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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Heather Ringeisen, Ph.D., a senior research clinical child psychologist and director of RTI International's Center for Behavioral Health and Development, has been appointed to serve on the Technical Expert Panel for the 2018 redesign of the child section of the National Health Interview Survey.
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is the principal source of information on the health of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States and is one of the major data collection programs for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
NHIS data are used widely to monitor trends in illness and disability and to track progress toward achieving national health objectives. The public health research community also uses the data for epidemiologic and policy analysis of timely issues such as characterizing those with various health problems, determining barriers to accessing and using appropriate health care, and evaluating federal health programs.
"I'm honored to serve on the Technical Expert Panel," Ringeisen said. "The NHIS is one of the nation's landmark health surveys. It is our only annual source of information about the mental health of children 2 to 18 years of age. The survey helps demonstrate trends over time in children's health and identifies service needs. It is very exciting to share ideas with the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics as they consider updating and improving the child section of this important national data resource."
Ringeisen has extensive experience as a mental health and child welfare researcher with expertise in both surveys and program evaluations focused on children, youth, young adults and families. Her research specialties include the measurement of child health, mental health and well-being as well as service models to address the needs of youth and young adults with emotional or behavioral health problems.
She also serves as an investigator, analyst and senior advisor for a number of projects, including the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the Now is the Time National Evaluation.
Ringeisen has served on multiple federal committees that coordinate activities related to child welfare and children's mental health. She has published articles in Pediatrics, Psychiatric Services, Children and Youth Services Review, Child Maltreatment, Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, School Psychology Review, and the Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. She is also a former policy fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences and Society for Research in Child Development.
Ringeisen holds a doctorate in clinical child psychology and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Auburn University, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Wake Forest University.
Thirteen health professionals serve on the NHIS expert panel, which is chaired by Michael Kogan, PhD, director of the Office of Epidemiology and Research at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration. The panel will convene over the course of the next three months.
