Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.7.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Children, Families, & Policy Lab Research lab at the University of Georgia ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Hello world!](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/hello-world/) - Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! ## Pages - [Meet Our Team](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/meet-the-team/) - Dr. Liwei Zhang Lab Director Xi Wang Lab Member Joyce Ndungu MSW Lab Member Seunghyun Max Moon Lab Member Jihye Lee Lab Member Jana Woodiwiss Lab Member Kylie Wood Lab Member Ruijie Ma Lab Member Akhila Kothapalli Lab Intern Yueyue Ma Lab Intern Jacqueline Samson Lab Member Nayeli Herrera-Grados Lab Member Laura Liliana Villegas Gutierrez - [Laura Liliana Villegas Gutierrez](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma-6-4/) - I'm Laura Villegas, a Ph.D. student in Social Work at the University of Georgia, where I also earned my Master of Social Work. I hold a Master in International and Political Studies and a Bachelor in International Affairs from my home country Originally from Colombia, I bring over 15 years of experience working alongside communities affected - [Nayeli Herrera-Grados](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma-6-3/) - Nayeli Herrera, is a third-year Master of Social Work (MSW) student at the University of Georgia, expected to graduate in May 2027. With a strong interest in supporting immigrant communities, Nayeli is passionate about understanding and addressing the social, economic, and systemic challenges faced by working immigrant populations. Their academic interests include immigrant population, community-based - [News & Events](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/news-events/) - Recent Media Coverage State-Level COVID-19 Eviction Moratoria May Have Helped Reduce Risk of Child Maltreatment Eviction Bans Linked To Drop In Child Abuse Reports New COVID measures archive data release - [Economic Support Policies & Child Maltreatment Prevention ](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/economic-support-policies-child-maltreatment-prevention/) - State economic support policies on the prevention of child abuse and neglect during and post the COVID-19 pandemic: Bridging evidence with policy implementation Principal investigator: Liwei Zhang, Ph.D. Funding Source: NIH/The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 7K01HD110683, $661,905, 2023–2028. Project Description The COVID-19 pandemic (hereafter, COVID) has exacerbated economic - [Publications](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/publications-3/) - Recent Peer-reviewed journal articles: (* denotes student): 1) Zhang, L., Kohl, P. L., *Woodiwiss, J. L., & *Ndungu, J. J. W. (2026). County variations in child maltreatment risk and service responses during and post the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2026.2645868 2) Zhang, L., Wang, Y., & Berger, L. M. (in press). State-Based Eviction Moratoria - [Team Alumni](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/meet-the-team-2/) - Anna Cummings Lab Member Aniyah Coaxum Lab member Molly Kavanaugh Lab Member - [Connect with the Lab](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/get-involved/) - Instagram @cfp.researchlab X / Twitter @cfpresearchlab LinkedIn @Children, Families, and Policy Research Lab Join Us ! - [Child and Family Services during COVID-19 ](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/child-and-family-services-during-covid-19/) - Child welfare responses during and post COVID-19 in Missouri: Trends in administrative data and perspectives from agencies and families Principal investigator: Liwei Zhang, Ph.D. Funding Source: National Research Center on Poverty and Economic Mobility, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1H79AE000058-01 (0000003435), $24,981, 2023-2025. Project Description This study explores child and family service responses - [Jacqueline Samson](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/akhila-kothapalli-2/) - Jacqueline Samson is a current 3rd year undergrad social work major. "I currently help the lab in engaging with and interviewing participants. Along with this I am involved with the Student Government Association as the School of Social Work senator and a current America Reads and Counts Tutor. I plan on pursuing my MSW and hope - [Molly Kavanaugh](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma-6-2/) - My name is Molly Kavanaugh, and I am a graduate assistant in the CFP lab. I am in the second and final year of the MSW program at UGA, and my clinical interests include the complex dynamics within family systems, the interplay between depression and anxiety, and the long-term impacts of childhood trauma. In my - [Jana Woodiwiss](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/jana-woodiwiss/) - Jana Woodiwiss is a PhD Candidate (ABD) at the University of Georgia School of Social Work where her research focuses on the impact of family separation among Latin American immigrant families. She is a Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and Dianne C. Davidson Fellow. Jana is presently a board member on the DNA Bridge Consortium - [Ruijie Ma](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/ruijie-ma/) - Ruijie (Ray) Ma, MSW (she/her), is a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. She received a Bachelor's degree in Law from Central China Normal University and an MSW from the University of Georgia. Prior to her doctoral studies, Ruijie worked at the largest social work organization in central China, where - [Kylie Wood](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma-2/) - Kylie Wood is a second-year Master of Social Work (MSW) student at the University of Georgia, where she also earned her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). With a strong passion for supporting children and families, Kylie serves as a social media intern for the lab, helping to communicate its child welfare research through engaging and - [Anna Cummings](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma-6/) - I am Anna Grace Cummings, Master of Social Work Student at the University of Georgia. I will be starting my second year in the Fall of 2025. My focus is Micro social work in Child Welfare. I am involved within the School of Social Work at UGA as a student ambassador. I also serve as - [Jihye Lee](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma-8/) - Jihye Lee focuses on social policies related to the economic integration and