Social Policies for Health Equity Research Center
We examine the impacts of social and economic policies on racial and socioeconomic disparities in health, supporting evidence-based policymaking to achieve health equity.
Kresge Building, 7th Floor
677 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Safety Net Policies and Health
Safety Net Policies and Health
Safety net programs, like food assistance and paid family leave, provide support for low- and middle-income families. Our research examines whether receipt of these supports can improve health for children and adults.
Projects
Effects of WIC on Health
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritional support for low-income pregnant and postpartum women and young children. The program was revised in 2009 to better align with current nutritional guidelines. Research at the SPHERE Center examines the impact of the program and its revisions on areas such as maternal nutrition, birth outcomes, and child health.
Funding: NHLBI K08; UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health; CDC U18DP006526-01-01; UCSF Preterm Birth Initiative.
Recent Publications:
The effect of the 2009 WIC revision on maternal and child health: A quasi-experimental study.
Effects of Paid Family Leave on Health
The U.S. is the only high-income country without a national paid family leave policy, although a handful of U.S. states have implemented paid leave policies in recent years. Our research examines the impact of these state policies on parental and child health.
Funding: NHLBI K08; UCSF Hellman Fellows Fund; UCSF Irene Perstein Award; UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.
Recent Publications:
Impacts of Paid Family Leave on Perinatal Health: A Nationwide Quasi-Experimental Study
Effects of US state paid family leave policies on perinatal and postpartum health: a quasi-experimental analysis
Paid Family Leave and Mental Health in the U.S.: A Quasi-Experimental Study of State Policies.
The effect of California’s paid family leave policy on parent health: A quasi-experimental study.
Paid Family Leave Effects on Breastfeeding: A Quasi-Experimental Study of US Policies.
Take-Up of Safety Net Policies
Numerous safety net policies have been shown to reduce financial hardship and improve the health of economically disadvantaged families. But barriers remain that limit the ability of eligible people to participate in programs for which they qualify. Our research examines the determinants of take-up of these programs, and possible ways to increase participation.
Funding: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through UCSF-CTSI grant (UL1 TR001872).
Recent Publications:
Easing Cash Assistance Rules and Breastfeeding
Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families.