title: PUBLIC POLICY, CHILD DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND BOYS AT RISK: CHALLENGING, ENDURING AND NECESSARY PARTNERSHIP.
abstract: Research findings documenting the issues and challenges of boys prebirth through age 5 years have barely penetrated the arena of public policy making nor has it permeated the public agenda of politicians, government, or other funding stakeholders. The purpose of this article is to articulate pathways for researchers to enter into the policy-making process. We review critical issues related to implementing the process of public policy. We argue that the policy process needs to be informed by more dynamic theoretical models of human development, and that researchers and clinicians need to be exposed more deeply to the processes required to inform and subsequently change public policy. We contend that most quantitative research on boys at risk occurs at the micro- and the mesosystem level rather than at the exo- and the macrosystem levels where structural societal policies embedded in economic and racial inequities contribute to risk. Researchers, clinicians, and policy makers need to create collaborative partnerships designed to develop, advocate, and implement more evidence-based policies designed to enhance the quality of life for boys at risk.
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University.
authors.forename: Marvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mckinney
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University.
authors.forename: Hiram E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Donna-Marie
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Winn
authors.affiliation: Public Policy Associates (retired).
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Babcock
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011640:Public Policy; D012106:Research; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: Armut; Interessenvertretung; Rasse; abogacía; advocacy; d'efense; infant mental health; pauvreté; pobreza; politique publique; política pública; poverty; psychische Gesundheit von Säuglingen; public policy; race; raza; salud mental infantil; santé mentale du nourrisson et de la petite enfance; öffentliche Politik; 乳幼児精神保健; 人種; 倡導; 公共政策; 嬰兒精神健康; 擁護; 種族; 貧困