About Catherine

Catherine has over twenty-five years of experience in social science research, primarily in the areas of child welfare, early childhood, education, and homelessness. Since starting her own evaluation consulting business in Seattle in 2015, Catherine has enjoyed working with a variety of clients throughout the United States. Previously, in 12 years as a researcher at Casey Family Programs, Catherine led complex studies of youth in foster care and alumni of foster care; these studies describe youth and alumni outcomes and examine how experiences in foster care can be improved to help achieve better outcomes.

Earlier in her career, Catherine managed a study examining the effectiveness of a therapeutic day school for children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders at the Children’s Health Council (Palo Alto, California) and evaluated the effectiveness of a major school reform initiative, primarily through qualitative research, at the Stanford University School of Education.

Catherine has authored and co-authored over 25 journal articles and ten book chapters, many of which are related to well-being outcomes for youth and young adults.

Catherine earned a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and a Master’s degree in Education from Stanford University.

Selected Publications

White, C. R., Bonfanti, P., Pecora, P. J., Cabrera, J. & Rozanski, T. J. (2023). The impact of family resource centers on referral rates to child protective services: A comparison group study. Child Welfare, 100(5), 163-191.

White, C. R. (2023). 21st Century Community Learning Centers: 2021-2022 Program Year Statewide Evaluation. Prepared for Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/21stcclc/evaluation

White, C. R. (2022). 21st Century Community Learning Centers: 2020-2021 Program Year Statewide Evaluation. Prepared for Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/21stcclc/evaluation

White, C. R. (2021). 21st Century Community Learning Centers: 2019-2020 Program Year Statewide Evaluation. Prepared for Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/21stcclc/evaluation

White, C. R. (2020). 21st Century Community Learning Centers: 2018-2019 Program Year Statewide Evaluation. Prepared for Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/21stcclc/evaluation

White, C. R. (2019). 21st Century Community Learning Centers: 2017-2018 Program Year Statewide Evaluation. Prepared for Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/21stcclc/evaluation

White, C. R. (2018). 21st Century Community Learning Centers: 2016-2017 Program Year Evaluation Report. Prepared for Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/21stcclc/evaluation

White, C. R., English, D. J., Thompson, R., & Roberts, Y. H. (2016). Youth self-report of emotional maltreatment: Concordance with official reports and relation to outcomes. Children and Youth Services Review, 62, 111-121.

White, C. R., O’Brien, K., Davis, C. W., Rogg, C. S., Rudlang-Perman, K., Morgan, L. J., & Hill, S. (2016). Challenges in using comparison groups in child welfare evaluations. Research on Social Work Practice, 26(5), 572-582.

White, C. R., Corwin, T., Buher, A., O’Brien, K., DiLorenzo, P., & Kelly, S. (2015). The Multi-Site Accelerated Permanency Project: Permanency Roundtables as a strategy to help older youth in foster care achieve legal permanency. Journal of Social Service Research, 41(3), 364-384.

White, C. R., O’Brien, K., Pecora, P. J., & Buher, A. (2015). Mental health and educational outcomes for youth transitioning from Michigan foster care. Families in Society, 96(1), 17-24.

White, C. R., Pecora, P. J., Ricketts, K., Smith, J., Calpin, C., & Mickelson, L. (2014). Addressing child sex trafficking from a child welfare perspective. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Programs.

White, C. R., Gallegos, A. H., O’Brien, K., Weisberg, S., Pecora, P. J., & Medina, R. (2011). The relationship between homelessness and mental health among alumni of foster care: Results from the Casey Young Adult Survey. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 5(4), 369-389.

White, C. R., Downs, A. C., Havalchak, A., Pecora, P. J., & O’Brien, K. (2010). Relationships, social support networks, and parenting. In P. J. Pecora, R. C. Kessler, J. Williams, A. C. Downs, D. J. English, J. White, & K. O’Brien (Eds.) What works in foster care? Key components of success from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. (pp. 139-151). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

White, C. R., O’Brien, K., Pecora, P. J., English, D., Williams, J., & Phillips, C. (2009). The mediating effects of foster care on depression. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 17(1), 38-48.

White, C. R., O’Brien, K., Jackson, L. J., Havalchak, A., Phillips, C. M., Thomas, P., et al. (2008). Ethnic identity development among adolescents in foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 25(6), 497-515.

White, C. R., O’Brien, K., White, J., Pecora, P. J., & Phillips, C. (2008). Alcohol and drug use among alumni of foster care: Risk and protective factors. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 35(4), 419-434.

White, C. R., Havalchak, A., Jackson, L., O’Brien, K., & Pecora, P. J. (2007). Mental health, ethnicity, sexuality, and spirituality among youth in foster care: Findings from the Casey Field Office Mental Health Study. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Programs.