Rebekah Stafford is a research analyst with the youth development team. She earned her MA in community psychology with a concentration in community-clinical services from the University of New Haven. As a graduate student, Rebekah interned with the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut and supported the implementation of trauma-informed school-based mental health initiatives throughout the state. During her studies, she also researched and presented on adverse childhood experiences in college students and LGBTQIA+ youth suicidality. 

Rebekah has experience in both quantitative and qualitative research, data collection, and analysis. Prior to joining Child Trends, Rebekah was a research analyst at ICF in their youth and adult education group. She has also held research internships at the Consultation Center at Yale and the Yale Child Study Center. Her research interests include LGBTQIA+ and school-based mental health, positive youth development, trauma, and education.