Springfield’s Community Focus Report is moving into a new phase with support from the Ozarks Public Health Institute and a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health.
The institute, part of Missouri State University, received the $549,228 grant to expand the volunteer-led report.
The report will still identify red flags, or challenges, and blue flags, or strengths.
As part of the transition, the report will integrate a data network and online dashboard while offering MSU students, faculty and staff the ability to engage in research and other projects.
“The Community Focus Report has been an essential tool for community betterment,” said Brad Bodenhausen, vice president of community and global partnerships, in a Tuesday news release.
“OPHI’s involvement will provide support to community partners as we work together toward improvements. This type of community-engaged research is an important part of Missouri’s State public affairs mission.”
First published in 2004, the Community Focus Report was created take an honest, comprehensive look at Springfield’s strengths and challenges. The biennial report was last published in 2024.
Through the three-year grant, the report will become a full-time program at the Ozarks Public Health Institute, which will work with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks and others to take a collective impact approach to tackling longstanding challenges, while still celebrating the strengths of the region.
The institute is expected to expand the digital presence of the report, bolster research capabilities and continue to work with experts to publish the report every other year.
More:Here’s what the newest ‘blue ribbon, red flag’ report says about Springfield
The MSU Board of Governors created the institute in February 2001 with the aim of addressing public health issues across Missouri.
Through the institute, the report may be replicated in other parts of the state.
“Public health is what we do together as a society to ensure the conditions in which everyone can be healthy,” said Dalen Duitsman, director of the institute, in the release.
“Our goal is to provide a wealth of research and engagement opportunities for students, university staff and faculty as we work strategically across all sectors to ensure health and safety, improve quality of life and offer every person in the Springfield region the opportunity to thrive.”