Article from Inside WCU about Design for Health:

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Interior Design students who participated in the

summer undergraduate research for the Design for

Health RAD grant presented their research at the

Coalition for Housing Repair’s ReFrame 2023

Conference in Kingsport, Tennessee, Nov. 9. We

Are RAD: Resilient. Age-Inclusive. Design was

presented by Katie Kennett and Emily Moorhouse.

As the U.S. rural population ages, it is important to

reframe how housing needs are assessed. RAD,

an interdisciplinary team of interior designers,

social workers, sociologists, and finance

professionals, is collaborating with the community

members and older adults to develop a comprehensive and strengths-based assessment rooted and responsive to the social determinants of health intersecting housing, rurality, aging, and poverty. The workshop walked participants through how to replicate this assessment process in their communities to address the needs of households characterized by low incomes and other socio-economic challenges. RAD is a strength-based assessment addressing the expanding aging population and provides an understanding of the Social Determinants of Health, which may cultivate equitable housing outcomes. Undergraduate researchers Katie Kennett and Emily Moorhouse, seniors in interior design (Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts), Caleb Dial, a senior in sociology (College of Arts and Sciences), and Jazz Lackey, a sophomore in sociology/psychology (College of Arts and Sciences/College of Education and Allied Professionals) conducted research with the Design for Health faculty team in collaboration with service providers/not-for-profits and community members from WNC in the summer. Design for Health conducted work sessions with the RAD team to review and evaluate current assessment tools. The assessments reviewed are used by each of the D4H represented discipline’s professionals the field, specifically those that focus on the Social Determinants of Health and our older community members living in poverty. RAD faculty and students reviewed and analyzed the results of the reviews and evaluations. In addition, RAD student researchers investigated additional assessments that included SDoH components missing in the reviewed assessments. The RAD faculty continues to work on solidifying the final assessment which will be completed in March 2024. The conference was supported by the Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Allied Professions, the Office of Undergraduate Studies, and Carol Burton, vice provost. Current Design for Health faculty: Shelby S. Hicks, MFA associate professor, D4H Lead (BCFPA); Yue Hillon, professor, College of Business; Yiqing Yang, associate professor, College of Arts and Sciences