Ozarks Public Health Institute at MSU gets nearly $550K grant

Missouri State University's Ozarks Public Health Institute last year was announced as the new lead organization for the Community Focus Report that examines progress and challenges in the Springfield area. Now, the public health institute has been awarded grant funding to support that work.

The OPHI has received a $549,228 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, according to a MSU news release issued this morning.

“The Community Focus Report has been an essential tool for community betterment,” said Brad Bodenhausen, MSU vice president of community and global partnerships, in the release. “OPHI’s involvement will provide support to community partners as we work together toward improvements."

The 20th anniversary edition of the Community Focus Report was released to stakeholders at an event in October. Throughout its history, the biennial report has outlined challenges, referred to as red flags, and successes, or blue ribbons, within the Springfield area. It is the result of a collaboration among the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the Junior League of Springfield, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Springfield-Greene County Library District, United Way of the Ozarks and more than 100 volunteers.

The OPHI is leading future iterations of the report, according to past reporting.

Through OPHI, the Community Focus Report is shifting to a full-time program from a reflective report, according to the release. OPHI is working with Community Partnership of the Ozarks on the initiative, which involves plans to expand the report's network, boost its digital presence, shore up research capabilities and work with subject matter experts. An online dashboard would show progress toward goals identified in the report.

“Public health is what we do together as a society to ensure the conditions in which everyone can be healthy,” said Dalen Duitsman, OPHI director, 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.”

The grant supports the first three years of work led by OPHI, according to the release. The project also may be replicated elsewhere in Missouri with support from OPHI.

The OPHI was established by the MSU Board of Governors in 2001 to serve as a universitywide institute that focuses on public health issues in Missouri.