Professor Colleen Heflin and co-author urge states to measure food insecurity themselves using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey along with the USDA six-item food security module. @cprmaxwell.bsky.social @sulernercenter.bsky.social

States Should Add The Six-Item Food Security Module To The BRFSS

healthaffairs.org

Greater economic and overall policy liberalism in a state is linked to lower disability risk among midlife Latino adults. Learn more in this study coauthored by Lerner Affiliates Marc A. Garcia and Catherine García: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Brief Report: State Policy Contexts and Disability Risks Among Midlife Working-Age Latino Adults in the U.S.: Variation by Nativity and Citizenship Status - Population Research and Policy Review

Disability risks among midlife Latino adults in the United States are strongly patterned along axes of stratification such as nativity and citizenship status. Another increasingly salient axis of…

link.springer.com

A radio campaign costing ~$0.04 per child could increase childhood vaccination coverage by 134% and save an estimated 288,000 lives in Ethiopia. Learn more in this new study led by Lerner Affiliate Bernard Appiah: link.springer.com/article/10.1... @maxwellsu.bsky.social

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of a radio campaign to improve full vaccination coverage among children under-five in Ethiopia - BMC Public Health

Background Achieving timely childhood vaccination is a challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A three-month intervention called 10 + 10 + 30 involved 10-minute serial radio drama on va...

link.springer.com

Congrats to Lerner Affiliates Catherine García and Marc A. Garcia, whose co-authored article, "Heterogeneity in Healthy Aging Among U.S. Latinos: A Dual Functionality Perspective," was selected as the Editor’s Choice article by the Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences!

Prescription medication misuse rises sharply with the # of chronic health conditions a person has: from 2.8% among U.S. adults ages 18-64 with no conditions to 11.7% among those with 3+. Learn more in this new @maxwellsu.bsky.social #SULerner #PopHealth data slice: surface.syr.edu/lerner/297/

Sicker Americans Are More Likely to Misuse Prescription Medications

Prescription medication misuse is a long-term population health problem in the United States. This data slice uses data from the National Wellbeing Survey (N=32,789, 2021–2025) of U.S. adults ages 18–...

surface.syr.edu

Congrats to University Professor Jennifer Karas Montez on her appointment as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, a flagship publication of the @asanews.bsky.social. 🎉 @sulernercenter.bsky.social @cprmaxwell.bsky.social

Jennifer Karas Montez Named Editor-in-Chief of Leading Sociology Journal

The Maxwell sociologist has been appointed to lead a flagship American Sociological Association publication.

maxwell.syr.edu

South Asian immigrants are often grouped together in health data, but that grouping can hide serious health disparities. Learn more in this new @maxwellsu.bsky.social #SULerner #PopHealth research brief: surface.syr.edu/lerner/296/

Disability Rates Among South Asian Immigrants in the U.S. Vary by Country of Origin

South Asian immigrants are often grouped together in U.S. health data, masking significant differences in health outcomes across subgroups. This brief uses data from the American Community Survey (ACS...

surface.syr.edu

Because there's a lot of stigma around Ebola, Professor and infectious disease expert Brittany Kmush says “It's going to be very difficult to get all the contacts identified and followed properly, especially since the international aid community is really short on resources.” @cprmaxwell.bsky.social

What we know about the spread of Ebola amid growing outbreak in DRC

A deadly Ebola outbreak is continuing to spread across the Democratic Republic of the Congo with global health officials warning "we're still behind."

abcnews.com

Congratulations to Lerner Affiliate Katherine McDonald, who has received a Sesqui Award for Research from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)! Learn more: www.maxwell.syr.edu/news/article...

