Therapy Dogs Visit, Come Say “Hello!”
What better way to kick off the first week of classes than a little sweetness and a lot of puppy love?
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
Child 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 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 initiative
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
Childhood, Adolescence, and Covid-Related Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Adjustment in Early Adulthood Across Cultures
Building on the ongoing Parenting Across Cultures longitudinal study that began in 2008, this project will continue to follow participants in their early to mid-twenties.
learn more about Childhood, Adolescence, and Covid-Related Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Adjustment in Early Adulthood Across Cultures
Research Project
Reimagining Student Assignment Practices to Increase Equity, Access, and Diversity
Project Description The Spencer Foundation awarded the Durham Public Schools Foundation (DPSF) a Research-Practice Partnership (RPP) grant to build on longstanding collaborations among DPSF, Durham Public Schools (DPS), and Duke University to examine the implementation and impact of the Growing Together (GT) Initiative. GT is a transformational new process for student assignment launched in the…
learn more about Reimagining Student Assignment Practices to Increase Equity, Access, and Diversity
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 CareFor 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.