climate change, environmental health, and environmental justice.
- Establish sustainable partnerships between Brown and other WASHU disciplines and units to advance education, research, and community/policy impact opportunities on CSEHEJ.
Goal 3: Enhance Brown School research capacity and infrastructure on CSEHEJ.
Objectives:
- Enhance faculty and staff expertise and leadership on CSEHEJ.
- Enhance research infrastructure on CSEHEJ.
Goal 4: Disseminate Brown School CSEHEJ contributions to research, policy, and practice.
Objectives:
- Develop a communication strategy to raise awareness about the professional and academic contributions of Brown school’s programs to CSEHEJ.
- Expand access of Brown School CSEHEJ resources and opportunities to the greater St. Louis regional community.
Goal 5: Enhance Brown School policy impact capacity on CSEHEJ.
Objectives:
- Enhance CSEHEJ policy impact infrastructure and opportunities for faculty, staff and students.
“The places and spaces we live have a lasting effect in all aspects of our lives. We need to ensure that health policies and strategies shaping the environments in our communities are informed by the best available evidence to promote equitable, sustainable and healthy living conditions.”
–RODRIGO REIS, PROFESSOR
Brown School Releases Progress Updates on its Strategic Plan
Driving Equity 2030, the Brown School’s 10-year strategic plan, is only a little more than a year old, but it’s already making early progress, according to updates from the plan’s leaders. The progress report takes stock of early achievements in the plan’s four core commitments and four strategic priorities.
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