Fact Sheet
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Health and Human Development (HHD) is a division of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), a global nonprofit organization that has advanced solutions to some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic development since 1958. With more than 1,400 employees, EDC currently manages projects in 35 countries.
Our Work
Health is the integration of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. This belief drives HHD’s approach to healthy human development across the life cycle and around the world. Our efforts span the continuum from health promotion to disease prevention, intervention, and care. We concentrate on major health issues such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; HIV and sexually transmitted diseases; mental health; suicide, violence, and unintentional injuries; reproductive health; and nutrition and fitness.
Since issues of social justice have a profound impact on healthy human development, our work tackles the challenges that create disparities—issues of equity, human rights, stigma and discrimination, as well as the underlying social and economic determinants of health. We concentrate on populations where health disparities are most prevalent due to conditions that create vulnerability.
Approach
To produce lasting change, HHD uses a multifaceted approach to promote health and prevent disease. This approach encompasses:
- Research and evaluation
- Synthesis and dissemination of research findings
- Assessment and planning
- Project design and management
- Design and operation of training and technical assistance centers
- Professional and workforce development
- Materials and curriculum development
- Policy development and dissemination
- Health communication and social marketing
- Information technology and multimedia
Staff
HHD has 162 staff with extensive backgrounds in public health, mental health, social science, education, media, communications, and criminal justice.
Funding
HHD's 2012 funding level is $34.7 million with grants from governments, foundations, and corporations.
Locations
While much of HHD's work occurs in the United States, some projects are international in scope and others are in specific regions such as Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe.
Settings
HHD's work extends into various sectors at local, state, national, and international levels. The settings include government agencies of health, education, and mental health; law enforcement; juvenile justice and foster care; schools, colleges, and universities; workplaces; clinics and hospitals; and community agencies.
Offices
Our headquarters are in the U.S. just outside of Boston with offices in Washington D.C., New York, San Diego, Bangkok, Barbados, and Botswana.