What do we really know about families? What do they need to be healthy and loving—better able to overcome life’s challenges? How are families changing? And are the professionals and policy makers of today taking the right actions to support the families of tomorrow?

From community projects in rural North Carolina to federally funded projects of national scope, the Jordan Institute is in pursuit of answers. Founded in 1996 and named in recognition of a gift from Michael Jordan, the Jordan Institute has a clear vision: to strengthen families and engage communities.

Cutting across disciplinary lines, the Jordan Institute is a conduit bringing together researchers, organizations, communities and families to engage in research, train practitioners and community leaders, and collaborate with policy makers and legislators. This interdisciplinary approach leads to rich and relevant research and training and ensures that we make substantive and systemic contributions to policy and practice.

The Jordan Institute believes that strong families are the foundations of happy and fulfilling lives and stable and caring communities. In response, our projects provide:

	Training for practitioners in child welfare, aging, mental health, substance abuse and juvenile justice
	Research on school success, substance abuse, violence prevention, child welfare and eldercare
	Technical assistance for mental health and welfare reforms, juvenile crime prevention, closing the achievement gap, and promoting community-based services for families