Washington, D.C. – 4/16/25 – TrestleLink has partnered with the Rochester Mt. Hope Family Center to enhance the integration of research into child welfare policy, supporting lawmakers’ efforts to prevent and address child abuse. This collaboration is led by Dr. Jennie Noll, who seeks to equip her research team with the tools needed to support evidence-based policymaking in the state of New York. 

“Child abuse and neglect are the cause for more child fatalities than all forms of pediatric cancer combined. Lawmakers need to know what they can do to protect families and prevent these tragedies from occurring.” – Jennie Noll, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mt. Hope Family Center & Professor of Psychology, University of Rochester

This initiative fosters Researcher-Policymaker Partnerships, strengthening long-term relationships that enable the mutual exchange of expertise. Through TrestleLink’s Nonpartisan Honest Brokerage approach, this partnership ensures that research is shared objectively, allowing policymakers to make informed decisions based on clear, actionable insights.

To start the project, TrestleLink provided a workshop to deliver the Science Policy Practitioner Certification to faculty and trainees affiliated with Rochester’s School of Medicine. This training emphasizes how we adapt by providing timely and relevant evidence in partnership with policymakers of different branches and levels of government. A fundamental best practice is to align research with key policy windows to maximize impact. 

Through this partnership, TrestleLink will support strategy planning for Mt. Hope Family Center to engage relevant New York State legislative and agency offices. Scholars and policymakers will engage in Face-to-Face Dialogue, creating opportunities for direct communication to explore policy implications from emerging research related to child maltreatment. Key deliverables include identifying legislative champions, finalizing legislative engagement strategies, and consulting on meeting facilitation and follow-through. The initiative will also develop and disseminate a policy brief for NY state policymakers and staff, ensuring rapid-response engagement with scholars’ insights. The project will culminate in a legislative briefing, where experts will present findings to lawmakers, further bridging the gap between research and policy.

About Mt. Hope Family Center
Mt. Hope Family Center is dedicated to promoting resilience and psychological health for children and families affected by adversity and trauma. As part of the University of Rochester, the center combines clinical services, innovative research, and hands-on training to support families in crisis while advancing the science of child welfare policy.

About TrestleLink
TrestleLink connects research and policy communities through nonpartisan, evidence-driven engagement. Founded in 2021, TrestleLink strengthens the infrastructure needed to ensure research serves the public good. By fostering collaboration between researchers and policymakers, TrestleLink advances science-informed decision-making to improve outcomes for children and families