Amanda Griffin

Researcher

Dr. Amanda Griffin is a Researcher at Chapin Hall, where she develops and evaluates resources and programs designed to address social disparities and inequities facing youth and families experiencing homelessness. She uses quantitative and qualitative methods to provide stakeholders with actionable information to improve access to care and long-term housing and education outcomes. Her work promotes the use of evidence-based programs in settings that provide services to youth and families experiencing homelessness. Griffin is currently working to identifying and addressing the barriers homeless families experience when enrolling and participating in home visiting programs. In addition, her work supports the sexual and reproductive health of youth involved with the justice system, youth involved with the child welfare system, and youth experiencing homelessness, by increasing service providers’ access to evidence-based resources and recommending evidence-based programs and practices. She is also supporting stakeholders in piloting and evaluating a program focused on youth experiencing homeless to improve housing stability, food security, empowerment, and well-being through a community partnership.

Prior to joining Chapin Hall, Griffin worked at the University of Oregon Prevention Science Institute as a Postdoctoral Fellow through a National Research Service Award (NSRA) grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). She focused on translating basic research from parent-child adoption design and a siblings-reared-apart design to evaluate the effectiveness of a randomized control trial targeting school readiness. The goal was to identify mechanisms of change that influence parent-child interactions, peer relationships, and school readiness. In addition, she spent time working to address inequities faced by “underserved” populations, such as children who have been maltreated, children who have experienced homelessness, children who have dual child welfare and juvenile justice involvement, and families experiencing opioid use. Through this work, she collaborated with community stakeholders to launch a daily diary study that captured daily variation in schoolmate and teacher interactions that affect the daily adjustment of doubled-up homeless students.

Griffin has expertise in survey design, quantitative methodology, prevention science, and developmental psychology. She received her Doctor of Philosophy degree and Master of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University. Griffin obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Key Work

Key Work

Project
Youth-Driven Supportive Programming and Direct Cash Transfers
A series of briefs describing and evaluating the implementation of the Cash Plus model in New York City and San Francisco.
October 2, 2024
Project
Helping Youth in Foster Care Make Informed Sexual Health Decisions
The 130 youth from across Texas who participated in THRIVE reported acquiring new knowledge, learning how to advocate for their sexual health needs, and...
October 10, 2023
Report
Home Visiting Services Help Homeless Families Navigate Children’s Health and Development
This report examines Start Early's Home Visiting for Homeless Families project and its progress toward increasing access to home visiting services among...
2022
Project
Innovative Direct Cash Transfer pilot program for youth experiencing homelessness to expand to San Francisco
The Trust Youth Initiative Direct Cash Transfer pilot program in New York City is expanding to San Francisco. The program will be modified based on housing...
March 14, 2023
Project
Project Provides Benefits of Home Visiting for Families Experiencing Homelessness
Start Early developed a program to provide the benefits of home visiting to families experiencing homelessness. Chapin Hall is evaluating the program.
September 16, 2021
Project
Activate Produces Reproductive Health Resources for Health Care Providers
Chapin Hall, Child Trends, and Healthy Teen Network partner to develop, promote research-based sexual and reproductive health resources.
June 23, 2021
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