September 25, 2007

George Gund Foundation supports Schubert Center's Child Policy Initiative

Jill Korbin

The George Gund Foundation has awarded a $120,000 grant to the Schubert Center for Child Studies to sustain its Child Policy Initiative (CPI) through 2009. Established three years ago with the foundation's support, CPI has worked to strengthen the connections among research, education, and child policy at Case Western Reserve University.

Under the leadership of Schubert Center director Jill Korbin and CPI director Molly Irwin, the Child Policy Initiative has mobilized faculty participation in policy-related activities and created opportunities for increased contact between researchers and the policy community.

CPI has instituted three undergraduate courses in child policy. One of these courses includes an experiential learning trip to Washington, D.C., and in alternate years, to Columbus, Ohio, to meet with policy organizations and policymakers so that students can get a firsthand look at the policymaking process. Through an externship program funded by the Mann Endowment, students also have worked with policy-focused organizations in the Cleveland area.

Another highlight of CPI's first three years was the publication of As Life Unfolds: Research on Children and Childhood at Case Western Reserve University, a compendium that helped make policymakers, public officials and the broader public aware of the range of child-related research conducted by the faculty.

To encourage dialogue among researchers, policymakers and community members, the Schubert Center conducts an ongoing seminar series, "Case Conversations on Children in Research and Policy," that invites active involvement by all three constituencies. At each conversation, CPI publishes a Child Policy Brief summarizing the research presented and its policy implications. The policy briefs are also available online at the Schubert site.

The 2007-08 Case Conversations on Children in Research and Policy

These seminars, accompanied by a light lunch, take place from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, they will be held in the 1914 Lounge in the Thwing Center, 11111 Euclid Ave. Each session includes a presentation by a faculty member and a response from a policymaker or an expert from the community. The Case Conversations are free and open to the public.

  • Tuesday, October 9 – "Children’s Participation in Out-of-School Activities: The Impact of Family and Neighborhood." Claudia Coulton, the Lillian F. Harris Professor and co-director of the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, and Molly Irwin, director, Child Policy Initiative.
  • Tuesday, November 13 – "The Impact of Urban Hassles as Chronic Stressors on Adolescent Mental Health." David B. Miller, associate professor, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Spartan Room, Thwing Center.
  • Tuesday, February 19, 2008 – "The Effect of Age at School Entry Policies on Children’s Academic Success." Heather N. Royner, assistant professor of economics, Weatherhead School of Management.
  • Tuesday, March 18, 2008 – "Racial Equality in Intelligence: Evidence from a Theory of Intelligence as Processing." Joseph Fagan, the Lucy Adams Leffingwell Professor of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2008 – "The Role of Genetics in Speech, Language, and Reading Disorders among Children." Barbara A. Lewis, associate professor of communication sciences, College of Arts and Sciences.

To learn more about the Schubert Center, call (216) 368-0540, e-mail schubertcenter@case.edu or visit the Schubert Center Web site.

For more information contact Susan Griffith, 216.368.1004.

Posted by: Kimyette Finley, September 25, 2007 09:06 AM | News Topics: Collaborations/Partnerships, Collaborations/Partnerships, College of Arts and Sciences, Community Outreach, Faculty, General, Grants, HeadlinesMain, Provost Initiatives, Public Policy/Politics, Research

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