The following is a summary of programs and activities in which the Chandler Center has recently been involved:

The Center helped design a community-based model for dealing with the problem of infant mortality in Umatilla and Jefferson counties, two of four Oregon counties identified as having elevated infant mortality rates. The two counties accepted a federal pilot project -- Community Action to Reduce Infant Mortality, or CAIRM -- aimed at strengthening community infrastructures and systems to reduce infant mortality. CAIRM has involved a yearlong series of interviews, forums and strategy sessions in which a broad spectrum of individuals, organizations and agencies involved with infant health and wellbeing took part. Using the model designed by the Center, which incorporated medical, social and community development research, the communities developed and are implementing expanded services aimed at reducing infant mortality, with a focus on prevention responsibilities, better coordination of existing services and greater diversity of services. The strategy includes "non-traditional" health resources as well as standard "western" medical approaches.

For several years the Center has been involved with STRIDE, a community action program developed by Albany, Oregon, to deal with issues confronting local citizens, businesses, organizations and families. The Center provided technology for developing an overall leadership plan, the focus on issue areas, and the methods for diverse groups, organizations and individuals to join forces for a common good.

Over the past two years the Center has trained 33 Montana leaders in the ideology and processes of community action planning. This has resulted in completing the first Community Action Plans in Glasgow and Absorkee, Montana. More than 400 adults and youths got together to develop positive courses of action for the two communities, dealing with such issues as public safety, quality education, reducing drug and alcohol use and increasing family activities. The Center will continue to provide assistance with key leaders in these communities.

Over the past four years, Center staff have been involved with the National Collaboration Network, a group of 11 university-based researchers and practitioners who study and develop community and system collaboration tools and processes. The Center has used these techniques in working with more than 45 communities in Oregon and other states to either expand existing collaborative efforts or develop new ones. For example: o     The Oregon Youth Initiative has been launched. This collaboration involves the Association of Oregon Counties, the League of Oregon Cities and Oregon school administrators in an effort to define community-based practices, policies and procedures that will enable each organization to better serve children and their families. o     Lutheran Family Service of Oregon and Washington has begun implementing a long-range plan to improve service at the community level by collaborating with communities and other organizations.