NEW! Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy
The Muskie School has combined the talent and resources of three former institutes into a new national institute that is focused more comprehensively on the effectiveness of health and human service systems and policy.
"The University is proud of the Cutler Institute's proven track record for providing invaluable assistance to policy makers that ensures healthy individuals, families and communities in Maine and across the nation," said USM Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kate L. Forhan. "It is also an incredibly rich resource for our graduate students who are pursuing careers in the public and nonprofit sectors."
The Cutler Institute conducts research and policy analysis, program development and evaluation, and training and technical assistance projects in four closely related areas: children, youth, and families; disability and aging; population health and health policy; and justice policy.
"As an integral part of his living legacy, the Cutler Institute is honoring Senator Muskie's charge to the School by advancing innovative solutions to some of society's most critical challenges," said Bill Foster, dean of the Muskie School.
A key emphasis of the new institute will be to seek solutions that integrate policies and strategies across these areas and the public and private sectors.
The Cutler Institute's 200 practitioners and scholars-with backgrounds including social work, sociology, law, public health, health services, economics, business, public policy and management, organizational development-are known for applying the latest research to real-world problems. Working closely with federal and state policy makers, nonprofits, and other universities, the Cutler Institute specializes in building collaborative partnerships focused on improving the public and private systems that support individuals, families, and communities.
The institute's namesake, Catherine Epstein Cutler, was a trained economist who devoted more than a half century to voluntary public service primarily focused on improving mental health services and education for the women, children and families of Maine.
Posted Sep 17, 2009