multidimensional poverty of immigrants, with a specific emphasis on forced and unauthorized migration populations. Her research was inspired by her experiences as a researcher and social worker, during which she witnessed how exclusionary social policies contribute to poverty and hinder social integration into - [Max Moon](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/max-moon/) - Seunghyun (Max) Moon is a Ph.D. candidate in Social Work at the University of Georgia. His research explores how precarious employment affects family formation, childrearing, and intergenerational mobility, with an emphasis on the role of social policy. He earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from Yonsei University in South Korea and a second Master’s - [Joyce Ndungu MSW](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/joyce-ndungu-msw/) - My name is Joyce Ndungu MSW, and I’m beyond excited to be part of this incredible lab team! I have a background in Social Work and am currently a Doctoral student in the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia. My work focuses on how policies intersect with real lives, especially among vulnerable populations. - [Xi Wang](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/xi-wang/) - Xi Wang is a researcher working on a systematic review examining how SNAP and TANF policies influence child maltreatment outcomes. Her work sits at the intersection of social policy, public health, and child and family well-being, with a focus on using data-driven approaches to assess how policy interventions can reduce disparities and support vulnerable populations. Passionate - [Liwei Zhang](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma-5/) - I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Georgia and the director of the Children, Families, & Policy Lab. My research focuses on how economic hardship affects families and children, especially how financial stress can increase the risk of child maltreatment. I’m particularly interested in understanding how social policies, such as SNAP - [Yueyue Ma](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/yueyue-ma/) - Yueyue Ma is an undergraduate student at the University of Georgia, pursuing a double major in Management Information Systems (Data Analytics emphasis) and Cognitive Science (AI and Psychology focus). In the Children, Families, and Policy Lab, she is responsible for designing, maintaining, and developing the lab’s website to support effective communication of research and policy - [Akhila Kothapalli](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/akhila-kothapalli/) - Akhila Kothapalli is an Undergraduate student at the University of Georgia, pursuing a major in Management Information Systems with an emphasis in Data Analytics and Information Security. In the Children, Families, and Policy Lab she is responsible for designing, maintaining, and developing the lab website to document the Lab’s accomplishments. Her academic interests center on Ethical - [Eviction Moratoria & Child Maltreatment Prevention](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/eviction-moratoria-child-maltreatment-prevention/) - The effects of eviction moratoria and renter-supportive measures on the prevention of child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic Principal investigator: Liwei Zhang, Ph.D. Funding Source: Russell Sage Foundation, $30,000, 2023-2025. Project Description Eviction and housing insecurity increase a child’s risk of experiencing neglect and abuse. Studies on existing housing and renter-supportive programs have shown that - [SNAP Expansions & Food Insecurity](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/the-effects-of-state-level-snap-expansions-during-covid-19-on-food-insecurity-inequalities-among-children-of-immigrants/) - The effects of state-level SNAP expansions during COVID-19 on food insecurity inequalities among children of immigrants Principal investigator: Yingying Zeng, Ph.D. Co-Principal investigator: Liwei Zhang, Ph.D. Funding Source: William T. Grant Foundation, $50,000, 2025-2026. Project Description This study evaluates the effects of state-level Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) expansions during COVID-19 on food insecurity among - [Housing Support & Child Well-Being](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/cp-housing-support/) - The impact of emergency housing support programs on child health and well-being: A comparative analysis Principal investigator: Liwei Zhang, Ph.D. Funding Source: Sarah H. Moss Fellowship, UGA, 2025-2026, $7,000. Project Description: This project investigates how pandemic-era housing support policies affected child health in two high-income countries: the United States and Switzerland. The study will be conducted with the collaboration of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland. The COVID-19 exposed vulnerabilities in housing - [Community Collaborators](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/1-2/) - The Children, Families, and Policy Lab is dedicated to advancing the safety, well-being, and stability of economically disadvantaged children and families: through rigorous, policy-relevant research and community collaboration. Our community collaborators have been such an important part of our community outreach and participant recruitment. - [The impact of emergency housing support programs on child health and well-being: A comparative analysis](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/housing-support-child-well-being/) - Principal investigator: Liwei Zhang, Ph.D. Funding Source: Sarah H. Moss Fellowship, UGA, 2025-2026, $7,000 Project Description This project investigates how pandemic-era housing support policies affected child health in two high-income countries: the United States and Switzerland. The study will be conducted with the collaboration of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland. The COVID-19 - [Current Research Projects](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/publications/) - Housing Support & Child Well-Being The impact of emergency housing support programs on child health and well-being: A comparative analysis SNAP Expansions & Food Insecurity The effects of state-level SNAP expansions during COVID-19 on food insecurity inequalities among children of immigrants Economic Support Policies & Child Maltreatment Prevention State economic support policies on the prevention of child abuse and neglect during and post the COVID-19 pandemic: ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://childrenfamiliespolicy.com/category/uncategorized/)