Research and Academic Specialization
My Dissertation
My dissertation examines how private early childhood education providers in Chicago respond to public policies, including the city’s preschool expansion and the Illinois Smart Start Workforce Grants (SSWG), a statewide wage enhancement initiative. Using a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design that integrates administrative data, surveys, and interviews, it investigates how private, licensed providers (including both home-based providers and centers such as community-based organizations, for-profit, and nonprofit centers) perceive and respond to these policies, how participation in SSWG affects their likelihood of remaining operational, and how these policies shape their engagement with demand-side programs such as the Child Care Assistance Program, Illinois’s childcare subsidy program. This research advances understanding of how public investments influence the private early care market and provides evidence to inform policies that improve access, quality, and equity in early childhood education.
Recent Publications
Advancing a Methodology to Assess Datasets for Racial Bias (in press) with Reiko Kakuyama-Villaber and Lee Ann Huang.
This chapter introduces the Racial Bias in Data Assessment Tool, a structured framework to help researchers detect and address racial and ethnic bias in survey datasets before analysis. Developed through a comprehensive review of literature and best practices, the tool includes a 25-item assessment and guidance materials for interpreting results and implementing equitable data practices. Its application promotes transparency, methodological rigor, and racial equity in research, guiding improvements in survey design, analysis, and interpretation while informing policies and programs.​
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Strengthening Home Visitor Practice Through an Embedded Model of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation with Tiffany Burkhardt, Anne Herriott and Julie Spielberger.
This study evaluates a three-year pilot of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) in home visiting programs. Using 42 recorded home visits and longitudinal matched-comparison analyses, the study found that home visitors in the intervention group improved responsiveness to families and implemented model practices more effectively than those in the comparison group. The study demonstrates the potential of embedded IECMHC models to enhance visit quality, strengthen home visitor–family relationships, and improve outcomes for children and families, while also highlighting the need for further evaluation and scale-up.
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Finding Child Care in Two Chicago Communities: The Voices of Latina Mothers with Erin Carreon, Emily Ellis, Whitney Thomas, Julia Henly, Julie Spielberger and Marcy Ybarra.
This study explores how Latina mothers in two predominantly Latino neighborhoods in Chicago navigate childcare decisions. Drawing on interviews with 32 mothers and 8 center directors, the study highlights key barriers including limited childcare supply, cost, trust, safety, logistics, and cultural beliefs about care. The findings show that even in neighborhoods with differing childcare density, families face similar challenges in accessing quality care. The report provides actionable insights for policymakers, providers, and community organizations to improve information, access, and support for families seeking childcare.
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See my publications here.