A Champion for Inclusion: Katherine McDonald Honored by National Disability Organization

A Champion for Inclusion: Katherine McDonald Honored by National Disability Organization

maxwell.syr.edu

More than 1 in 3 US adults use AI tools weekly for mental health support. A study by Michiko Ueda-Ballmer found nearly 30% of those who had previously seen a therapist reported fewer visits after starting to use AI for the same purpose. @maxwellsu.bsky.social mental.jmir.org/2026/1/e88196/

Help-Seeking in the Age of AI: Cross-Sectional Survey of the Use and Perceptions of AI-Based Mental Health Support Among US Adults

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests that an increasing number of people are turning to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools or artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chatbots to discuss...

mental.jmir.org

“Drug seizure data measure interdiction activity, not actual trafficking volume,” says Professor Dessa Bergen-Cico. “As drug policy researchers have noted, no one knows how much goes uncaught, and changes in seizure data are insufficient to make definitive claims about policy outcomes.”

FACT FOCUS: Trump says drug trafficking by sea is down 98.2%. The numbers don't show that

President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the flow of drugs into the U.S. by sea has been nearly eradicated under his administration.

bit.ly

Change starts with understanding what shapes health, from local conditions to policies and programs. But research alone isn't enough. At the Lerner Center, we turn findings into plain-language briefs so policymakers, practitioners, and the public can act. Explore the series:

Population Health Research Brief Series | Institutes, Centers and Organizations | Syracuse University

Follow

surface.syr.edu

🖥️ After experiencing firsthand how demographic forms failed to acknowledge his multiracial identity, A&S professor Gabriel “Joey” Merrin created CATAcode, a free software tool to help researchers handle complex identity responses with greater care and transparency in surveys. #AcademicSky

Making Every Identity Count

A Syracuse University professor has created a free tool to help researchers handle complex identity responses with greater care and transparency in surveys.

go.syr.edu

Unintended home births (i.e., those without planning or medical support) carry high risk of adverse outcomes. Rates of unintended home births are 6–8% among White women but 33–61% among Black women, depending on region and metro status. @maxwellsu.bsky.social #SULerner surface.syr.edu/lerner/295/

Is Home Birth a Choice? Racial and Geographic Differences in Unintended Home Births in the U.S.

Home births that happen without planning or medical support (i.e., unintended home births) carry a higher likelihood of adverse outcomes, such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and hypothermia. This...

surface.syr.edu

Good health doesn’t just happen. It takes research, policy, and community action. This week, we're shining a light on the researchers, policies, and public health achievements that have shaped healthier communities, and the work still ahead. #NPHW

The One Big Beautiful Bill will deepen the farm crisis, not solve it. Learn more in this new @maxwellsu.bsky.social #CPRMaxwell policy brief #OBBB #OBBBA #farmcrisis: surface.syr.edu/cpr/529/

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Will Deepen the Farm Crisis, Not Solve It

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) promises billions in new farm subsidies, but most of that money won’t go to the farmers who need it most. This brief describes how the OBBB’s changes to agricultural ...

surface.syr.edu

Working hard and persisting through challenges (i.e., striving) are often encouraged for children who face adversity, but these coping strategies come with hidden costs. ⬇️

Where you live may have shaped your #COVID19 vaccination decisions. Conservatives in liberal communities had lower vaccine hesitancy and higher vaccine uptake than conservatives in conservative communities. Learn more in this new @maxwellsu.bsky.social #SULerner brief: surface.syr.edu/lerner/293/

Living in Liberal Areas Reduced COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Conservatives

Political divisions shaped public health responses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with conservatives expressing higher vaccine hesitancy than liberals. But does where conservatives live matter? Thi...

surface.syr.edu

“They’re not passing it along to the workers in the form of higher wages. They’re just sort of being like, ‘Awesome, I got more money,’” says Professor Sarah Hamersma, who studied the WOTC as a grad student and also found it didn't work. @cprmaxwell.bsky.social @sulernercenter.bsky.social

Tax credit meant to help struggling workers mostly helps employers, Wisconsin study finds

Lawmakers want to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which for three decades has rewarded companies that hire people with barriers to employment. New research shows it doesn’t work.

bit.ly

Congratulations to Lerner Affiliate Gabriel "Joey" Merrin, who has been selected as the inaugural Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi Endowed Faculty Fellow! This fellowship supports scholarly work focused on men’s mental health and related issues. Learn more: news.syr.edu/2026/03/04/m...

