rural Illinois, applied.
The Lotspeich-Yadao Lab is dedicated to addressing critical societal challenges, particularly those affecting military veterans and underserved rural populations. We bridge rigorous research, specialized data analysis, and community-engaged implementation science. At the core of our mission is the innovative use of federal administrative data and advanced quantitative methods for applied research. This approach aims to enhance program efficacy and service delivery, with a strong focus on improving life course outcomes within Illinois and beyond. While our approach is rooted in rural sociology, it has become inherently interdisciplinary in our quest for comprehensive answers.
We strive to empower communities by making complex data understandable and actionable, particularly for those facing health disparities, employment precarity, or geographic isolation. Our research uncovers the nuanced interplay between employment trajectories, community contexts, and health outcomes. By synergistically integrating expertise in rural sociology, veteran studies, spatial demography, and data science, we investigate the meso-level ecological dynamics influencing well-being. Through translating our findings into evidence-based solutions, often in collaboration with partners like Illinois Extension, we confront systemic barriers to foster equitable health and economic opportunities.
We believe that achieving equity involves providing communities with robust research insights and tools to develop targeted solutions. Our work critically examines how factors like food insecurity, necessity entrepreneurship, labor market constraints, and access to resources impact vulnerable groups. Our lines of effort include:
Advancing implementation science through community-engaged research. We develop innovative, community-engaged approaches to translate research findings into actionable programs for military Veterans and rural populations, bridging research-practice gaps with state, federal, and non-profit partners. This ensures our work leads to effective, culturally-relevant interventions and systemic improvements.
Developing and validating methodological approaches to analyze restricted federal data for population health. Our lab links state and federal administrative data to analyze how residential and employment geography shapes population health over time. This advanced approach overcomes traditional analytical limitations, offering deeper insights into social determinants and geographic health disparities in underserved communities.
Identifying meso-level factors affecting Veteran economic resilience in Rural America. We investigate how local economic and social ecosystems (meso-level factors) impact Veteran economic resilience in rural America, influencing their financial stability, employment, and related outcomes such as food security and the take-up of support programs. Our research identifies structural constraints and modifiable community factors to improve Veteran well-being and foster more successful transitions.
Our portfolio is structured around the agricultural knowledge system to benefit the State of Illinois at large, by:
- broadening access to the agricultural, classical, and mechanical arts through quality instruction,
- generating new technology and knowledge through applied research for community-informed needs, and
- delivering resiliency-building programming and services through established channels, including Illinois Extension.