The Institute for Justice and Well-Being

The Institute for Justice and Well-Being stands against systemic racism as we advance knowledge through scholarship and research, and educate ourselves and others in order to foster inclusivity, humility and empathy. The Institute is committed to developing, sharing and applying evidence that leads to the eradication of all forms of oppression and injustice.

Binghamton University faculty lead the Institute for Justice and Well-Being, a research institute that advances global health, progressive education and well-being for marginalized populations. The institute implements cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and educational opportunities with communities and people across the lifespan and the globe.

The Institute for Justice and Well-Being was founded in 2009 at Binghamton University's College of Community and Public Affairs. As one of the most interdisciplinary research centers at the University, the institute fosters rich collaboration across University and community organizations. Our research associates span professions and disciplines including counseling, education, engineering, human development, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology and social work.

Spotlight

University Downtown Gala 2023.

President Harvey Stenger and Dean Laura Bronnstein invite you to the University Downtown Gala and join in the celebration of the College of Community and Public Affairs. This year's theme, Changing the Landscape of Greater Binghamton, recognizes the outstanding work being done by faculty, staff and students at the CCPA to give back and better the local community in their helping careers. Learn more about the event and register here.

Superintendent's Conference Day.

The 16th Annual Superintendent's Day Conference is hosted by the Agency, CPS, and School Liaison’s committee of the Family Violence Prevention Council of Broome County. This year’s conference will focus on providing attendees with a multidisciplinary approach to overcoming challenges in our community. Speakers of various backgrounds will reinforce the belief that working together with local professionals will achieve greater success for families in the community. Learn more and register here.

Opportunity for Research Funding.

The Office of the Provost launched an opportunity to support research addressing issues in a broad research interest related to this year's topic, Justice, Human Rights and Equity, and seeks to address a compelling social challenge or inequity. This program is designed to support investigator(s) who require seed funding in an amount between $10,000 and $50,000 to support travel, equipment, supplies, data acquisition, personnel or other enablers in the completion of a research project. The deadline to apply for this program is October 31, 2023. Learn more about this wonderful opportunity here.

New Workshop from the Department of Social Work.

Hosted by Catherine Cook-Cottone, PhD, CIAYT, this workshop will teach effective ways to help people with their body image and eating disorders, as well as provide guidance in helping oneself in the realm of healthy eating. All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be provided. Learn more about this workshop and register here.

New Opportunity for Research Funding.

This year, the S.H. Ho Innovation Foundation Research Endowment will provide $200,000 annually to researchers who facilitate innovative work to address a compelling health challenge through the use of innovative technology, at the intersection of health sciences and technology. Seed funding between $50,000 and $200,000 will be provided to investigator(s) for the initial acquisition of equipment, supplies, data, personnel or other enablers in anticipation of external grant submission. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2023. Learn more about this award here.

The Director of the Institute was featured in The Academic Minute.

Dr. Laura Bronstein emphasized the significance of summer programs in minimizing learning loss through the community school model. As a national expert, Dean Bronstein promotes community schools as drivers of equitable and inclusive school environments where all students, families and communities can thrive. You can read more about this topic in the article linked here.

New Workshop on Redefining Recovery.

Presented by the Broome County Healing Communities Study, this workshop will feature a panel of community members with lived and living experience related to substance use, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Featuring information on best practices for addressing stigma, reducing barriers for care and different paths to recovery, this event aims to provide a comprehensive lens to redefining recovery and use community collaboration to help foster an equitable environment for all. Learn more and register here.

IJWB Welcomes New Assistant Directors!

Drs. Naorah Rimkunas and Amber Simpson have been appointed as the new Assistant Directors of the Institute for Justice and Well-Being. We look forward to them applying their research and academic interests to advance the work of the IJWB. In August, they are launching the IJWB Research Lab to support student scholarship in the areas of school mental health, family engagement practices, and STEM education. Learn more about Drs. Rimkunas and Simpson here and congratulations to them both!

Prevent Learning Loss with Engaging Activities.

An article in The Huffington Post interviewed Dr. Laura Bronstein, the Dean of the College for Community and Public Affairs and Director of the IJWB, about the 'summer slide' that many students experience when they are out of school, and the negative impact it can have on learning. Dr. Bronstein emphasized the importance of creating fun and educational activities that can help prevent summer learning loss, whether they are done at home or in the community. She also highlighted the advantages of community schools, which offer comprehensive services and summer learning opportunities for students and families. Take a look at this article to discover effective ways of keeping students engaged and enhancing their skills during the summer break.

Dr. Kathleen Provinzano, Associate Professor with CCPA Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership and Social Work, joins IJWB as a Research Affiliate.

Dr. Provinzano's research interests are associated with urban comprehensive school transformation, specifically, full-service community school strategies and research-practice partnerships with full-service community schools. Resultantly, she studies leadership dynamics in full-service community schools, the impact of integrated student supports on student learning and behavior outcomes in community schools, and the reciprocal influence of community school programming on local neighborhoods. In addition to multiple book chapters, she has published in leading peer-reviewed journals including Urban Education, Educational Administration Quarterly, Education Policy Analysis Archives, Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR), and Leadership and Policy in Schools. Dr. Provinzano serves as an Associate Editor for The Handbook of Research, Policy, and Practice in School-University Partnerships (Cambridge), and is Chair of the School, University, Community Collaborative Research SIG, and Chair-Elect for the Innovative School Transformation and Reform SIG through the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Superintendent's Conference Day.

