who we are

About Us

Achieving health equity, improving community health, and transforming healthcare are complex challenges, requiring innovative approaches and multiple perspectives. As a dynamic nonprofit consulting organization with deep expertise, ICH will partner with you to tackle complex problems and achieve sustainable solutions.

We provide participatory evaluation, applied research, assessment, planning, training, and technical assistance to help community-based organizations, healthcare institutions, foundations, and government agencies improve their programs and maximize impact.

history,
vision,
and values

APPROACH

our
partners

Our
People

Careers

LEAH ZALLMAN CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT HEALTH

Our History

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.

Our Vision

A world in which empowered and knowledgeable communities achieve health equity and a high quality of life for all

Our Mission

 To improve community health through participatory evaluation, applied research, assessment, planning, training, and technical assistance

Our Values

Establishing strong,
long-term partnerships

Earning clients’ trust and respect is necessary for establishing and maintaining productive, enduring relationships

Engaging in participatory and capacity-building processes

Working closely with our clients in a collaborative process adds significant value and builds their capacity to sustain their health improvement work into the future. 

Incorporating diverse perspectives

Diverse perspectives are essential to harnessing a community’s strengths and promoting social justice.

Addressing social determinants of health

Addressing the social determinants of health improves the quality of people’s lives.

Using data to guide policy and action

The use of data is critical for developing sound decisions and actions, from policy strategies to program goals. 

Adhering to the highest ethical standards

Adherence to the highest ethical standards for research and evaluation ensures appropriateness, fairness, and accuracy in our work.

Establishing strong, long-term partnerships

Earning clients’ trust and respect is necessary for establishing and maintaining productive, enduring relationships

Working closely with our clients in a collaborative process adds significant value and builds their capacity to sustain their health improvement work into the future. 
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.