Joyce Y. Lee

Joyce Y. Lee identifies as a child welfare and family strengthening scholar. Her research seeks to promote child welfare and family strengthening through preventing child maltreatment, promoting the health and wellbeing of foster children, and supporting positive parenting practices. Her current research focuses on the following four areas: (1) preventing child abuse and neglect in families with low income or other adverse family contexts; (2) promoting foster children’s physical, mental, and behavioral health and reducing disparities in such health outcomes; (3) examining the role and impact of legal tools and mechanisms in reforming child welfare systems; and (4) informing the development of culturally responsive approaches to serving child welfare systems involved children and families. Research in these areas is intended to inform child welfare policies and practices that improve children’s health outcomes and strengthen children’s relationships with their family members. In her research, Dr. Lee draws on developmental theories and uses advanced quantitative and data science tools, as well as qualitative methodology. She was a recipient of the Family Strengthening Scholar’s Grant from the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services. She received her BASW from Rutgers University, MSW from Columbia University, and MS and joint PhD from the University of Michigan. Dr. Lee is also a faculty affiliate at the OSU Institute for Population Research.