My research has two primary areas of focus: translating evidence-based interventions to high-risk populations of families with young children; and, assisting policymakers in designing, implementing and evaluating systems of services for children with and at-risk for special needs and their families.

We recently completed a RCT testing a preventive intervention for postpartum depression in 217 pregnant Latina women in DC. We followed the women and their infants for a year and assessed if participating in the cognitve-behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention had effects on women's mental health and/or their child's well-being.

We are now adapting this CBT for low-income African American mothers served in Baltimore City home visiting programs.

My other work has focused on state and community policy makers, providing frameworks for infusing behavioral health services and supports into child-serving systems. This work culminated in a book on early childhood mental health.

early childhood development; children's mental health; maternal depression; MCH policies programs and systems;

Alice-Chenoweth Pate Fellowship (1999-2000). Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health

Donald Cornely Research Award (1998-99). Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health

Doctoral Training Fellowship (1996-2000). Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health

Vassar College: General and departmental honors, elected Phi Beta Kappa.

Le, H.N., Perry, D., & Sheng, X. (2009). Using the Internet to Screen for Postpartum Depression, Maternal and Child Health Journal, 13(2): 213-221

Leis, J., Mendelson, T., Tandon, S.D., & Perry, D.F. (2009). A systematic review of home-based interventions to prevent & treat postpartum depression. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 12(1): 3-13.

Knitzer, J. & Perry, D. (2009). Poverty and infant toddlers development: facing the complex challenges. In C. Zeanah, Handbook of Infant Mental Health (3rd Ed.), New York: Guilford.

Guyer, B., Ma, S., Grason, H., Frick, K., Perry, D.F., Sharkey, A., & McIntosh, J. (2009). Early childhood health promotion and its life course health consequences. Academic Pediatrics, 9(3): 142-149.

Stuart, E.A., Perry, D.F., Le, H.N., Ialongo, N. (2008). Estimating intervention effects of prevention programs: Accounting for noncompliance. Prevention Science, 9(4): 288-298.

Le, H.N., Lara, A., & Perry, D. (2008). Recruiting Hispanic Women in the U.S. and Women in Mexico in Postpartum Depression Prevention Research, Archives of Women's Mental Health.

Brennan, E., Bradley, J., Dallas, M.D. & Perry, D. (2008). The Evidence Base for Mental Health Consultation in Early Childhood Settings: Research Synthesis Addressing Staff and Program Outcomes, Early Education and Development.

Perry, D., Dunne, M.C., McFadden, L., & Campbell, D. (2008). Reducing the risk for preschool expulsion: mental health consultation for young children with challenging behavior. Journal of Child and Family Studies.

Hochhausen, L., Perry, D.F., & Le, H.N. (2008). From the inside out: understanding limited mental health service use among Latina immigrants. The Community Psychologist, 41 (3/4): 49-53.

Perry, D., Kaufmann, R. & Knitzer, J. (2007). Early Childhood Social and Emotional Health: Building Bridges between Services and Systems Baltimore, MD: Paul Brookes Publishing, Inc.

Sturm, L & Perry, D. (2007). Innovative approaches for supporting social emotional development in pediatric primary care. Zero to Three.