Empowering communities through research that prevents disease, promotes wellness, and sustains change.
The Research for Equity and Community Health (REACH) Lab is a diverse multidisciplinary team of students and researchers from the departments of psychology and public health.
Under the leadership of Dr. Elva Arredondo and the leadership team, our lab advances health equity by preventing disease and reducing health disparities that disproportionately affect Latino communities.
We design, implement, and evaluate culturally grounded, community-based behavioral health interventions that promote wellness and long-term health. Central to our mission is the belief that prevention is impactful—by addressing health risks early and supporting healthy behaviors, we can foster meaningful, lasting change in individuals, families, and communities
We conduct community-based prevention research, develop and test culturally tailored behavioral health interventions, and work to understand and ensure the implementation and sustainment of these programs for community benefit. Our research targets multiple levels of influence—individual, interpersonal, family, organizational, and community—and is guided by theory- and evidence-based approaches to enhance intervention effectiveness, implementation, and sustainability. We collaborate closely with community partners, including churches, schools, and YMCAs, to deliver programs in trusted settings that reflect the values and strengths of the populations we serve.
Our multidisciplinary team integrates expertise in Psychology, Public Health, Latin American Studies, and Dissemination & Implementation Science. Through qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches, we conduct rigorous, innovative research at the intersection of health psychology, behavioral science, and implementation science—creating knowledge that informs practice and helps prevent health disparities for generations to come.