The Institute for Community Health was founded in 2000 by Cambridge Health Alliance, Mount Auburn Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital of Partners HealthCare. These founding organizations had a vision of improving the health of the communities they serve, and created ICH to be a resource for community-based research and evaluation, health assessment, technical assistance, and dissemination. ICH now works with clients locally and regionally on projects spanning a wide range of sectors and topic areas. Underlying all of our work is a deep commitment to collaboration, capacity building, and usability of findings.
ICH is bolstered by its affiliation with Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), as well as by ongoing sponsorship from Beth Israel Lahey Health. These generous institutional investments support community health in Cambridge, Boston, and beyond. ICH relies particularly on CHA’s robust administrative and academic structure to ensure the rigor, effectiveness, and efficiency of our engagement with diverse funders and community partners.
A world in which empowered and knowledgeable communities achieve health equity and a high quality of life for all
Earning clients’ trust and respect is necessary for establishing and maintaining productive, enduring relationships
Earning clients’ trust and respect is necessary for establishing and maintaining productive, enduring relationships
Diverse perspectives are essential to harnessing a community’s strengths and promoting social justice.
Addressing the social determinants of health improves the quality of people’s lives.
The use of data is critical for developing sound decisions and actions, from policy strategies to program goals.
Adherence to the highest ethical standards for research and evaluation ensures appropriateness, fairness, and accuracy in our work.