Research Group for Healthy Communities

Our mission is to promote community-wide approaches to prevent obesity and increase food security through healthy food environments and increased physical activity.

Research Group Goals

Our goal is to conduct research, promote programs and advocate for policies that improve access to healthy food and encourage opportunities for being physically active.  Healthy food environments include homes, corner grocery stores, restaurants, schools, health clinics, worksites and community programs.  We place a special emphasis on low-income, urban communities that have limited access to healthy, affordable food and limited opportunities for physical activity.  We conduct quantitative and qualitative research on food security, food access and obesity.

Active Research Projects

• Evaluating the Healthy Food Retailer Initiative
• Healthy Corner Store Initiative

About Us

Katie S. Martin, Ph.D., is a Research Associate at the Center for Public Health & Health Policy at the University of Connecticut.  She earned a BA in Political Science from Indiana University, and a MS and Ph.D. from the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.  Her research expertise is in food security, food assistance programs, obesity and social capital among low-income populations.  For the past two years Dr. Martin has partnered with the Hartford Food System to evaluate their Healthy Food Retailer Initiative among small markets in Hartford.  She serves as an Adjunct Professor in the UConn MPH program and currently teaches a graduate course titled Food, Health and Politics.

Erin K. Havens, MPA., is a Graduate Assistant and MPH student at the Center for Public Health & Health Policy at the University of Connecticut.  She earned a BA in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration from the Department of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut.  Erin's background includes health care advocacy, community organizing and coordinating election campaigns.  Presently, she assists with community nutrition programs delivered through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) and is part of the team evaluating the Healthy Food Retailer Initiative.