Our Approach
Our Approach
Community-Partnered Action Research.
Since its founding in 2020, PSJ has worked closely with grassroots nonprofit Think Dignity to conduct research to drive action towards more just and equitable decision-making around public restrooms in San Diego County. We also partner with Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest to put our data into action, as public restroom access is also a reproductive justice issue.
Our Current Work
Our Current Work
- Understanding community views about public restrooms PSJ Faculty Mentors Drs. Jennifer Felner and Jerel Calzo are leading a public health communication project to understand when and how to effectively communicate with the general public about WaSH resources, especially public restrooms.
- Public Restroom Mapping and Assessment. Drs Madi Swayne and WC lead efforts to map where public restrooms are across San Diego County. In 2024, we will launch a new citizen science project to include members of the community in our efforts to gather data regarding where restrooms are and what’s happening within and around them.
- Envisioning what the future of WaSH access should look like for unhoused Californians PSJ Director Dr Megan Welsh Carroll is leading a statewide initiative to inform Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) resource allocation for unhoused Californians.
Current and Past Funding
Current and Past Funding
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Office of Health Equity. What should the future of WaSH access and infrastructure look like for unhoused Californians? (PI: Welsh Carroll; Co-PIs: Calzo, Felner, Swayne, Mladenov, Verbyla), 2023-2024
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Missing the main load? Quantifying marine debris loadings from storm drain and river margin sources in the San Diego River. (PI: McMillan; Co-PIs: Kinoshita, Mladenova, Davani, Welsh Carroll), 2021-2024
- SDSU Seed Grant Program. Developing and pilot-testing a smartphone application to increase public restroom access in San Diego County. (PI: Swayne, Co-PI: Welsh Carroll), 2023-2024
- SDSU Seed Grant Program. Leveraging Mixed Methods Research and Health Communication Strategies to Address Community Opposition to Equitable Public Bathroom Access in San Diego. (PI: Felner; Co-PIs: Calzo, Welsh), 2022-2024.
- SDSU Rapid Response Grant Program. Mobilizing for Sanitation Justice and Health Equity in San Diego. (PI: Welsh; Co-PIs: Felner, Swayne, community partner: Think Dignity), 2021.