Understanding How Institutions Affect Family Violence and Children

Institutional Contact and Family Violence in an Era of Mass Incarceration

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11143875

This project explores how interactions with institutions like child welfare and law enforcement shape family violence experiences and their effects on children.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11143875 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to understand how formal institutions, which are meant to protect families, might also influence experiences of family violence and its consequences for children, especially in vulnerable communities. We will gather information directly from youth and parents who have interacted with systems such as juvenile and criminal legal systems through interviews and mobile surveys. Researchers will also analyze existing survey and administrative data to gain a broader perspective. The ultimate goal is to develop better ways to measure these institutional interactions and understand their two-way relationship with childhood family violence.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is interested in hearing from youth and parents who have experienced family violence and have had contact with formal institutions such as child welfare, social services, or the legal system.

Not a fit: Patients not directly involved in the specific interviews or surveys for this project may not see immediate personal benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand and address the complex ways institutions influence family violence, leading to more effective support for children and families.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds on existing knowledge about childhood violence exposure while introducing new methods to understand the bidirectional relationship with institutional contact.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.