Parents And Children Together (PACT) is a Penn State University Park research initiative. The PACT Initiative works to promote the health and well-being of children, youth, and families from diverse backgrounds through culturally-sensitive and community-engaged research projects implemented by Penn State researchers. PACT is funded through contributions from Penn State's Psychology Department, Social Science Research Institute (SSRI), Child Study Center (CSC), College of Health and Human Development, Human Development and Family Studies, and participating research projects.
What We Do
Through PACT, Penn State researchers increase the cultural sensitivity and impact of their research while improving lives in Harrisburg.
How We Helped
PACT reaches out to the community through free family workshops and trainings for childcare employees, and in other ways as needed.
What We've Learned
PACT brings what we’ve learned through research in Harrisburg back to community members, local organizations and our Community Advisory Board.
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Research from Yolanda E. Murphy, et al., on how parenting in infancy predicts children’s emotional trajectories across childhood was recently published by the Infant Mental Health Journal
These findings provide several implications for further understanding the risk and protective roles of early parenting and cognitive functioning in development of emotional symptoms, particularly anxiety and depression.
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Congratulations to Dr. Dawn Witherspoon on being elected as Co-Chair to the Publications Committee of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)
SRCD advances developmental science and promotes its use to improve human lives.
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Congratulations to Anna Zhou on being selected to receive the 2020-21 Graduate Student Service Award from the Penn State Office of Student Activities!
This award recognizes the graduate student who has best combined high academic achievement with leadership in University or other public activities.
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PACT Holiday Drive Thru Lunch
The PACT Holiday Drive Thru Lunch took place on December 10, 2020, to thank the CAB members.
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SRCD releases new brief: COVID-19 Job and Income Loss Jeopardize Child Well-Being: Income Support Policies Can Help
Within just the first three months of the COVID-19 financial fallout, one in five children in the United States experienced the job loss of an adult in their household.