Join the Windsor Central School District on October 6, 2023 as they host this year's event! Educators, administrators and other professionals will be able to attend a variety of sessions to invigorate the work of school professionals, network with colleagues and learn more about how to better serve their students. More details about the event TBA.

CCN RTIC 4th Annual Learning Symposium.

Join us on October 25, 2023 for Care Compass Network's RTIC Annual Learning Symposium as this year's theme is Nurturing the Mind and Body to Strengthen Compassion, Healing, and Inclusion. This event will feature a series of keynote speakers and workshops on how to create connection and self-compassion within our relationships and ourselves to promote well-being and better the work we do in helping careers. Learn more about the symposium and register here.

Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) Focuses on Mental Health and Socioemotional Learning.

Emily Friends, a BUCS Master of Social Work (MSW) intern who is graduating in May 2023, spoke on Spectrum News Channel 1 about her work as an MSW intern from Binghamton University in the Windsor School District. The BUCS program exists in 40 schools locally, and BUCS MSW interns support the mental health needs of countless young people throughout these school districts. See this video to learn more.

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) Research Excellence Awards Recipients.

The CCPA Research Committee and the Division of Research awards these grants to increase faculty’s research productivity and enhance their chances of receiving external funding for research. Congratulations to all recipients, including Research Affiliates of the Institute from the Department of Social Work, Suk-Young (John) Kang and Sarah Young, Associate Professors, and Saumya Tripathi, Assistant Professor. Read more about the recipients and their research here.

IJWB Director and Research Affiliate Recognized by Stanford University.

Stanford University published an article recognizing contributions from scientists globally, and Dr. Laura Bronstein, Dean of College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) and Director of the Institute for Justice and Well-Being, and Dr. Brandon E. Gibb, Research Affiliate and Professor of Psychology, were part of the top 2% of all researchers in the world in their respective fields. Dr. Gibb's research focuses on the development and expression of information-processing biases that increase risk for depression in children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Bronstein's research centers on interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration and community schools. Read more about Dean Bronstein and Dr. Gibb and their work here.

Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) Federal Grants to Expand Mental Health Services were Featured in the News on WBNG Channel 12.

Laura Bronstein, Dean of CCPA and Director of the Institute for Justice and Well-Being, and Luann Kida, Executive Director of Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS), were interviewed and featured on local news WBNG Channel 12 given Naorah Rimkunas, Director of the University-Assisted Community School (UACS) Regional Training Center, recently received $9.3 million in federal funds to expand mental health services in the southern tier.

Research Affiliate Awarded Two 5-year Awards from the U.S. Department of Education totalling $9.3 Million to Expand Mental Health Services in New York’s Southern Tier.

Naorah Rimkunas, Research Affiliate, Assistant Professor, and Director of the University-Assisted Community School (UACS) Regional Training Center, is principal investigator with Luann Kida, who is co-principal investigator and Executive Director of Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS). With these grants, they will be able to serve approximately 3,300 students at seven schools with telemental health services while BU social work students will be trained to provide solution-focused telemental health services to youth and families; the grants will also fund services to approximately 3,700 students at the Chenango Forks and Maine-Endwell school districts through providing additional education to the social work students and bringing in families as partners to support the academic growth and social and emotional well-being of their children. Read this article to learn more.

IJWB Highlighted As Center for Community and Change.

The Institute for Justice and Well-Being was highlighted by BingUNews as a leader in the community to create positive change and community partnerships that aim to advance the state of current social problems. The article applauds the Institute on housing the vast interests and expertise of Binghamton University's best researchers, while fostering interpersonal relationships that drive their work, which includes advancing community schools, providing research opportunities to students, and working within the IJWB and others extending their work on a global scale. Read the article here.

Binghamton University continues its ongoing dedication to the advancement of social justice for all individuals and populations.

The Office of the Provost has created a website to highlight that a number of institutes and centers have been established across disciplines at the University to promote research, ideas, communication and critical discourse in areas including human rights, equality for women and girls, and global health, progressive education, and well-being for marginalized populations. Like the Institute for Justice and Well-Being, these centers and institutes exist to raise awareness of issues of historical, systemic injustices, and to explore ways to rise above these injustices to the benefit of the world’s underrepresented. Learn more here about the institutes and centers here.

Binghamton University Applauded for Diversity and Inclusivity.

Donald E. Hall, Vice Provost of Binghamton University, recently wrote an op-ed for the Miami Herald as he spotlights Binghamton University for its commitment to diversity, equity, and freedoms for all, in comparison to the limitation of LGBTQ+ rights for youth in Florida. He also notes that Binghamton University aims to embody community, acceptance and inclusivity for all learners and thinkers by implementing recruitment strategies for students and faculty who might find New York as a safe haven for one to be who they want to be. Read more of Dr. Hall's article here.