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
ITTI Care 2.0: How Supporting Child Care Providers Can Transform Outcomes for Young Children
June 12, 2026
CCFP News
In February 2026, the Center for Child and Family Policy received a transformative gift of $10.5 million from Bukhman Philanthropies to support five new research projects on some of the most pressing issues facing children and families today. The following is the first of a five-part blog series to introduce and share more about each…
read more about ITTI Care 2.0: How Supporting Child Care Providers Can Transform Outcomes for Young ChildrenSchool Research Partnership Event 2026 Recap
May 14, 2026
CCFP News
On April 16, the Center for Child and Family Policy (CCFP) hosted the School Research Partnership‘s annual spring event, featuring student poster presentations followed by a dinner and expert panel on Community-Engaged STEM for Belonging and Identity: Insights from our L.I.F.T (Learning Innovation and Future Technology) Lab. Moderated by Leslie Babinski, director of the School…
read more about School Research Partnership Event 2026 RecapTransformative grant empowers Duke to launch statewide maternal and child health initiative
April 30, 2026
Made for This: The Duke Campaign
Duke University has received a $30 million, 10-year grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative to improve maternal and early childhood health across North Carolina
read more about Transformative grant empowers Duke to launch statewide maternal and child health initiativeDuke Junior Wins Truman Scholarship
April 28, 2026
Duke Today
Ari Cook, a Child Policy Research Certificate student at Duke University, is a leader in promoting inclusive care for foster children.
Featured Projects
Research Project
Understanding How Interpersonal Relationships and Social Support During War Promote Resilience and Recovery
This study focuses on understanding how Ukrainian youth and young adults are navigating the challenges of war not only regarding their coping strategies and individual adjustment, but also in how they are developing meaningful relationships with peers, partners, and parents, and the ways in which they are seeking and receiving support.
learn more about Understanding How Interpersonal Relationships and Social Support During War Promote Resilience and Recovery
Research Project
Midlife Health in the Rural South
Project Description Midlife Health in the Rural South (Midlife HiRS) aims to recruit residents of eastern North Carolina (NC) to participate in a baseline survey and short follow-up surveys about health and life experiences. The goal of this study is to understand risk and resilience related to health and well-being during the midlife years (30-55…
learn more about Midlife Health in the Rural South
Research Project
Reducing Structural Barriers in a School-Based System of Food Assistance to Reduce Inequality in Food Security and Child Outcomes
Project Description In the U.S., food insecurity (FI), or the inconsistent access to food of the quantity or quality needed to fuel a healthy life, is an important source of socioeconomic and racial inequality in youth outcomes. Decades of research finds that FI undermines youths’ physical, socioemotional, and cognitive development, and their academic outcomes as…
learn more about Reducing Structural Barriers in a School-Based System of Food Assistance to Reduce Inequality in Food Security and Child Outcomes
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 EvaluationFor 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.