Coming eVent CCeC grand Challenges for soCial Work: Close the health gaP

The next Grand Challenges for Social Work event will focus on the School’s work to help close the health gap. KU research project director Cheryl Holmes, MPA, whose work focuses on health disparities in rural and frontier areas and with engaging community members including migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, will be joined in this panel discussion by Elizabeth Reid of the Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund and Darrel Box of the Lafayette Regional Health Center.

“It is important for the KU School of Social Welfare to be engaged in addressing the Grand Challenges because it is well positioned to help convene multi-system partners who can recognize real world needs and discover practical solutions,” Holmes explains. For example, she says, “Our panel brings together seasoned partners involved with different aspects of rural healthcare. We will share our experiences and lessons learned about outreach, engagement and service delivery in rural communities.”

In partnership with key community partners, Holmes’ work is focused on rural research, policy and practice.

The discussion will include:

• Information from community-level perspectives and the benefits that can occur when multiple sectors come together.

• Insights about working in rural environments during COVID-19, with a particular emphasis on the needs, challenges and successes of working with essential employees, including migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

• Lessons learned from collaborative partnerships and ideas for engaging multiple perspectives to inform policy and research needs, including views from those who are often not at the decision-making table.