Center for Health Administration Studies (CHAS) at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration

Abstract

The Center For Health Administration Studies (CHAS) is an interdisciplinary health policy and services research center located at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. Since its inception, CHAS has pursued the mission of conducting and promoting research and knowledge development to reduce health inequities and improve access. The move of CHAS to the School of Social Service Administration from the Graduate School of Business in 1991 resulted in innovative programming reflecting the changing landscape of health care, passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid expansion, and the growing interest of social work researchers in social determinants of health, behavioral health and integrated health and social services. The success and distinction of CHAS over its eighty year history offers lessons to social work regarding the sustainability of a research center in a graduate school of social work.