Building Foundations: Addressing Housing Insecurity to Improve Child Health
Abstract: The ongoing housing affordability crisis in the US poses significant challenges to the wellbeing of children. In this presentation, I will provide an overview of the relationship between housing instability and children’s health drawing on a range of recent studies. I will also describe evidence from both quasi-experimental and experimental research to demonstrate how housing interventions can mitigate negative impacts and promote healthier outcomes for children.
Bio: Dr. Natalie Slopen is a social epidemiologist with a focus on child development, health equity, and life course theory. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Slopen’s research focuses on how social and environmental factors influence health and well-being in childhood and across the lifespan. Her work, encompassing both observational and experimental studies, aims to generate insights that can shape effective policies and programs to promote health equity.