PolicyLab responded to a request for information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on “Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility." In this response, PolicyLab experts describe harms that resulted from the 2019 public…

OBJECTIVES: To develop and test the feasibility of a caregiver self-administered social needs screener, a Web-based searchable community resource map, and a process map for implementation of these tools as part of social needs screening and referral on a pediatric inpatient unit…

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The United States declared a national emergency and, on March 18, 2020, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued guidance advising pediatricians to restrict preventive care visits to younger…

Positive neighborhood environments may promote healthier behaviors, yet few studies have examined associations between neighborhood social environment and diet. We examined associations of neighborhood perceived safety, collective efficacy, and violent crime with dietary intake among…

Racial/ethnic disparities in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are well documented across the United States, including in pregnancy. Limited English proficiency (LEP) widens health disparities, but less is known about its association with pregnancy…

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) describes deliberate self-destructive behaviors without the intention to die. Little is known about what factors contribute to NSSI especially among youth. The current study tested two conceptual models for how chronic interpersonal stress and rumination…

As part of the PA Family Support Needs Assessment, PolicyLab assessed county-level data across seven key housing, economic, and community indicators—outlined in this brief—which influence health outcomes in childhood and throughout a person’s life. The brief also includes…

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Hispanic, and other individuals of color, although data on the effect of a person's language on SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited. Considering the barriers suffered by…

Note: This Issue Brief was updated in March 2023 to reflect changes to the Pennsylvania policy landscape with the enactment of the Expedited Partner Therapy Act.  Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are at an all-time high, a trend that has only been exacerbated by the…

IMPORTANCE: Many children and adolescents in the United States are exposed to neighborhood gun violence. Associations between violence exposure and children’s short-term mental health are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between neighborhood gun violence and…