If you missed the Council on Contemporary Families’ “Families in Perilous Times: A Policy and Public Scholarship Workshop” this October in Baltimore, here’s a recap of the event.

The day began with opening remarks from CCF Chair Arielle Kuperberg, setting the stage for the discussions ahead. The first panel delved into abortion in the post-Dobbs era. Sameera Nayak shared compelling research on abortion access and family planning for immigrants amidst the current legal challenges. Aubrey Jackson Soller followed with an in-depth exploration of contested personhood in abortion legislation. Wrapping up the panel, Carole McCann examined the ways information about abortion circulates online.

The conversation continued with a panel addressing anti-LGBTQ legislation. Barbara Risman opened with a discussion of emerging trends in public policy affecting LGBTQ individuals. Jessica Fish shared her impactful research on LGBTQ youth health. stef shuster offered a thought-provoking analysis of how regret is weaponized against trans people. Finally, Kate Drabinski highlighted their community-based work on LGBTQ+ intergenerational storytelling as a justice practice.

The next panel tackled the pressing issue of student loans. Dan Collier explored how loan balances and payment plans impact the well-being of individuals enrolled in Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs. Fenaba Addo provided critical insights into the intersection of student debt and the value of higher education for Black borrowers. Joan Maya Mazelis and Arielle Kuperberg co-presented their findings on how residential independence and financial dependence after graduation are shaped by student loans. Kuperberg concluded the panel with her research on the implications of the student debt payment pause and its end on families.

The focus then shifted to immigration and families. Bethany Letiecq opened the panel by examining the impact of policy on Central American immigrant families’ daily lives. Zohra Ansari-Thomas presented her research on immigration and aging, while Vanessa Delgado offered insights into the stratified private safety nets of Latino/a immigrant families.

Two of the CCF Early Scholars also showcased their research. Mia Brantley discussed how Black women’s motherhood-related stress intersects with religion as a coping mechanism. Jamie O’Quinn shared her work on early marriage as a response to violence within families of origin.

The afternoon shifted toward practical workshops. Cameron Farrar introduced strategies for using TikTok and social media to make academic research accessible to the public. Elena van Stee provided a hands-on workshop on podcasting, and Alicia M. Walker, Editor in Chief of the CCF Blog, offered valuable advice on crafting blog posts. The session concluded with Joshua Coleman sharing expert tips on writing for mainstream audiences.

Attendees then collaborated on projects such as essays, blog posts, and op-eds or used the opportunity to network. The day concluded with a celebratory reception, where the 2024 CCF Awards were announced. Elena van Stee received the Graduate Student Public Scholar Award. Jessica Calarco earned the Public Scholarship Award. Barbara Risman was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Laurel Westbrook and stef shuster received the Research Translation Award for their blog post, “Finding Trans Joy in Families We Choose.”

Videos of the panels are available on the CCF YouTube Channel, while workshop recordings are accessible to CCF members.

Alicia M. Walker is Associate Professor of Sociology at Missouri State University and the author of two previous books on infidelity. She is the current Editor in Chief of the Council of Contemporary Families blog, serves as Senior Fellow with CCF, and serves as Co-Chair of CCF alongside Arielle Kuperberg. Learn more about her on her website. Follow her on Twitter or Bluesky at @AliciaMWalker1 and Instagram @aliciamwalkerphd