The College of Health and Public Service recently received $400,000 in funding from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to expand its Healthy Community Collaborative program to rural areas.

The program promotes collaboration between public and private sectors to increase access to much- needed services for people experiencing homelessness or mental illness, or who have co-occurring substance abuse or primary care health issues.

Subject matter experts in the public administration, rehabilitation and health services, and criminal justice departments will develop and implement a learning community. They also will provide consultation and training services for emergency personnel, clergy and other leaders in rural areas so they can develop their own programs for at-risk populations.

"Our college has extensive experience designing learning communities, and we aim to arm stakeholders with the tools they need to help prevent homelessness and criminal recidivism," says Abraham David Benavides, co-principal investigator and associate professor of public administration.