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
How do people’s beliefs about the world develop?
August 31, 2026
Child and Family Blog
Young adults are more likely to believe that the world is good, safe, and enticing if they experienced parental warmth in childhood and adolescence.
read more about How do people’s beliefs about the world develop?Empowering Immigrant and Refugee Youth through Critical Literacy
August 20, 2026
CCFP News
Q&A with Jennifer Mann, Ph.D., about the CIDR research project and the potential of critical literacy to create more equitable educational experiences for immigrant and refugee students.
read more about Empowering Immigrant and Refugee Youth through Critical LiteracyChild Care Deserts in North Carolina
August 3, 2026
CCFP News
Two newly released policy briefs, Expanding Child Care Options in North Carolina, describe the value of Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care providers to working parents in North Carolina and policy considerations for expanding child care options statewide.
read more about Child Care Deserts in North CarolinaITTI 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 Children
Featured Projects
Research Project
National Center for Research on Hispanic Families and Children
Project Description The National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families (Center) is a research hub to generate evidence and support programs and policy to better serve low-income Hispanic children and families. Areas of research focus include poverty reduction and economic self-sufficiency; family stability; and early care and education. A key part of the Center’s mission…
learn more about National Center for Research on Hispanic Families and Children
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
ITTI Care Project 2.0: Evaluating a Revised Model of Infant/Toddler Trauma-Informed Care
The Infant-Toddler Trauma-Informed Care Project 2.0 (ITTI Care 2.0) is a “next-level” version of the original ITTI Care Project, modified based on lessons learned during six years of implementation with teachers and administrators at all levels of early childhood infrastructure.
learn more about ITTI Care Project 2.0: Evaluating a Revised Model of Infant/Toddler Trauma-Informed Care
Research Project
Voices in the Code: Youth-Centered Design of AI Mental Health Tools
Voices in the Code is a three-year, youth-centered research initiative examining how artificial intelligence (AI)–powered social-emotional learning (SEL) and mental health tools can be designed to better serve students.
learn more about Voices in the Code: Youth-Centered Design of AI Mental Health ToolsFor 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.