We are pleased to announce that Dr. Saltanat Childress (PI) and Dr. Scott Ryan (Co-PI) have received a Wolens Pilot Award to support innovative research on Barriers and Facilitators to Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences in School-based Settings in Kyrgyzstan. The project examines how evidence-based, family-centered interventions can be successfully implemented and sustained to prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and improve child and family well-being. Building on an ongoing NIH-funded study, the project partners with schools, families, and community stakeholders to identify implementation barriers, facilitators, and strategies that support culturally responsive prevention programs across education, health, and social service systems. The findings will inform child and family policies in Kyrgyzstan while advancing the global dissemination of evidence-based prevention programs for underserved populations, including immigrant and refugee communities.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Maryam Rafieifar (PI), alongside Dr. Hanna Haran and Dr. Jaclyn Kirsch (Co-PIs) and Ana Ponciano (Co-I/Fieldwork Lead), has received a Wolens Pilot Award to support innovative research on voluntary return migration—an increasingly common yet understudied experience shaping immigrant families. This project examines how Mexican immigrant families in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and rural Southern Mexico navigate return decisions, with a focus on motivations, preparedness, family communication, and well-being. The study will generate critical insights to inform policy and practice while laying the foundation for future externally funded research aimed at improving outcomes for families across transnational contexts.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Eusebius Small (PI), alongside Dr. Scott Ryan and Dr. Michael Bennett (Co-PIs), has received a Wolens Pilot Award to support innovative research on implementing Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in rural communities. Focusing on junior secondary schools in Busia County, this participatory, multi-phase study engages educators, youth, and community stakeholders to identify barriers and co-develop context-specific strategies to improve curriculum delivery, student engagement, and retention. Findings will inform scalable policy and practice solutions while generating critical data to support future external funding and long-term educational impact.