Project Summary

Existing literature suggests that family economic well-being is an important protective factor to counter child maltreatment. Nationwide, there is growing interest in strengthening families by investing in family economic well-being, including by mitigating income volatility (reducing variance in income over time) and its effects. There are many potential policy and programmatic avenues to address issues related to income volatility, and recent advances in data integration across government systems allow for even more creative approaches. Yet the conversation around reducing income volatility as a lever for change is just beginning.

In collaboration with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), the Colorado Lab is convening a Learning Community on Family Economic Well-Being Research to align the needs of policymakers and the public with rigorous research that explores the connection between income volatility and family economic well-being or child maltreatment. The interdisciplinary Learning Community of 11 research experts (two from Colorado) will explore what we know and don’t know about the relationship between income volatility and family economic well-being or child maltreatment, and what actionable policies and programs might be part of the solution. By early fall 2025, the Learning Community will develop a mind map or similar visual to provide a centerpiece for conversations in the field, demonstrating where current research is focused and prioritizing where more research is needed to inform policy and practice.