Dr. Nicole Lawrence

Biography

Nicole Lawrence's research and work experience primarily focus on public policy impacts on children and families, program development, and program evaluation. She joined the Duke Center for Child and Family Policy, where she has led five externally funded program evaluations, including the Multiple Response System for the North Carolina Division of Social Services, Alamance Alliance for substance use disorders, the Mental Health Outreach Program, and the BECOMING initiative. Currently, she is working on the Child Mental Health Initiative. Her evaluation work, funded by the state, has involved data collection across more than 25 counties to assess the outcomes associated with large-scale reforms in child protective services. Lawrence also serves as an evaluator and co-Principal Investigator for SAMHSA-funded children's mental health initiatives in Alamance and Durham counties, conducting comprehensive longitudinal studies to inform local interests. She was a co-Principal Investigator for funding from the Oak and Brady Foundations designed to improve educational outcomes for at-risk children living in high-poverty areas of East Durham. Prior to joining the center, she was the program manager at the Children and Families Commission, overseeing several major programs with over $6 million in total funding.

Research Interests

Experience