Rutgers Center for State Health Policy is an initiative of the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research (IHHCPAR) to create a formal capacity within Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, for policy analysis, research, training, facilitation, and consultation on state health policy. Made possible by a five-year grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with additional support from Rutgers University, the Center was conceived in response to recent transformations in the health care/health policy arena that resulted in the devolution of significant policy responsibilities to state governments. The Center combines Rutgers University's traditional academic strengths in public health, health services research, and social science with applied research and policy analysis initiatives. It serves as the focal point within the University for research and related activities relevant to state health policy.

Drawing on the combined efforts of a core staff of policy and data analysts and the University's rich faculty resources from a variety of disciplines and professions, the Center uses its collective expertise to provide state health policy-makers in New Jersey and elsewhere with impartial research findings and analyses to inform health policy decisions. The Center also provides facilitation and convening services around important state health policy issues. Finally, Center staff and faculty work with various academic programs within the University to train tomorrow's health policy-makers and health services/health policy researchers. The Center's director, Joel C. Cantor, Sc.D., is a nationally recognized expert in health policy/health services research.

CSHP areas of current research activities include:

• Long-Term Care and Support Services
• Access and Coverage
• Health and Long-Term Care Workforce
• Health System Performance Improvement
• Cross Cutting and Other Projects

CSHP is a division of the Rutgers University Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research (IHHCPAR). Established in 1985, IHHCPAR focuses and facilitates the efforts of University faculty and students concerned with health on critical issues of health behaviors and risks, health promotion, the financing, access and, utilization of services, chronic illness and disability, AIDS, long-term care, health and mental health policy, mental health history, and the service needs of the growing elderly population. The Center's research support infrastructure includes a full-service Information Resource Center and a Publications Department. The Center's Information Resource Center provides comprehensive information retrieval services to Center researchers and faculty. The Center's publications staff uses print and electronic resources to keep the health policy community and interested members of the public informed regarding the latest Center research, programs, and activities.