Faculty Expert Profile

Deborah Gross is best known for her work in promoting positive parent-child relationships and preventing behavior problems in preschool children from low-income neighborhoods.

Gross and colleagues developed the innovative Chicago Parent Program, which improves parenting behavior and reduces child behavior problems. The program currently is used in a number of settings, including Head Start centers in Chicago and New York City.

Her research has examined parent engagement in early childhood; parenting challenges during military deployment; African-American fatherhood; toxic stress in pregnant women; the cost of not being socially or behaviorally ready for Kindergarten; and at-risk families.