Megan Foster Friedman

Managing Director

Megan Foster Friedman is the Managing Director of the Youth Policy Lab. In this role, Megan provides global project oversight, manages YPL’s internal operations and systems, and provides day-to-day leadership and staff supervision. Megan joined YPL…

Publication

Small cash incentives boost participation in Medicaid home visiting program

Aug 8, 2024

Offering small cash incentives can significantly increase participation in a Medicaid home visiting program for pregnant people, infants and their families, according to a study by the Youth Policy Lab at University of Michigan.U-M researchers...

Pregnant person talking to another person

Publication

Study offers ways to boost participation in program promoting healthy pregnancies, infant growth

Jul 8, 2024

Home visiting programs are effective in promoting healthy pregnancies, birth outcomes and infant growth and development—and new University of Michigan research offers ways to increase participation among eligible families.Michigan's Maternal and...

Small cash incentives boost participation in Medicaid home visiting program

Publication

YPL study calls for mental health training and support of DPSCD staff

Mar 7, 2022

Schools are a promising setting for mental health services – they meet students where they are, surrounded by adults that they trust. Yet more research is needed to determine the most effective way to deliver those services within schools. In a...

YPL study calls for mental health training and support of DPSCD staff

Report

‘Having someone there when no one else was around’: Positive Participant Experiences with the Maternal Infant Health Program

September 30, 2024

Triana Kazaleh Sirdenis, Megan Foster Friedman, Robin Tepper Jacob, Zaiyi Jiang

With funding provided through Governor Whitmer’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative, YPL evaluates the effectiveness of a pilot program to allow MIHP provider agencies to bill for additional services and care coordination for families with high...

a newborn's hand holding the finger of a caregiver

Journal Article

The Impact of Modest Cash Incentives on Home Visiting Enrollment and Participation

June 28, 2024

Robin Tepper Jacob, Megan Foster Friedman

We present initial and persistent effects of an experimental evaluation of monetary incentives in the context of a Medicaid home visiting program for pregnant individuals. 218 participants enrolled in this study between...

an infant's hand holding the fingers of an adult

Journal Article

Increasing Home Visiting Enrollment through Enhanced Outreach

May 30, 2024

Robin Tepper Jacob, Megan Foster Friedman, Olivia Meeks

We explore whether enhanced outreach to a randomly selected subset of individuals referred to Michigan’s Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) can increase enrollment in the home visiting...

close up image of an expecting mother holding an ultrasound photo

Report

Opportunities to Increase Participation in Michigan's Maternal Infant Health Program

October 30, 2020

Robin Tepper Jacob, Megan Foster Friedman

Home visiting is an evidence-based strategy to promote the health and well-being of pregnant people, new parents, and babies. The Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) is Michigan’s largest evidence-based statewide home visiting program for...

a young couple having a play time with their toddler daughter on carpet

Report

Improving Maternal and Infant Health in Michigan: The Potential of Universal Home Visiting Outreach

May 15, 2020

Helen Joa, Megan Foster Friedman, Robin Tepper Jacob, Melisa Schuster

Home visiting is an evidence-based strategy to promote the health and well-being of pregnant women, new mothers, and babies. Despite a large body of evidence documenting the success of home visiting in improving health outcomes, home visiting...

a young mother holding her infant child at home