Director, Institute of Early Childhood Policy
Professor
Gabelli Faculty Fellow
Campion 239AÌý
Telephone: 617-552-6018
Email: coleyre@bc.edu
ORCID
Education and Social Issues and Policy
Primary focus on delineating the key family, school, and community processes which transmit economic and social inequality to children's and adolescents' development. ÌýIncorporate longitudinal, multi-method, and evaluation methodologies to inform social and educational policies at the local, state, and federal level. ÌýSpecific research foci include:Ìýchild and family social policy; economic, racial, and social inequities; mental and behavioral health; educational and economic success; community and educational contexts; family processes and parenting
Professor Coley is seeking new doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars to participate in a multi-methods project evaluating the effects of housing and community redevelopment on children's and adults' health (mental, behavioral, and physical) and educational success. Candidates with native fluency in Spanish or Cantonese and experience working in minoritized and underserved communities are particularly welcomed.
Rebekah Levine Coley, Ph.D. is Professor of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology and Director of the Institute of Early Childhood Policy at °¬¿ÉÖ±²¥ College. She received her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan and postdoctoral training in Demography and Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Professor Coley’s expertise lies in assessing and counteracting economic, social, and racial inequities in mental and behavioral health and educational and economic attainment. Her research employs quantitative, qualitative, and evaluation methodologies to assess and inform social and educational policies and practices at the federal, state, and local level which seek to disrupt the transmission of inequities to children, families, and communities. Professor Coley’s research has been published in dozens of leading journals and edited volumes, and has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Australian Research Council, and numerous private foundations. She is the founding Editor of the Child Evidence Brief series published by the Society for Research in Child Development which seeks to translate developmental science to federal and state policy makers, and has held leadership positions in the Society for Research in Child Development, the Society for Research on Adolescence, the Child Care and Early Education Policy Research Consortium, and the University-based Child and Family Policy Consortium. Her research excellence has been recognized through receipt of a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, a Social Policy Award from the Society for Research in Adolescence, and the inaugural Mavis Hetherington Award in Applied Developmental Science from the American Psychological Association.
Investigator, Centre for Children and Families Over the Lifecourse, University of Queensland, Australia
2021-2026ÌýTargeting Health Disparities through Housing Redevelopment: A Natural Experiment of HousingÌýÌýQuality,ÌýStability,Ìýand EconomicÌýIntegration. (NIH/NIMHD 1R01MD015729). Coley & Teixeira, Principal Investigators.Ìý$3,030,584. Diversity Supplement (with Lacee Satcher). $250,000. Multi-method natural experiment of public housing redevelopment to address whether improvingÌýhousing quality, limiting external displacement, and creating mixed-income communities improvesÌýphysical, mental,ÌýandÌýbehavioralÌýhealth.
2021-2025ÌýÌý°¬¿ÉÖ±²¥ College Institute of Early Childhood PolicyÌý(Buffett Early Childhood fund). Coley, Principal Investigator.Ìý $322,707. Cross-disciplinary institute to increase training, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the realm of early childhood development, education, and policy.
2021-2023ÌýStrengths, Assets, and Receipt of Social Services as Protective Factors in the Relationship between Racial Bias and Maternal and Child Health and Developmental Outcomes.Ìý(Annie E Casey Foundation). Sims, Principal Investigator. $175,000. Multi-methods, participatory study to assess how environmental racial bias is linked with maternal and child mental, behavioral, and physical health among Black families.
2021-2023ÌýImpact Analysis of Flavor Restrictions and Tobacco 21 Policies on Youth Tobacco Use. (NIH/NCI R21CA268199). Hawkins, Principal Investigator. $430,375. Examine the impact of state flavor restrictions and state and federal age 21 tobacco restriction policies on disparities in tobacco use among 14-24 year-old youth.
2023-2025ÌýÌýEvaluating Rental Relief During the COVID-19 PandemicÌý(NIH R21HD111746). Fusaro,ÌýPrincipal Investigator. $430,375. Create, make publicly available, and analyze a datasetÌý documenting the nature and timing of Emergency Rental Assistance Program implementation policy choices and their effects on eviction, material hardship, and mental health.
2023-2025ÌýÌýEarly Childhood Policy and Leadership Fellowship ProgramÌý(Bezos Family Foundation). Coley, Principal Investigator. $177,475. Funds provision of fellowships to underrepresented graduate students participating in the Early Childhood Policy and Leadership graduate certificate program.
2022-2026ÌýThe MetroWest Evidence-based Trauma-Informed Referral & Treatment Initiative for ChildrenÌý(METRIC) (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationÌýSM84966). Franks, Principal Investigator.Ìý$1,599,070. Collaborative initiative to expand and evaluate trauma-focused, evidence-based mental health services for children aged 2 to 18 and their families.
2021-2027ÌýARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life CourseÌý(Australian Research Council CE200100025). Baxter, Principal Investigator. $32,500,000AU.Ìý Collaborative research centre seeking toÌýuse evidence-based research to develop new knowledge, technology and practices to benefit people living in disadvantage.
Mavis Hetherington Award for Excellence in Applied Developmental Science, American Psychological AssociationÌý
Fulbright Senior Scholar Award Recipient
Social Policy Award, Society for Research in AdolescenceÌý
Editor,
Co-Chair, Science and Social Policy Committee, Society for Research in Child Development
Steering Committee Member, University-Based Child and Family Policy Consortium
Steering Committee Member, Child Care and Early Education Policy Research Consortium
Consulting Editor, Child Development
Advisory Board Member, Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy