Overview
Liz Snyder-Fickler is trained as a research psychologist with a concentration in cognitive development. Her work focuses on conducting rigorous community-based research and evaluation. Centered on vulnerable children and families and the systems that serve them, her research broadly spans the areas of child welfare, children's mental health, and early childhood and elementary education. Research interests include design, implementation and analysis of interventions, and the use of actionable data to improve practice and policy within these human service settings. Together with a multi-disciplinary team of Duke researchers she has conducted numerous research and evaluation studies aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of children and families in North Carolina. She is currently involved with the following studies:
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Research Scientist, Senior
Center for Child and Family Policy,
Sanford School of Public Policy
Recent Publications
Child Maltreatment Re-report, Substantiation, and Foster Care Placement: A Latent Class Analysis of Child, Caregiver, and Household Risk Factors Across Screened-In and Screened-Out Cases.
Journal Article Child maltreatment · July 2025 Children reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) face elevated risks of adverse outcomes. It is essential to identify vulnerable populations and opportunities for early intervention. This study combined qualitative coding of CPS intake reports with lat ... Full text CiteWhat Do Child Abuse and Neglect Medical Evaluation Consultation Notes Tell Researchers and Clinicians?
Journal Article Child Maltreat · February 2024 Child abuse and neglect (CAN) medical experts provide specialized multidisciplinary care to children when there is concern for maltreatment. Their clinical notes contain valuable information on child- and family-level factors, clinical concerns, and servic ... Full text Link to item CiteWhat do child maltreatment reports to Child Protective Services tell us about the needs families and communities are experiencing?
Journal Article Child Youth Serv Rev · December 2023 Intake reports from child protective service (CPS) agencies are the foundation for subsequent decisions and services within the child welfare system. They provide valuable information for understanding children's needs, yet the unstructured way that inform ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Evaluation Administrative Supports and Direct Evaluation Activities
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Durham Housing Authority · 2023 - 2028Collaborative cross-agency practices for improving child well-being
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Duke Endowment · 2024 - 2027Reducing the Need for Out-of-home Placements: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Examine the Effects of Family Centered Treatment on Well-Being Outcomes and Public Dollar Costs
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Family Centered Treatment Foundation · 2018 - 2025View All Grants