** New administrative home for CRDS

On July 1 2007, the Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program (CRDS) became part of the Faculty of Medicine, with the Department of Community Health Sciences as its administrative home. "CRDS is a small, interdisciplinary program with a long and justifiable reputation as an innovator in both education and action research," said Provost Alan Harrison. "Programs with cross-faculty mandates such as CRDS need to have an administrative home."

The move followed a study initiated by the progam about three years ago to examine its best "fit" within the university. "This realignment will be of benefit not only to CRDS and the Department of Community Health Sciences, but also to the university and community at large," said Dr. Tom Noseworthy, head of Community Health Sciences. "[CRDS's] experience in providing education using a 'work study' model is something from which we hope to learn."

Adds Aldred Neufeldt, CRDS director: "Today, emphasis on population health and social, economic, and political determinants of health provide the basis for very real synergies between us since these are the very issues we have been working on."

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Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies is a small, dynamic, hands-on program responding to a field that is constantly changing. Students learn to support individuals and communities in their struggle to take control of their own well-being. They learn how to design, deliver, and evaluate community-based services that offer short-term assistance and/or ongoing supports. Finally, they learn to identify and respond to the challenges of health, education, justice, and welfare reform.