Dr. Waasdorp translates child development theory and literature into prevention and intervention programming, trials, research methodology, and related statistics. Her goals are to reduce bullying and aggression, improve children’s social and emotional skills, and help adults promote children’s positive peer relationships.
Dr. Leff's background is in child clinical psychology, and he has broad training and expertise in intervention research, mixed methods, and in leading a range of federally funded research initiatives. His research goal is to use community-based participatory research (CBPR) to develop and validate school-based aggression and bullying intervention programs and assessment tools for urban minority youth.
The Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is a standout example of how our research is taking hold in communities, and now the entire country knows more about it after a live broadcast by “Good Morning America” at our Karabots Pediatric Care Center featuring an interview with Madeline Bell, president and chief executive officer of CHOP.
Improving exclusive human milk feedings for NICU infants is a major public health issue in India, where Diane Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, director of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Breastfeeding and Lactation Program, spent two weeks teaching nurses and physicians about human milk and implementation of her 10 Step Model for Human Milk and Breastfeeding in Vulnerable Hospitals.
Relational aggression, such as using gossip and social exclusion to harm others, is all too common among preadolescent and adolescent girls. A new study from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia suggests that educational interventions including problem-solving skills and leadership opportunities can help, with lasting effects.
Since September, a Children’s Hospital team composed of researchers and educational facilitators has been working with 4th and 5th grade students and their teachers from Childs Elementary School (located in South Philadelphia’s Point Breeze section) on a classroom-based anti-bullying program.
Since September, a Children's Hospital team composed of researchers and educational facilitators has been working with 4th and 5th grade students and their teachers from Childs Elementary School (located in South Philadelphia's Point Breeze section) on a classroom-based anti-bullying program.
