Kelly Murphy

Background

About Kelly Murphy

My work focuses on the role that systems, programs, and policies play in promoting the positive development of youth who have been exposed to multiple risk factors, particularly those who are-or have been- child welfare or juvenile justice system involved. Cross-trained in Applied Developmental Psychology and Program Evaluation, I bring expertise in a range of methodologies, such as experimental and quasi-experimental design, participatory evaluation, community based participatory research, multi-site evaluation, mixed-methods designs, and analysis of large administrative data sets. I also bring a wide array of statistical skills, including structural equation modeling, latent profile analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, latent growth curve modeling, and multilevel modeling. My portfolio of projects focuses on bridging the research-to-practice gap through conducting studies to examine the use of research evidence, working with stakeholders to make evidence-informed decisions, and examining the impact of programs, practices, and policies. Currently, I am the Principal Investigator of an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) funded grant examining the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice's new initiative to reinvest savings from closing down juvenile correctional centers into a continuum of evidence-based services. I am also the PI of a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Comprehensive School Safety Initiative grant examining perceptions of school climate among American Indian youth. My recent work also includes a project that examined the use of research in the juvenile court system. Across my diverse portfolio, I remain focused on engaging diverse stakeholders and understanding their needs, building organizations’ evaluation and data-driven decision making capacities, and translating research into accessible and user-friendly resources.