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
School 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.
Student Reflection on Morris-Perez Talk “The Scarlet Letter S”
March 10, 2026
CCFP News
“Always and forever, for Frankie.” Those are the words Dr. Pamela Morris-Perez used to end her lecture, “The Scarlet Letter ‘S’: Reclaiming Humanity & Hope for Teen Suicide,” as part of the Center for Child and Family Policy’s Sulzberger Distinguished Lecture Series.
read more about Student Reflection on Morris-Perez Talk “The Scarlet Letter S”
Featured Projects
Research Project
Factors in Persistence Versus Fadeout of Early Childhood Intervention Impacts
This project seeks to understand whether, for whom, and how the effects of successful early childhood school readiness interventions are sustained across a child’s development.
learn more about Factors in Persistence Versus Fadeout of Early Childhood Intervention Impacts
Research Project
STEPS: Study of Teen Experiences that Promote Success
This project aims to advance research on the relationship between economic well-being, wealth, adolescent functioning and mental health.
learn more about STEPS: Study of Teen Experiences that Promote Success
Research Project
BELLA Online: ESL and Classroom Teachers Working Together With Children and Families
Project goal is to design, develop, and test an online professional development program called Bridging English Language Learning and Academics (BELLA) for improving teacher and student outcomes for working with English Learners (ELs).
learn more about BELLA Online: ESL and Classroom Teachers Working Together With Children and Families
Research Project
Early Identification and Prevention of Child Maltreatment: Cross-Agency Processes and Outcomes
Local social service agencies and health care providers routinely make decisions regarding a child’s risk for maltreatment. Yet, providers have limited information to guide their decisions and rarely receive feedback regarding the children’s long-term outcomes.
learn more about Early Identification and Prevention of Child Maltreatment: Cross-Agency Processes and OutcomesFor 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.