With the continuous and accelerated growth of our research projects, centers and programs, the Hallie Ford Center is experiencing rapid expansion and transformation.
Founded in 2008 with a generous donation from the Oregon philanthropist Hallie E. Ford, the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families fosters interdisciplinary collaboration with four research cores Early Childhood, Healthy Eating and Active Living, Youth and Young Adults, and Parenting and Family Life.
In alignment with our mission and beliefs, our efforts have allowed us to grow our research programs and projects in ways that benefit the children and families of Oregon and beyond.
Our points of pride include the NIH-funded children’s environmental health center (ASP3IRE), the Early Learning System Initiative (ELSI), the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC), the Family Policy Group, the BE Physically Active 2Day (BEPA 2.0), the Engaging the Next Latinx Youth for Change and Equity project, and projects focusing on children’s school success.
The Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families is a research center housed in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University.
Our work begins with passion and leads to life-changing results.
Oregon philanthropist Hallie E. Ford
In 2008, just before her passing at age 102, noted Oregon philanthropist Hallie E. Ford gave a gift of $8 million to provide for a building and an endowed director for the center; continuing her legacy of love, care and support for children and families.
Her gift was prompted by decades of successful research, teaching and outreach in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University.
Researchers in the Center take a holistic approach to studying preventive health for children and families including physical intellectual, emotional and social development across the lifespan. See Simple Life, Solid Values...Lasting Legacy (pdf)
Mission
The Hallie Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families promotes the development and wellbeing of children, youth and families by generating, translating and sharing research-based knowledge. The center advocates a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to research, training and outreach that has far-reaching consequences for Oregon and beyond.
The center embraces these foundational beliefs
- The early years are of fundamental importance for optimizing health and human development, and for ensuring a successful launch into adult life
- Families, broadly defined, provide the central foundation for healthy children and youth
- The culture and context of families is integral to their wellbeing
- Children and families form the basis for vibrant communities and economies
The center promotes healthy children, youth, and families by
- Conducting innovative and interdisciplinary human research, both basic and applied
- Translating and disseminating research findings for use by practitioners, policymakers, educators and the public
- Building the capacity for research across the college and university
- Enhancing the strengths of families, organizations and communities
The center is committed to
- Creating and evaluating programs and generating research that informs policy
- Developing advanced and novel research methods
- Training and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty
- Contributing to public health and human science professional development in communities
- Facilitating collaboration among members of multiple academic units at OSU and between OSU and other institutions
- Fostering collaborative relationships among stakeholders that serve children, youth and families
Updates and new opportunities November 2022
This seminar focuses on new grants, centers, and updates in the HFC. Leaders in the HFC will present updates about new projects and initiatives in promoting the health and well-being of children, youth, and families.
