The Child Well-Being Research Institute (CWRI) is a national, multidisciplinary collective focused on promoting child well-being and maltreatment prevention through cutting-edge research that informs policy and practice. CWRI has a multi-faceted approach to actualizing the promises of the Child Well-Being Research Network.
Child Well-Being
Research Network
The Child Well-Being Research Network (CWRN) was a product of the Doris Duke Fellowships program founded by Dr. Deborah Daro at Chapin Hall, University of Chicago. It was comprised of 120 Doris Duke Fellows and was generously funded by the Doris Duke Foundation. The program was designed to identify and develop leaders who conduct practice and policy-relevant research that enhances child development and improves the nation’s ability to prevent all forms of child maltreatment. As the Fellowship ended, Fellows elected to transform that network into a broader, membership-driven network to support and connect child well-being researchers.
Transition to the
University of Kentucky College of Social Work
In 2023, the CWRN transitioned to its new institutional home, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. This transition allows the CWRN to expand with effective utilization of resources and efficient deployment of personnel. During the transition to UK CoSW, CWRN will continue to explore new and innovative ways to conduct and support policy and practice relevant interdisciplinary research focused on child well-0beiong and the prevention of maltreatment.
CWRI Values
Innovation
The CWRI will consistently look to innovate by engaging with new methods, ideas, processes, and products to help advance the science of child well-being.
Investment
The CWRI will consistently invest – financially and otherwise – in approaches germane to supporting CWRI activities and the people involved in those activities.
Integration
CWRI will consistently look to integrate the work of CWRI (and CWRN) across systems, in a way that fosters efficiency, efficacy, and impact.
Leadership Team
Jackie Duron - Interim Director
The interim director of the Child Well-Being Research Institute (CWRI) is Dr. Jacquelynn F. Duron, Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. Dr. Duron brings extensive experience in child welfare research, with a focus on resilience in children and adolescents exposed to adversity and trauma. Her leadership in the field includes co-chairing the Child Well-Being Research Network from 2021 to 2023, as well as serving on key state committees dedicated to child protection and advocacy. With a background in both research and clinical practice as a licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Duron is committed to bridging scholarship and practice to improve child well-being. She looks forward to guiding CWRI in its mission to advance research that informs policy and practice, fostering resilience and protection for vulnerable youth.
