Report Sections

Department Head: Robert Hughes

The Department of Human and Community Development conducts research activities that seek to expand our understanding of the scientific knowledge about the well-being and resilience of families and communities and prepare students for leadership roles in child, family, and educational service settings. Faculty work across disciplines to

• Study and facilitate positive development and resilience of children, youth, and families, with particular strength in youth development in kin and school contexts.
• Study and create community systems that shape people's lives in urban and rural settings, with particular strength in how people and groups foster change in schools and communities.

The work of the department is also engaged in the application of science with partners and clients across Illinois and the world in order to solve societal issues confronting families and communities.

Featured Research Reports (in PDF form):

• Plans to farm take root early
• Counting M&Ms: unnecessarily fair?
• Father's interest in child's school life can override negative influences
• Girls' confidence in math dampened by parents' stereotypes
• 6 o'clock crash hits married working mothers harder
• Revisiting a rural community 25 years later
• Helping obese children battle depression and low self-esteem