Our Mission

At CARES, we strive to increase the representation of diverse populations in scientific research so that our understanding of human development is both more accurate and more culturally sensitive to the needs of all adults, children, and families. By reaching more members of the Newark community and its surrounding areas, we can create better science and share that science with the people who need it most.

For researchers, the location of our Newark campus affords a unique opportunity for faculty and students at Rutgers to get involved in community-engaged scholarship with a culturally and economically diverse population. This is important, not only so that we can communicate research findings that come out of our labs to community members, but also to ensure that our research findings accurately represent human development and can be applied to individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

For community partners, Rutgers faculty and students can help community members by training local professionals on current best practices in education, childcare, and science. We can also help our partners by participating in local events, hosting workshops for organizations and families, and disseminating up-to-date research findings in a way that is both approachable and culturally sensitive to community members from all backgrounds.

Altogether, it is CARES mission to help both Rutgers and our partners work together to best promote the health and well-being of adults, children, and families in our local community.