Merrin Named Inaugural Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi Endowed Faculty Fellow

The fellowship supports scholarly work focused on men’s mental health and related issues.

news.syr.edu

From 2000 to 2016, the average disability rate among Latinos ages 45-85 in the U.S. was 21.6% in states with the most conservative labor policies vs. 17.6% in states with the most liberal policies. Learn more in this new @maxwellsu.bsky.social #SULerner #PopHealth brief:

How Do State Labor Policies Impact Disability for Latino Adults in the U.S.?

Latino adults in the United States experience a greater burden of disability than non-Latino White adults. This brief summarizes findings from a study using data from the 2000-2016 American Community…

surface.syr.edu

360 of 1,500 surveyed young adults reported using AI for romantic companionship. Lerner Affiliate Rebecca Ortiz and colleagues find both potential benefits and concerning patterns with the technology. @syracuseutoday.bsky.social Learn more: news.syr.edu/2026/02/05/r...

Researcher Examines Use of AI in Young Adults’ Romantic Lives

Associate Professor Rebecca Ortiz surveyed young adults about AI companions and found both potential benefits and troubling behaviors with the technology.

news.syr.edu

Are the kids alright? 🧠 Maxwell School faculty met in Washington, D.C., to explore youth mental health, risky behavior and how social and economic changes are affecting young people today. @johncawley.bsky.social @cprmaxwell.bsky.social

Are the Kids Alright? Maxwell Expert Panel Examines Youth Mental Health

Are the Kids Alright? Maxwell Expert Panel Examines Youth Mental Health

maxwell.syr.edu

Wastewater testing and student surveys produced similar estimates of cocaine use on campus. This study coauthored by Dessa Bergen-Cico & David Larsen shows anonymous, community-level data could help track public health trends more efficiently. @maxwellsu.bsky.social journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Comparison of self-reported survey and wastewater-based epidemiology measures of cocaine use on a college campus

Background Wastewater–based epidemiology (WBE) has the potential to produce reliable, efficient, and non-invasive measures of current psychoactive drug use. The aim of this study was to assess the fea...

journals.plos.org

WATCH: Professor Colleen Heflin discusses Ag Sec. Rollin's $3 meal claim. “I was very confused. USDA has several established meal plans that they estimate the cost of each month. And none of those comes out to $3,” she says. @cprmaxwell.bsky.social @sulernercenter.bsky.social https://bit.ly/46etCla

No Joy in Cooking

Secretary of agriculture Brooke Rollins recently suggested Americans can get the nutrition they need on $3 meals. Here’s what happened when I tried to follow her plan.

thebulwark.com

CATAcode is a new free tool that helps researchers systematically handle multiracial and multi-identity data in health research. Learn more in this new @maxwellsu.bsky.social #SULerner brief: surface.syr.edu/lerner/291/

February is American Heart Month. Show your heart some love by adding more plants to your meals. Focus on whole grains, fiber-rich foods, plant-based proteins, colorful fruits and vegetables, and whole foods when possible. Learn more: buff.ly/Br8xi94

COVID-19 masking requirements and activity restrictions were linked to increased gun violence during 2020-2021. Learn more in this new @maxwellsu.bsky.social #SULerner brief: surface.syr.edu/lerner/290/

Today at 7pm! A panel of experts, including CPR Senior Research Associate @johncawley.bsky.social, will examine how government regulation, labeling practices and industries shape public policies. Learn more or register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

“It’s really important for states to be thinking about the administrative burden,” says Lerner Affiliate Colleen Heflin. “All these things become a little bit harder as people become older, and they may have declines in hearing, sight or cognitive function.” www.motherjones.com/food/2026/01...

Trump's USDA is hiding the data on food stamp cuts

The agency's food insecurity survey was pointless "liberal fodder," a spokesperson said.

motherjones.com