Publications

This article describes the EITC Access Project, a Michigan initiative designed to help eligible families access the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and strengthen their financial stability. The project combines community education with individualized benefits advocacy through home-visiting programs, using financial education and empowerment strategies to increase tax credit utilization. By helping families access financial resources, the initiative aims to reduce economic stress and support child maltreatment prevention.

This study examines how state-level childcare subsidy policies may influence child maltreatment among low-income families. Using 11 years of U.S. administrative data, researchers explored the relationship between employment requirements and subsidy copayments and rates of child neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse substantiations. Findings indicate that requiring 30 hours of employment to qualify for childcare subsidies was associated with higher rates of neglect substantiations, while less restrictive work requirements and copayment amounts showed no significant relationship with maltreatment. Results highlight the importance of considering how public assistance and childcare policies affect economically vulnerable families and may contribute to child maltreatment prevention efforts.

This study examined how state childcare subsidy income-eligibility policies relate to child maltreatment rates. Findings showed that more generous income eligibility policies were associated with lower rates of child abuse and neglect investigations, highlighting the potential for childcare assistance policies to support child and family well-being.

This study examines how family, school, and neighborhood environments influence children’s behavioral health from early childhood through adolescence. Using longitudinal data, researchers found that factors such as child abuse, maternal depression, substance use, neighborhood conditions, school connectedness, and peer bullying were associated with behavioral problems at different developmental stages. The findings highlight the lasting impact of early childhood experiences and the importance of addressing multiple environmental factors to support children’s behavioral health and well-being.

This study reviews research on how early childhood education and care policies, including childcare subsidies, Head Start, and universal pre-K, may help prevent child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV). The review found promising evidence that childcare subsidies and Head Start can reduce family violence or related risk factors, such as poverty and employment instability. Although more research is needed, the findings suggest that expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early education may support family well-being and help prevent violence.

This study examines how family, school, and neighborhood environments support resilience among adolescents who experienced childhood maltreatment. Findings show that maternal involvement, school connectedness, and neighborhood social cohesion are important protective factors associated with positive functioning and social skills during adolescence.

This study evaluates the EITC Access Project, a home-visiting initiative implemented across nine Michigan counties to increase access to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) among eligible families. Through individualized financial education and support delivered in partnership with Parents as Teachers, the project aims to improve EITC knowledge, applications, and receipt while addressing barriers to participation. Initial findings suggest the program may increase EITC awareness and uptake while reducing child neglect, highlighting the potential of economic support and financial empowerment initiatives as strategies for child maltreatment prevention.

This study examines how different types of material hardship experienced by at-risk mothers during the postpartum year are associated with subsequent child maltreatment. Using data from 3,966 mothers across 20 U.S. cities, researchers identified four hardship profiles. Mothers experiencing financial strain, particularly difficulty paying rent and utilities, and those facing severe housing instability, including eviction and homelessness, demonstrated increased risks of child maltreatment. Findings highlight the importance of addressing housing affordability and stability as part of child maltreatment prevention efforts, particularly for families with infants.

This study examines how neighborhood characteristics relate to child maltreatment across urban and rural communities in Michigan. Using statewide data on child maltreatment investigations, researchers explored how factors such as poverty, residential stability, educational attainment, and language diversity influence maltreatment rates. Findings highlight important differences between rural and urban communities and underscore the role of neighborhood conditions in understanding child maltreatment risk and protective factors.

This study examines how neighborhood conditions influence child maltreatment. Using longitudinal data, the researchers found that both residents’ perceptions of neighborhood disorder and observed neighborhood characteristics were associated with physical assault, while perceived neighborhood conditions were also associated with psychological aggression. Positive perceptions of the neighborhood and favorable physical conditions were linked to lower levels of physical assault. No significant associations were found for neglect. The findings highlight the importance of neighborhood environments in understanding and addressing child maltreatment.

This study examines whether state-level workplace protections for intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors are associated with employment and housing stability among mothers who have experienced IPV. Findings suggest that reasonable accommodations, confidentiality protections, and safeguards against discharge for abuse-related work disruptions are associated with a greater likelihood of employment. However, these policies were not associated with reduced housing hardship, highlighting the need for additional policy approaches to support survivors’ long-term socioeconomic stability.

This study examines how neighborhood social cohesion and housing insecurity relate to child maltreatment among low-income urban families. Researchers found that stronger neighborhood social cohesion was associated with lower levels of physical and psychological child abuse, partly because it was linked to reduced housing insecurity. The findings highlight how supportive neighborhoods and stable housing can work together to help prevent child maltreatment and strengthen family well-being.

This study examines how early mother-child attachment security and neighborhood social cohesion influence adolescent social skills. Findings show that stronger attachment security in early childhood is associated with better social skills in adolescence. Neighborhood social cohesion also serves as a protective factor, buffering the relationship between lower early attachment security and later social development. The findings highlight the importance of both supportive parent-child relationships and cohesive neighborhoods in promoting adolescent wellbeing.

This study examines how state-level workplace policies can help reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) among survivors. Using data from mothers who experienced IPV, researchers assessed the effects of flexible workplace leave and confidentiality protections. Findings indicate that leave policies alone were not associated with reduced abuse; however, confidentiality protections combined with leave policies were associated with significantly lower rates of IPV. Results highlight the importance of workplace policies that prioritize survivors’ privacy, safety, and access to support, underscoring the potential for policy-level interventions to reduce intimate partner violence.

This study explores how parents in rural communities experience support from their neighbors and informal social networks. Based on interviews with 26 parents in rural Michigan, findings reveal mixed experiences: while some parents benefited from meaningful community connections that provided childcare assistance, safety support, advice, and resources, others experienced isolation and limited connections with nearby neighbors. Many relied on support networks beyond their immediate neighborhoods. Findings highlight the importance of understanding how rural community contexts shape parenting support and suggest that measures developed through urban neighborhood research may not adequately capture rural experiences.