Chapin Hall

Dr. Cynthia Burnson is a Senior Researcher at Chapin Hall. She partners with child welfare agencies, policymakers, and service providers to develop and evaluate prevention-focused strategies that strengthen families and reduce child welfare involvement. Her current work includes evaluating the installation of community pathways programs, supporting continuous quality improvement (CQI) within the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), and conducting administrative data analyses to inform prevention planning.

Burnson brings expertise in program evaluation, mixed-methods research, and quantitative approaches, including quasi-experimental designs. She has led evaluations of interventions aligned with Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse standards and supported jurisdictions in using research to guide FFPSA implementation. Her prior work includes evaluations of evidence-based home visiting programs in collaboration with Wisconsin counties and tribes, as well as research examining resilience and the well-being of children with incarcerated parents.

Burnson holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Quantitative Methods from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she also earned a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science.

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise:
Prevention and Family Strengthening | Child Welfare Systems Change | Program Evaluation | FFPSA Implementation | Mixed Methods | Data Analytics and Prevention Planning | Home Visiting | Community Pathways | Mandated Reporting Reform