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Upcoming Event

CCFP Career Series Explores Professional Directions of Alumni

Join us on January 28 to hear from graduates of the Child Policy Research Certificate program as they share their experiences and career insights.

 

Upcoming Event

The Scarlet Letter ‘S’: Reclaiming Humanity and Hope for Teen Suicide

Join us on February 26 for our Sulzberger Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Pamela Morris-Perez.

Announcement

Congratulations to Kenneth Dodge on Lifetime Contribution Award

Job Opportunity

We are Hiring

Visit our Employment page to learn more and apply.

Our Mission

The Center for Child and Family Policy is dedicated to improving the well-being of children and families through research, education, and engagement. We study factors that influence child outcomes, develop and test promising interventions, and advance evidence-based practices and policies that can inform change and unlock opportunities for all children and their families.

Recent News

Student Reflection on Conducting Research in Schools Panel 2025

December 12, 2025

CCFP News

On November 19, the School Research Partnership at Duke in the Center for Child and Family Policy hosted its annual “Conducting Research in Schools” panel discussion.

read more about Student Reflection on Conducting Research in Schools Panel 2025

Student Reflection on Samuels Talk “Evidence-Informed Public Policy”

December 9, 2025

CCFP News

The Duke Center for Child and Family Policy recently welcomed guest speaker Bryan Samuels, executive director of Chapin Hill, as part of the Sulzberger Distinguished Lecture Series.

read more about Student Reflection on Samuels Talk “Evidence-Informed Public Policy”

Reducing Food Insecurity Among Children in the U.S.

November 24, 2025

EconoFact

Food assistance programs specifically earmarked toward subsidizing household food costs such as SNAP and WIC have positive effects on infant health and school achievement and reduce behavioral problems in school, promoting a range of health and educational benefits in the short- and long-term.

read more about Reducing Food Insecurity Among Children in the U.S.

Helping Children Thrive Through Climate Change: Strategies for Raising Resilient Youth in a Warming World

November 19, 2025

Child & Family Blog

This article dives into how climate change affects children’s physical and psychological well-being, highlighting 3 strategies to help combat this.

read more about Helping Children Thrive Through Climate Change: Strategies for Raising Resilient Youth in a Warming World

Featured Projects

Research Project

North Carolina Preschool Development Grant

Project Description CCFP researchers have partnered with colleagues at The Hunt Institute and Child Trends on multiple projects for North Carolina’s Preschool Development Grant, within the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG) is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration…

learn more about North Carolina Preschool Development Grant
Research Project

Advancing Equity in Adolescent Health through Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs and Services

This project expands reach, builds capacity, and scales up evidence-based programs offering positive youth development and sexuality education to address health disparities in the most vulnerable areas across rural Eastern North Carolina.

learn more about Advancing Equity in Adolescent Health through Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs and Services
Research Project

Childhood, Adolescence, and Covid-Related Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Adjustment in Early Adulthood Across Cultures

Project Description Compared to adolescents or adults in mid-life, young adults (aged 22-26) are at higher risk of death and disease from a variety of causes, most of which are preventable, including mental health problems, substance use, sexually transmitted infections, homicides, and motor vehicle accidents. Mental health and substance use disorders alone account for approximately…

learn more about Childhood, Adolescence, and Covid-Related Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Adjustment in Early Adulthood Across Cultures
Research Project

Partnering for Excellence

This project is an evaluation of Benchmarks’ Partnering for Excellence (PFE), a model that seeks to improve the well-being of children and families in contact with the child welfare system and reduce the need for higher end behavioral services through a more trauma-informed community, which can result in reduces in behavioral healthcare expenditures.

learn more about Partnering for Excellence

For Students

The Center offers a variety of ways for Duke students at every level to learn about child and family policy and become involved in original research.