{"id":357,"date":"2010-10-25T10:56:50","date_gmt":"2010-10-25T14:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/admissions\/childwelfare\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T15:28:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T19:28:17","slug":"projects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/research-faculty\/projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Explore the compelling research projects led by BUSSW faculty and funded by major grants.<\/h4>\n
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Strengthening the Infrastructure and Impact of the Diversitydatakids.org Research Project to Increase Wellbeing and Equity for Children<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

7\/1\/25-6\/30\/27<\/p>\n

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To Promote Access to Rigorous, Equity-Focused Research and Data to Improve Child Well-Being and Increase Racial and Ethnic Equity in Opportunities for Children by Supporting Updates and Sustainability<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

W.K.Kellogg Foundation<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

6\/1\/25-4\/30\/27<\/span><\/p>\n

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Designing an Evidence-to-Action Hub on Children in Immigrant Families<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

Co-PI:Pamela Joshi,Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Foundation for Child Development<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

4\/1\/25-9\/30\/26<\/span><\/p>\n

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Immigrant Inclusion in the U.S. Tax and Transfer System: Advancing Evidence and State Policy Action<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

Co-PI:Pamela Joshi, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

W.T Grant Foundation<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

9\/1\/25-8\/31\/26<\/span><\/p>\n

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Developing the Core Data Infrastructure for a Research-to-Action Hub for Children in Immigrant Families<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

Co-PI:Pamela Joshi, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Foundation for Child Development<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

9\/1\/25-8\/31\/27<\/p>\n

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Building the Data Infrastructure to Reimagine an Equitable System for Healthy Children and Families<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

Co-PI: Pamela Joshi, Institute for Equity in Childhood Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

11\/1\/25-10\/31\/27<\/span><\/p>\n

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Peer Mentors Supporting Retention to Care and Sustained Viral Suppression<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Luis Alvarez-Hernandez, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Valley AIDS Council<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

7\/1\/25-12\/31\/26<\/span><\/p>\n

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Training for Scientists Conducting Research to Reduce HIV\/AIDS Health Disparities<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Luis Alvarez-Hernandez, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

The Regents of the University of California; NIH\/National Institute of Mental Health<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

11\/1\/25-4\/30\/26<\/span><\/p>\n

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CFAR Initial AIDS Research Project:Building New England Collaborations for HIV Community-Engaged Implementation Science Research<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Luis Alvarez-Hernandez, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

The Miriam Hospital; NIH\/National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

8\/15\/25-8\/14\/26<\/p>\n

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Youth Centered Social Capital Research Cohort<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Astraea Augsberger, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

11\/2\/23-2\/28\/26<\/span><\/p>\n

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General Preventative Medicine Maternal Health Program<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI:Dawn Belkin Martinez,<\/a> BUSSW<\/p>\n

PI: Pablo Buitron de la Vega, Boston Medical Center (BMC)<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration via BMC<\/p>\n

Description:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

The aim of this training grant is to prepare highly motivated, diverse and well-qualified primary care physicians in public health and general preventive medicine with a focus on maternal health. Buitron de la Vega is principal investigator of the parent grant ($2,957,632) and Sprague Martinez leads the development of curriculum related to social determinants of health and community engagement. Belkin Martinez leads the integration of the liberation health model in residency training and medical education.<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Through August 2027<\/p>\n

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Patient Advisory Panel<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Deborah Chassler, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

BMC-Grayken Funds<\/p>\n

Funding Period: <\/strong><\/h6>\n

6\/30\/24-7\/31\/26<\/span><\/p>\n

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Evaluation of the Impact of Massachusetts\u2019 Child Care Subsidy Payment Policies on Family and Provider Participation<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Yoonsook Ha, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

HHS\/Administration for Children and Families<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

9\/30\/2023-9\/29\/26<\/p>\n

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Embedding Quality Improvement in Child Care Contracts to Improve Access to High-Quality Care<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Yoonsook Ha, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

HHS\/Administration for Children and Families<\/p>\n

Funding Period:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

9\/30\/2024-9\/29\/2026<\/p>\n

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HEAL Study: Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviors, and Quality of Life among Suicide Bereaved Asian Americans<\/h5>\n
Project Investigators:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

PI: Hyeouk Hahm, BUSSW<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sponsor:<\/strong><\/h6>\n

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention<\/p>\n

Description:<\/h6>\n
This study aims to identify risk factors that could elevate Asian American families’ suicidality and mechanisms that promote resilience and effective coping, such as family cohesion, forgiveness, and post-traumatic growth. Below are detailed research goals and methods.<\/div>\n
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