As a regular, trusted touchpoint for families, the pediatric primary care medical home can support early literacy and language development through programs like Reach Out and Read, an evidence-based model that trains medical providers to use children’s books as a tool to connect with…

The collection, use, and meaning of race in biomedical research is complicated by the tension between the requisite interrogation of health disparities associated with race and the risk of continued insinuation of race as a biologic entity when interspersed with health outcomes. As a…

Prolonged pediatric hospitalizations can lead to financial and capacity strain for health systems and generate psychosocial and economic stress for children and their caregivers. Hospital length of stay (LOS) is therefore often measured as an indicator of health care quality,…

In the United States, caregivers of children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN) must navigate complex, inefficient health care and insurance systems to access medical care. We assessed for sociodemographic inequities in time spent coordinating care for CYSHCN and examined…

Fatal poisoning is a preventable cause of death among young children. Understanding factors surrounding these deaths will inform future prevention efforts. Our objective was to describe the characteristics of fatal pediatric poisonings using child death review data. We acquired data…

Beverage taxes are associated with declines in sugar-sweetened beverage sales and consumption, but few studies have evaluated the associations of these taxes with health outcomes. This study analyzed changes in dental decay after the implementation of the Philadelphia sweetened…

PolicyLab’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan outlines the center's three-year goals under its strategic priorities, which focus on conducting high-impact research, fostering a more inclusive and equitable working environment, increasing our capacity to create meaningful policy change and…

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified food insecurity (FI) across the country, and families with children were disproportionately affected. This study explores experiences with FI and social resources during the pandemic among families participating in a free, clinic-based community…

PolicyLab responded to a request for public comment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the Proposed Rule on Revisions in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Food Packages. In their response, PolicyLab experts offer their perspective on…

OBJECTIVES: To test effects of a social media-based parenting program for mothers with postpartum depressive symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial from December 2019 to August 2021 of a parenting program using Facebook. Women with mild-to-moderate depressive…