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History of the Center

The Center for Child and Family Policy was established at Duke University on July 1, 1999, following several years of planning by faculty members representing numerous university disciplines.  We were approved as a university-wide Center for an initial five-year period by the Office of the Vice-Provost, and received startup funds from Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.

Initially, the Center's mission was framed broadly: to bring academic scholarship to bear on problems facing children and families in contemporary society through its activities of research, teaching, service and policy development. In reality, though, the Center’s initial tasks were to define its mission more specifically, to build a critical mass of support within the university, to establish partnerships with community and government agencies, and to obtain external funding for its activities.

Kenneth A. Dodge was named the Center’s first director, reporting simultaneously to the dean of Arts and Sciences and to the director of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy.  Dodge is a psychologist with a program of research addressing the development and prevention of chronic violence in children and youth and policies relevant to juvenile violence, his primary appointment was in Public Policy, with a secondary appointment in Psychology - Social and Health Sciences, now the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. Under Dodge’s leadership, the Center for Child and Family Policy has become nationally known for its expertise in translating basic science into intervention practice and policy.

From 1999 through 2003, a voluntary Board of Advisors appointed by the Dean provided guidance to the Center director and reported to the dean.  The Center’s leadership currently includes six Associate Directors:  Phillip Costanzo, Associate Director for Teaching and Mentoring; E. Jane Costello, Associate Director for Research; Rick Hoyle, Associate Director for Data Services; Jenni W. Owen, Associate Director of Policy and Translation; and Barbara Black Pollock, Associate Director for Administration; and David Rabiner, Associate Director for Program Evaluation.