ABOUT OUR TEAM

Our Philosophy

Support communities to take action for healthier systems

Collaborate with Diverse Voices
Collaborations are vital for fostering healthy communities, generating innovative ideas, and conducting good science. We seek out unique perspectives from many voices, including our research colleagues, community partners, policymakers and those with lived experience. We believe that diverse voices are vital to the conversation, and that everyone has a piece of the truth.

Support Community Decision-Making
While we have collaborators across the US, our research primarily takes place where we also live, work, and play— Oregon. Through the development of relationships with local and state-wide organizations, much of our work is focused on being responsive to Oregonians’ needs. We strive to improve the health and well-being of everyone in our communities by supporting high quality decisions anchored in community members’ expertise, local evidence, and science.

Take Action
We follow our conversations and ideas by developing concrete steps. Then, we work to create healthy, just communities and service systems, and to support others in taking action!

Team CDA’s Lead

Woman smiling in a pink blazer

Gracelyn leverages implementation science, decision science, and systems science to conduct health services and policy research. She uses this multi-disciplinary perspective and community collaborations to support decision-making and innovation implementation aimed at improving population well-being.

CV link

Publications

Presentations

Short Bio

gcruden@chestnut.org

Team CDA Members

  • Jessica Harrison - Senior Project Coordinator

  • Kaylee Becker - Senior Project Coordinator

  • Amanda Jo Broughton - Community Liaison

  • Maria Bybee - Senior Research Services Coordinator

  • Jeff Peterson - Data Manager

  • Katherine Barros - Graphic Designer

  • Sophie Bybee - Research Assistant

Chestnut Health Systems-
Lighthouse Institute

Chestnut Health Systems was founded in 1973 and offers a comprehensive scope of behavioral health and human services. Chestnut’s research division, Lighthouse Institute, was established in 1986 with the mission to improve the quality of services through research, training, and publishing. It is one of few research groups in the country that primarily focuses on developing more effective approaches for recovery management, treating substance use as a chronic disorder, diversion from the legal/child welfare system, and implementation science. Lighthouse Institute's multidisciplinary staff conduct applied research, program evaluation, training, consultation, and implementation.

Click here to learn more about Lighthouse Institute.