Kristine Chan
Research Scientist lI
Research Focus
Education & certification
Kristine Chan
Research Scientist lI
Kristine Chan, PhD, MSW, is a research scientist at Child Trends who specializes in research on children and youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Her work supports system-level reforms by centering youth and family experiences, enhancing cross-agency coordination, and promoting data-informed decision-making.
Kristine’s research has contributed directly to youth justice reforms in Los Angeles County, including the Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study and the Probation Workgroup report, both of which provided data-driven recommendations for cross-agency collaboration. She brings deep subject matter expertise through her experience reviewing hundreds of juvenile case files, linking administrative data across systems, and serving as a clinician in a secure facility for incarcerated youth. At the federal level, she supports technical assistance delivery through the National Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Neglected or Delinquent Children and Youth (NDTAC), which helps states effectively serve neglected, delinquent, and at-risk youth under Title I, Part D. Her work centers on populations with complex needs, including youth with histories of commercial sexual exploitation and gang involvement, and often involves close partnerships with youth, families, service providers, and public agencies.
Kristine brings advanced methodological expertise in mixed-methods research, program evaluation, and cross-system data integration. Her applied approach is complemented by a technical background in web development, data visualization, and the integration of artificial intelligence techniques to enhance analysis, automate data processes, and decision support. She builds interactive tools that support collaborative case planning, service tracking, and custom case management systems. She has developed web-based platforms for agencies such as the Children’s Law Center of California and the Probation Child Trafficking Unit. Her research has informed county- and state-level reforms and has been shared in collaborative forums with policymakers, advocates, and system leaders.
Kristine holds a PhD in criminology, law, and society from the University of California, Irvine, and an MSW from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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