Kristen S. Slack

I am a Senior Scientist at RTI International, and Professor Emerita of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My research focuses on child welfare systems (famillies involved or at risk for involvement, the workforce), prevention of child abuse and neglect, and the intersection of different social welfare systems in the lives of families and children. I have nearly 30 years of experience studying the intersection of poverty and both child maltreatment and child welfare system involvement, as well as the role of economic support in preventing both outcomes. I summarize decades of research on these topics in a recently published book chapter:

Slack, K.S., Grinnell-Davis, C., Sintim, D. & Ko, A. (2023).  Preventing child neglect with the U.S. social welfare safety net. In K. Briar-Lawson, L., P. Day, & L. Azzi-Lessing (Eds.). Child Neglect, Inequity, & Poverty, pp. 43-92.  Washington, D.C.: Child Welfare League of America. ISBN: 978-1-58760-255-9.

Described here, as well: https://www.prof2prof.com/resource/preventing-child-neglect-us-economic-...

Other research interests include: operationalizing structural and systemic inequities in research; applying a strengths-based and trauma-informed lens to research; partnering with individuals with lived experiences in conducting research; inequitable effects of climate change; environmental issues.

I am also the founder of Prof2Prof, the higher education ecosystem for sharing and finding resources related to teaching, research, administration and student mentoring and support. 

In addition to the obvious (family, friends, dog, etc.), I love the Great Lakes, prairie ecosystems, gardens with native plants, cycling, cross-stitching and more recently--glass fusing! 

Pronouns: She/Her