What's behind our name?

We are an innovative research center focused on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases in populations for whom social factors place them at increased risk for poor health or inadequate healthcare. Communities may be considered vulnerable because of a variety of factors, including poverty, limited language or literacy, recent immigration, homelessness, disability, racial or ethnic minority status, and many other factors. Multiple vulnerabilities may intersect to place a community at particular risk for poor health or inadequate healthcare. These same groups also demonstrate considerable strengths that can be harnessed to improve health.

At CVP, we believe that by understanding what makes some groups at greater risk for poor health and inadequate healthcare and using this understanding to target disease prevention, health promotion, and disease management strategies, we can achieve better health for all.