Welcome to the OEC–UConn SSW Partnership page!
Since 2018, the University of Connecticut School of Social Work (UConn SSW) has partnered with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to conduct research and evaluation that strengthens early childhood programs, policies, and systems across Connecticut.
The OEC–UConn SSW Partnership conducts collaborative research, evaluation, and strategic planning to support the OEC’s mission of ensuring that all young children in Connecticut are safe, healthy, learning, and thriving. Our work combines rigorous research methods with meaningful engagement of families, providers, community organizations, and state leaders to inform decisions that improve outcomes for children and families.
Our work includes statewide needs assessments, program evaluations, Connecticut’s biennial Parent/Caregiver Survey, community asset mapping, child care access analyses, data visualization, and reporting for decision making. Together, these efforts provide timely, actionable evidence that advances policy, strengthens programs, and supports continuous improvement across Connecticut’s early childhood system.
Led by Samantha E. Lawrence, Ph.D, the Partnership brings together a multidisciplinary team with expertise in social work, developmental psychology, pediatrics, geography, implementation science, statistics, and qualitative and quantitative research methods. Our team also works with collaborators from across the University of Connecticut and community partners.
In addition to the work described here, the UConn School of Social Work’s Innovations Institute partners with the OEC through its Parent, Infant, and Early Childhood (PIEC) Team to support behavioral health initiatives, Pyramid Model implementation, and related systems improvement efforts. Learn more about the PIEC Team here.
Director
Samantha Lawrence, Ph.D., assistant research professor, School of Social Work
Team Members
Sabina Bhandari, Ph.D.
Harini Buch, BS
Antonia Caba, Ph.D.
Jessica Goldstein, Ph.D.
Veronica Hanna, Ph.D.
Deepa Kalauni, MS
Bonnya Mukherjee, MSFRM, MSBIST
Juliany Polar, MA
Recent Publications
Lawrence, S.E. (2026). 2025 Parent/Caregiver Survey Report. Prepared by the University of Connecticut School of Social Work as part of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Partnership.
Lawrence, S.E., Candelaria, M., Isiminger, A., Hutchison, H., Bhandari, S., Mukherjee, B., Buch, H., Polar, J., & Gould-Kabler, C. (2024). PA #23-205 Legislative Request: Final Report. Home visiting, childcare, family resource center, and healthcare assets within “high poverty, low opportunity” communities in Connecticut. Prepared by the University of Connecticut School of Social Work as part of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Partnership.
In the Media
July 21, 2026
Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
53% of Connecticut Parents Say Child Care is Too Expensive, New UConn Survey Finds
July 22, 2026
Connecticut Public Radio
CT families face childcare struggles, according to UConn study
July 22, 2026
WTNH News 8
53% of Connecticut parents say childcare is too expensive: UConn survey results
July 22, 2026
CT Mirror
UConn study highlights CT Families’ childcare struggles
July 23, 2026
WTNH Hartford
New study finds more than half of families in Connecticut feel childcare is too expensive
July 23, 2026
UConn Today
New Study Finds 53% of Connecticut Parents Say Childcare is Too Expensive
Contact Us
Email Samantha Lawrence.