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
2024 Color of Education Summit highlights equity, community, and civic action
October 7, 2024
EdNC
A recap and highlights from the 2024 Color of Education Summit, co-sponsored by the Center for Child and Family Policy.
read more about 2024 Color of Education Summit highlights equity, community, and civic actionCareers in Child and Family Policy: Policy + Law/Medicine/Business
October 3, 2024
CCFP News
On Friday, September 20, CCFP hosted three Duke dual-degree graduate students pursuing careers at the intersection of Policy and Law/Medicine/Business, as part its Careers in Child and Family Policy speaker series.
read more about Careers in Child and Family Policy: Policy + Law/Medicine/BusinessCCFP 25th Anniversary Spotlight: Q&A with Helen “Sunny” Ladd
October 1, 2024
CCFP News
As part of the Center for Child and Family Policy’s 25th Anniversary celebration, we honor faculty, researchers, and staff who have contributed to the Center’s work, culture, and impact.
read more about CCFP 25th Anniversary Spotlight: Q&A with Helen “Sunny” LaddCosts of college campus economic diversity to democracy? A view from an economics classroom
September 27, 2024
The Chronicle
Classrooms – I might argue, especially economics classrooms – can go a long way to interrogate normative perspectives and issues from non-normative tools in all of the
ways that a true democracy demands, writes Lisa Gentian in The Duke Chronicle.
Featured Projects
Research Project
Durham Children’s Initiative Evaluation
Project Description The Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI) (formerly East Durham Children’s Initiative) is a place-based, nonprofit organization that supports children and families from cradle to college or career. Established in 2010, DCI’s vision is that all children in Durham graduate from high school ready for college or career. To achieve this vision, DCI provides children…
learn more about Durham Children’s Initiative Evaluation
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
Research Project
How State Social Policies and Practices Impact Hispanic Low-Income Children and Youth
Project Description Safety net policies are intended to provide some level of basic income support and economic security to eligible families, in turn improving developmental outcomes and life course trajectories for children. Yet, despite high rates of poverty, Latinx families are less likely than other groups to utilize these benefits. Project Goals The team will…
learn more about How State Social Policies and Practices Impact Hispanic Low-Income Children and Youth
Research Project
Race, Gesture, Learning and Teaching Effectiveness
This project has been examining how race and nonverbal communication, such as gesture and affect, impact children’s learning. The team is now working to replicate their research in the lab and pilot a gesture intervention in first and second grade classrooms in local elementary schools.
learn more about Race, Gesture, Learning and Teaching EffectivenessFor 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.