Salem Professor in Global Practice Theresa Betancourt—pictured here, in second row on left in light blue, with community-based volunteers in Rwanda—develops evidence-based interventions for children and families facing extreme resource constraints—including in regions affected by armed conflict and HIV/AIDS.
The Research Program on Children and Adversity (RPCA) focuses on observational research to understand trajectories of risk and resilience in children facing multiple forms of adversity while also using these research outcomes to develop and test evidence-based interventions to promote child health, development and family functioning.
Message from the Director
By the Numbers
20 Countries
RPCA has had an impact in over 20 countries including Rwanda, Sierra Leone, United States, Northern Uganda, Ethiopia-Eritrea Border, Russia, and Colombia.
8 Partners
Several implementation partners include Francois Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Rwanda, University of Rwanda, Caritas Freetown, Kenema General Hospital, Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services.
45 Interns
RPCA has supported 45 interns in 5 years. Interns have gone on to pursue higher education and obtain professional positions in the field of social work, public, and mental health.
Research With Impact
Sugira Muryango home-visiting program is an evidence-based intervention that offers active coaching for caregivers by community lay-workers trained to deliver sessions including early stimulation promotion, play, nutrition, hygiene, non-violent discipline and responsive parenting. It is based on the Family Strengthening Intervention (FSI) model originally developed and tested in Rwanda. Sugira Muryango empowers low-income families enrolled in Rwanda's social protection system to support early childhood development and healthy family functioning.
Student Engagement
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LAURA BOND, DOCTORAL CANDIATE
“The RPCA is a unique opportunity to test your research skills in very applied, practice settings. In the past two years, I have worked directly with high-level, government stakeholders, led and contributed to mixed methods analyses, and managed programs. My favorite thing about the RPCA is the team-based work - I love working collaboratively and I learn a lot from both Dr. Betancourt and from all of the other colleagues I am interacting with on a daily basis. I feel very qualified for post-doctoral work now after having experiences in my doctoral internship at RPCA.”
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MORGAN HOFFMAN, MSW STUDENT
“My time at RPCA has been extremely beneficial for my career development. The mentorship I have received has give me the opportunity to write manuscripts with the team and gain proficiency in qualitative coding -- unlike any other experience I have had at SSW. I have also throughly enjoyed working with RPCA global partners and gaining more knowledge on global mental health program development."
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KAYLA HERNANDEZ, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SENIOR
“As I continue to dive deeper into the projects at the RPCA during my practicum, my passions for global civic engagement are strengthening. I am greatly looking forward to learning more about the impact of implementation science and advancing my career in positive youth development”
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