LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 18, 2026) — University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) assistant professor Taylor Dowdy-Hazlett, Ph.D., has received a Research in Emerging Areas Critical to Human Health Loan Repayment Program (LRP-REACH) Award from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), recognizing her research to improve outcomes for youth in foster care.
The award supports early-career researchers pursuing emerging areas of biomedical and behavioral research that address critical gaps in human health and demonstrate strong potential for long-term impact. Through the NIH Loan Repayment Program, researchers are able to devote more time to advancing research careers by reducing the financial burden of educational debt.
Dowdy-Hazlett’s research focuses on improving wellbeing and outcomes for children and families involved in child welfare, with a particular focus on foster and kinship care, placement stability, trauma, and caregiver wellbeing. Through intervention research, program evaluation, and applied research, she examines how evidence-informed approaches can strengthen caregivers, improve service systems, and promote better outcomes for children and families.
“This award allows me to continue pursuing research focused on developing and evaluating interventions that improve outcomes for children involved in the child welfare system,” said Dowdy-Hazlett. “My goal is to better understand what works to support children and promote placement stability and use that knowledge to develop more effective programs and policies that can improve outcomes for young people.”
At the College of Social Work, Dowdy-Hazlett works with youth, child welfare professionals and community organizations to develop research that translates into meaningful change. Her work uses a range of research approaches, including mixed methods, program evaluation and intervention research, to better understand the experiences of children and families and identify ways to strengthen child welfare programs, services and systems.
In addition to her research, Dowdy-Hazlett has been an advocate for youth in foster care through community engagement and fundraising efforts. Coming up in October, she will run the Chicago Marathon to raise awareness and support for young people with foster care experience, reinforcing her commitment to advancing both research and real-world impact.
“The challenges facing youth involved in the child welfare system are complex, but so are the opportunities to make a difference,” Dowdy-Hazlett said. “Receiving this award reinforces the importance of investing in research that not only expands our understanding but also leads to practical solutions that improve lives.”
The award further strengthens the CoSW’s growing portfolio of research focused on improving the health and well-being of children, families and communities through evidence-informed practice.