Daniel F. Perkins, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist
Daniel F. Perkins, Ph.D., is the Principal Scientist (founder) of the Clearinghouse and is a Professor of Family and Youth Resiliency and Policy at Penn State University. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Family and Child Ecology, his M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, and his B.A. in Developmental Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Perkins’ work involves teaching, research, and outreach through the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service. His scholarship integrates research and practice in three focus areas: (1) Healthy Family Development (increase resiliency through evidence-based, strength-based educational programming), (2) Implementation Science (involves mix-methods hybrid evaluations of preventions and interventions, implementation outcomes, and community-based delivery models especially in military-connected contexts), and (3) Community Collaboration (promote strategies for mobilizing communities in support of children, youth, and families.)
One of his primary areas of focus is in fostering the well-being of military Service members, veterans, and their families through the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. He facilitates the translation of science into action by providing comprehensive, science-based programs and technical assistance to professionals working with military and veterans’ families. Since 2001, Daniel has co-led (with Janet Welsh) the implementation of PROmoting School/community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) in Pennsylvania and other states. This is an evidence-based, University-community partnership model for the delivery, dissemination, and sustainability of evidence-based preventive interventions. Moreover, he led a large-scale longitudinal study of post-911 transitioning veterans, The Veteran Metrics Initiative. This study is leading the effort to distill programs for veterans into their common components and examine the link between components and veteran well-being throughout the transition process from military to civilian life.
His work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, University of Arizona, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Wallace Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Pew Charitable Trust, United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, and the United States Marine Corps. He is truly grateful to be able to support Service members, veterans, and their families.