Apply for Harry Bridges Center WA State Labor Research Grants (5/22/25)
McConnell and DeWaard Co-Authored Study of Wildfire-Related Migration Featured by the Population Reference Bureau
Although wildfires have become increasingly common and devastating for communities in recent years, their long-term consequences for affected households remain unclear. In an article in Nature Communications that was recently featured by the Population Reference Bureau, CSDE External Affiliates Kathryn McConnell (University of British Columbia) and Jack DeWaard (The Population Council) and several colleagues use several sources of demographic data to examine migration patterns after wildfires. The authors’ analysis of combined data on wildfire-related structure loss and credit data shows that a small number of extreme wildfires account for most destruction and wildfire-induced migration. Read the full study here.
Chi Quoted in Idaho Statesman Story on Water Fluoridation
Idaho has one of the lowest rates of water fluoridation because of public concern about the practice. This concern has developed despite strong scientific convergence about the benefits of fluoride in public water supplies. In a recent article in the Idaho Statesman, CSDE Affiliate Donald Chi (Oral Health Sciences) describes his qualitative work on the subject and argues for the importance of flexible, open communication between dental patients and providers. Read the full article here.
Join the West Coast Poverty Center Virtual Roundtable on Resettled Refugees’ Experiences with Finding Employment in King County (5/22/25)
Evans Research Seminar – The Drive for Dollars: How Fiscal Politics Shaped Urban Freeways and Transformed American Cities – Brian Taylor, Luskin School of Public Affairs, UCLA (5/21/25)
Bui and Colleagues Examine Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Youth Access to Mental Healthcare
Research has identified significant unmet mental health needs among youth in the US. In a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, CSDE Affiliate Anthony Bui (Pediatrics) and colleagues examine racial and ethnic disparities in foregone preventive mental healthcare, unmet mental health needs, and difficulty accessing mental healthcare among youth with common mental health problems. A cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) identified significant racial and ethnic disparities in forgone preventive care and unmet mental healthcare needs; Black youth have higher rates of foregone preventive care, while Asian youth have higher unmet mental healthcare needs compared to White youth. There was also evidence of widespread difficulty obtaining mental healthcare across all racial categories. Read the full study here.
Social Science Research Council Announces Updated DATA2GO.NYC Tool
Since 2006, the Social Science Research Council’s Measure of Americaprogram has worked with local and state governments to integrate and report health, education, and income data in ways that enable communities to better understand their residents’ needs. We are excited to report that Measure of America has now launched an updated version of DATA2GO.NYC, their free online mapping and data tool. DATA2GO.NYC lets users explore over 400 indicators of well-being and access to opportunity across New York City’s nearly 200 neighborhoods.
DATA2GO.NYC is designed for policymakers, nonprofits, philanthropies, community service providers, researchers, journalists, students, and all New Yorkers who want to understand the needs and well-being of New York City residents. Measure of America is offering free, open-to-the-public demos of DATA2GO.NYC on May 15th, 12-1pm and May 21st, 1-2pm. Learn more and register here.
Associate Demographic Scientist – NYC Department of City Planning (Ongoing)
*New* Join the West Coast Poverty Center Virtual Roundtable on Resettled Refugees’ Experiences with Finding Employment in King County (5/22/25)
Since the passage of the 1980 Refugee Act, the main goal of the refugee resettlement program has been to move refugees into paid employment within 3-6 months after arrival to ensure self-sufficiency. This results in refugees frequently being placed in “survival jobs” characterized by low pay, high turn-over, and part time hours. At this virtual meeting, Mehr Mumtaz (Ohio State University) and Someireh Amirfaiz (New Americans Alliance for Policy and Research) will present results from their community-based study that explores the experiences of resettled refugees in King County, Washington, with finding employment. The research identifies barriers to securing employment and achieving economic success and elevates the voices of participants to offer recommendations to improve policy and practice to support refugees’ access to living-wage employment with continuous wage progression opportunities. We invite you to join us for this conversation on Thursday, May 22nd from 9:30 – 11am. Register here.