The Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) announces awards for two Research Scholar Initiatives (RSI) for the two fiscal years of FY2025 – FY2026. The program fosters the creation of policy decision-making models by teams of scholars throughout the University of Illinois System. These initiatives are designed to enhance public engagement and maximize impact on Illinois public policy. The awarded projects will explore paths to health equity in Illinois through continuous Medicaid enrollment and how to develop early childhood programming as a cornerstone for violence prevention planning.
Principal investigator Chi-Fang Wu, IGPA affiliated scholar and Professor and PhD Program Director at the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, will evaluate how continuous Medicaid eligibility impacts coverage stability and care continuity, providing insights to improve healthcare access and health outcomes for vulnerable households in Illinois.
In 2022, over 3.6 million Illinois residents, or one in five, were covered by Medicaid/CHIP, which primarily serves low-income populations with incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line. However, enrollees often face coverage disruptions due to income volatility and administrative barriers and income volatility, which can lead to adverse health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. To address these issues, Illinois has implemented initiatives to promote continuous coverage, such as extending the automatic re-enrollment period for managed care organizations (MCOs).
“Our study will aim to promote continuity of coverage and care and improve the quality of care and health outcomes among Illinois Medicaid beneficiaries,” said Wu.
Co-principal investigators Rachel Jackson-Gordon, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Family Resiliency Center (FRC), and Jacinda K. Dariotis, IGPA affiliated scholar, Endowed Chair, and Professor and Director of FRC, will lead the other Research Scholar Initiative, which will analyze nature, mindful movement, and music as early childhood stress-coping programs that promote emotional regulation and aim to prevent violence as children age.
Despite having general guidelines for social-emotional learning (SEL), the Illinois State Board of Education and Head Start lack specific curricular or evidence-based program recommendations. The study will focus on creating positive behavioral trajectories early in life by providing policy recommendations for early childhood SEL, teacher preparation programs, and community greenspace.
“We look forward to connecting the dots between evidence-based SEL programs for young children and their potential for violence prevention planning,” said Jackson-Gordon.
The Research Scholar Initiative program funds up to three public policy research initiatives annually. At the end of their award cycle, each research team produces a policy analysis with findings to share with Illinois legislators and other public policy practitioners in the state. Previous RSI projects have explored applicable policy topics ranging from farm mapping to tenant and landlord protections.