Prof. Collins Awarded OPRE Grant to Study Career Pathways for Disconnected Youth
Professor Mary E. Collins of Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) has launched a new research project that explores career pathways for “disconnected youth” – young people who aren’t employed or in school – thanks to grant funding from the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation.
Collins and colleague Ashley Palmer of Texas Christian University will analyze data collected through the Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) evaluation to understand the variation in pathways to school and work among low-income young adults, and the subsequent impact on health outcomes and economic well-being. Their goal is to improve supports for this population by identifying findings that will inform and improve policy.
The grant award provides funding from September 2023 to September 2025.
Prof. Mary E. Collins is an internationally recognized child welfare expert. The author of Macro Perspectives on Youths Aging Out of Foster Care (NASW Press) and more than 90 articles and book chapters, her research focuses on developing supportive policies and programs for older youth in state systems.