Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
My research leverages data to improve the outcomes of children and families in need. One part of my research addresses epidemiological questions about the outcomes of children and families. For example, I have collaborated with several government and non-profit agencies to examine children’s interactions with public benefit, health systems, and child protection services. This research helped our local agencies to better understand their client population and relate the receipt of services to child welfare outcomes more effectively. Another part of my research inquires about whether algorithms can inform decision-making in child welfare in a fair and equitable manner. So, my dissertation examines fairness in machine learning applied to child welfare. And it lays the foundation for future research focusing on aligning data science initiatives with child welfare practice and policy priorities.