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Daphne C. Hernandez, PhD

Assistant Professor
University of Houston, Department of Health and Human Performance
  • New Connections Status: Junior Investigator
  • Award Year: 2009
  • RWJF Team/Portfolio:
    Coverage
  • Project Name:
    State Medicaid Expansions and Health Care Coverage of Immigrant Adults
  • Dr. Daphne C. Hernandez"s New Connections project is designed to determine if expanded health care policies at the state level are increasing health insurance coverage among legal immigrant adults. By including individual-level and state-level data, the goal of the study is to gain an understanding of which population groups are now covered by Medicaid and private insurance and which population groups remain uninsured.

    • Professional Bio

    Daphne C. Hernandez is an assistant professor of Health and Human Performance at the University of Houston. Dr. Hernandez received her A.B. in psychology from Princeton University, her M.S.Ed. in psychological services from the University of Pennsylvania and Ph.D. in applied development and educational psychology from Boston College. She also received postdoctoral training in poverty and public policy at the University of Michigan"s National Poverty Center. Her research interests include: 1) the effect of antipoverty policies on children"s development and family well-being; and 2) fathers" involvement and families" health and well-being.

    Project Description

    Using the New Immigrant Survey (NIS) and the 2004 Current Population Survey (CPS), the project investigates the effectiveness of expanded state health-insurance coverage among legal adult immigrants. By including individual-level and state-level data, the goal of the study is to gain an understanding of which population groups are actually being covered by Medicaid and private insurance and which population groups remain uninsured. Thus, the project provides an opportunity to evaluate whether or not state expanded policies are effective in increasing health insurance coverage among legal immigrant adults.

    Why I Applied to New Connections

    I applied to New Connections because of my interests in learning how antipoverty policies influence children"s and families" well-being. In addition, I am interested in receiving health policy training from top public health scholars in the field.

    What New Connections Means for my Career

    Being a part of New Connections is providing me an opportunity to make a professional transition into studying health care and the health issues of immigrants. I look forward to receiving health policy training along with mentorship from public health scholars

    Research Interests

    Antipoverty Policies on Children"s Development and Families" Well-Being; Fathers and Families

    Discipline(s)

    Human Development; Family Studies

    Populations Served

    Immigrant Adults who recently became Legal Permanent Residents (ages 18-64)

    Honors and Awards

    Department Faculty Marshall at Graduation (Award for Mentoring Top HDFS Undergraduate Student), College of Health & Human Development, Penn State University (2009)

    Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan (2005-2007)