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 Dr.
Cassandra Joubert has been appointed director of the Central California
Children’s Institute at California State University, Fresno. The
institute is dedicated to improving the quality of life for central San
Joaquin Valley children, youth and their families.
Joubert was vice president/community investment at the Community
Foundation for Southeast Michigan in Detroit. She oversaw its $48
million regional grant-making program.
Dr. Benjamin Cuellar, dean of the College of Health and Human Services,
said the addition of Joubert will allow the Institute to build momentum
as it addresses regional needs.
“By leveraging resources in partnership with other public and private
entities, Dr. Joubert will help expand the institute’s capacity to bring
people and institutions together to address children’s issues,” said
Cuellar.
Increased support will help the institute “strengthen its engagement
with child-serving organizations in the region to be a voice for
children, to conduct interdisciplinary, community-based research, and
provide high-quality educational programs,” he said.
The Children’s Institute and Central Valley Health Policy Institute,
also based at Fresno State, are conducting a telephone survey of 1,600
residents in eight Valley counties to document concerns about the
well-being of children now and in the future. Focus groups are planned
to involve human service, education and other professionals. Findings
will be presented at a regional conference in early 2009.
Joubert has held senior positions with the Ruth Mott Foundation and Mott
Children’s Health Center in Flint, Mich., and was acting chief of the
Michigan Office of Minority Health.
She received her Doctor of Science degree in maternal and child health
from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and child development from Howard
University.
Joubert is on the editorial board of the American Journal of Public
Health and is the principal author of a book about her experiences
raising a child with bipolar disorder. She is a frequent speaker at
conferences on children’s behavioral health and has served on nonprofit
boards and state commissions focusing on children’s issues.
At Fresno State, Joubert also holds a faculty appointment in the
Department of Health Science.
“We recognize the significant health, safety and education needs of
children in the Valley, as documented in the new Children Now research
report,” said Joubert. “The institute will be action-oriented to help
our partners address and solve the problems.”
The Central California Children’s Institute was founded in 2000. With
significant support from The California Endowment, the institute
established a reputation for definitive, widely distributed publications
that examined key health issues facing children in the region including
teen pregnancy, obesity and asthma.
The institute is supported by five colleges/schools at Fresno State:
Health and Human Services, Social Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and
Technology, Science and Mathematics and the Kremen School of Education
and Human Development.
For more information, call the children’s Institute at 559.228.2150.
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