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Kerri M. Raissian

Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Connecticut
Chapter Leader: Connecticut SSN
Areas of Expertise:

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About Kerri

Raissian's research focuses on the role of policy in promoting healthy children and families. Overarching themes in Raissian's writings include the effect of policy on family violence and child well-being, evaluating the role of health insurance and select interventions, and understanding the role of policy in family composition and fertility decisions. 

In addition to research design, Raissian uses quantitative techniques to address her research questions. Raissian has also relied heavily on her professional experience as a family violence advocate to formulate research questions and interpret results.

Contributions

In the News

Kerri M. Raissian's research on the effects of universal and unconditional cash transfers on child abuse and neglect discussed by Peter Coy, "Why I Welcome New York City’s Congestion Pricing Plan," The New York Times, January 3, 2024.
"Because Gun Violence Requires Social Science Solutions," Jennifer Dineen (with Kerri M. Raissian and Cassandra Crifasi), Why Social Science?, February 28, 2023.
"Good Guys With Guns May Be Heroes—But They're Not Our Solution | Opinion," Jennifer Dineen (with Kerri M. Raissian), Opinion, Newsweek, July 22, 2022.
"Lessons Learned: Education Is Not Enough To Combat Anti-Vaccine Propaganda," Kerri M. Raissian (with Jody Terranova), CT Viewpoints, The CT Mirror, April 23, 2021.
"Three Fallacies and the Truth About Vaccines," Kerri M. Raissian (with Jody Terranova), The CT Mirror, February 26, 2021.
Kerri M. Raissian quoted on school being a place for all kinds of things, especially for a lot of single parents. It is their daytime co-parent, and that is missing by Barbara Rodriguez, "The Pandemic Has Been Extra Hard on Single Mothers" The 19th, December 29, 2020.
"It’s Time for COVID-19 Disaster Relief … for Mothers," Kerri M. Raissian (with Jennifer Necci Dineen), Opinion, The Hill, November 23, 2020.
Kerri M. Raissian quoted on more child neglect during pandemic while parents work from home by Sarah Green Carmichael, "In a Pandemic, Every Day Is Bring-Your-Child-to-Work Day " The Hill, November 5, 2020.

Publications

"The Best of Intentions: Prenatal Breastfeeding Intentions and Infant Health" (with Jessica Houston Su). SSM- Population Health 5 (2018): 86-100.

Contributes to a growing body of research that examines whether the purported benefits of breastfeeding are causal. Finds evidence that rather than breastfeeding, it is maternal advantage—and not breastfeeding— that may be responsible for observed health differences between breast and formula fed infants. Underscores the need for new policy interventions aimed at improving infant health.

"Natalist Policies in the United States" (with Leonard M. Lopoo). Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (2012).

Reviews the policies that affect the fertility of American women, both policies designed to alter fertility intentionally as well as those that change childbearing unintentionally. Suggests that the United States has many public policies that have affected and continue to influence the fertility choices made by families in the United States and that this is a topical area that deserves more attention in policy debates. 

"Money Matters: Does the Minimum Wage Affect Child Maltreatment Rates?" (with Lindsey Rose Bullinger). Child and Youth Services Review 72 (2017): 60-70.

Evaluates the impact of increased minimum wages on a state's child maltreatment rate and finds that increases in the minimum wage lead to a decline in overall child maltreatment reports, particularly neglect reports. Suggests that policies that increase incomes of the working poor can improve children's welfare, especially younger children, quite substantially.

"Does Unemployment Affect Child Abuse Rates? Evidence from New York State" Child Abuse & Neglect 48 (2015): 1-12.

Uses child maltreatment reports from New York State from 2000 to 2010 and finds that a one percentage point increase in unemployment rates actually reduced the child report rate by approximately 4.25 percent. 

"Hold Your Fire: Did the 1996 Federal Gun Control Act Expansion Reduce Domestic Homicides?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 35, no. 1 (2015).

Finds evidence that the Gun Control Act expansion led to 17 percent fewer gun-related homicides among female intimate partner victims and 31 percent fewer gun homicides among male domestic child victims. Finds no evidence that reductions in gun homicides were offset by an increase in nongun homicides. 

"U.S. Social Policy and Family Complexity" (with Leonard M. Lopoo). The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 654, no. 1 (2014): 213-230.

Concludes that the most noteworthy finding is that the majority of studies show no relationship between social policies and family complexity in the United States.