The Applied Research Center.

The vision of the Applied Research Center is to collaborate with community based organizations to promote effective program services through the use of scientifically sound program evaluation partnerships, developing external funding opportunities, publications in scholarly journals and presentations at local, state and national conferences.

The mission of the Applied Research Center is to provide Tulsa and Northeast Oklahoma with the premier external research support services necessary to promote community agency effectiveness.

During 2005 the Center's major partners included:

• Domestic Violence Intervention Service - studing factors predicting success among batterers attending group treatment program.
• Hospice of Green Country - studying he impact of hospice on caregiver quality of life.
• The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges - assessing the impact of The Center on both primary caregiver and member quality of life.
• Tulsa Advocates for the Rights of Citizens with Development Disabilities - evaluation of volunteer programs (grant Funded).
• Choctaw Nation - evaluation of knowledge and physical education for educating children on obesity and diabetes (grant Funded).
• Tulsa Public Schools - evaluation of a leadership mentoring program (grant Funded).
• Tulsa City-County Health - evaluation of knowledge and behaviors related to obesity among children and parents attending at-risk elementary schools (grant Funded).

In 2005 research associated with the Center has resulted in nine publications either submitted or accepted in scholarly journals, seven presentations included at regional and national conferences and the publication of eight technical reports. Faculty from the Department of Human Relations, the School of Social Work, the College of Allied Health and the College of Medicine at OU-Tulsa have collaborated on research projects in the Center. The Center was affiliated with five externally funded research projects, including a $386,000 HUD Community Development grant that will commence in 2006.

The Center Director is Dr. Chan Hellman, Assistant Professor of Human Relations in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Center employs three graduate research assistants.