Publications

A growing body of scientific evidence supports paid family leave policies for new parents: studies have demonstrated benefits to public health (increased breastfeeding, on-time vaccinations, decreased infant hospitalizations, and improved child/parent bonding), socioeconomic wellbeing of families (improved labor force participation, decreased poverty and use of public support programs, and increased ability to arrange childcare), and […]

Family violence and child abuse are deeply interconnected issues that can have lasting and severe consequences for children and families. In New Jersey, the state has taken significant steps to address these challenges through the Domestic Violence and Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) Policy. This policy provides child welfare professionals with essential guidance […]

As the New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) reaches its fourth anniversary, it is my honor to serve as the Executive Director, working with an incredible team of dedicated professionals to better understand and investigate policy issues impacting the state. The NJSPL was created as the result of a grant from the Office of the Secretary […]

Perinatal depression is a significant public health issue in New Jersey and in the United States, with wide disparities by race and socioeconomic status. Evidence shows that perinatal depression adversely affects a range of children’s health and developmental outcomes and is correlated with negative health outcomes for mothers, yet little is known about potential policy […]

Chiamaka Nwede is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science degree in Public Affairs and Community Development at Rutgers-Camden. I met a girl sitting inside her high school’s underfunded laboratory, staring at a robotic kit that had seen better days. She had always been fascinated by how machines worked, often tinkering with household gadgets […]

Taylor Hughes is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Policy degree at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. She serves as a research assistant with the New Jersey State Policy Lab.   Maternal mortality is a crucial indicator for assessing the quality of healthcare access and delivery for pregnant […]

Abortion, the medical termination of a pregnancy, is one of the most divisive moral, political, and cultural issues impacting the United States today. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark cases of Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), ruling that the United States Constitution “does not […]

As a result of longstanding structural inequities, African American women endure greater trauma, socioeconomic disparities, and stress, and have less access to healthcare and social support during the perinatal period, which occurs from the beginning of pregnancy to a year after giving birth. With these factors, which can lead to poorer mental and physical health […]

In an academic-community partnership between Rutgers School of Public Health and Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, we conducted a community needs assessment to better understand disparities in perinatal mental health in New Jersey.

In a new report published in collaboration with the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the Center for Women and Work, we examined gender and racial/ethnic inequality in the financial effects of inflation.

Two new data briefs by the Center for Women and Work examined gender and racial/ethnic disparities in inflation experiences in the greater New York City and Philadelphia areas in order to provide updated information about inequality in economic well-being in these areas.

After-school programs in the United States can be traced back to the late 19th century, developed from historical changes in children’s participation in the labor force market, the introduction of formal schooling, and increased attention to children's safety issues. With the boom in more after-school activities, parents, communities, and policymakers are increasingly concerned about the effectiveness of these programs.