Matia Finn-Stevenson, PhD
Associate Director Zigler CenterCards
About
Titles
Associate Director Zigler Center; Director, School of the 21st Century; Director, The Mutt-i-grees Initiative
Biography
Matia Finn-Stevenson is a research scientist at Yale University, Child Study Center, where she is also associate director of The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the director of the School of the 21st Century. She developed the social and emotional learning model that is the basis for the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum, conceptualized by the Pet Savers Foundation, and the integration of Mutt-i-grees to teach social-emotional skills. Dr. Finn-Stevenson is also directing Yale's efforts in the study of pets in the lives of children. Her previous work focused on research in child development and school-work-family life issues, including studies on the impact of demographic and other changes on schools and the involvement of schools in childcare, family support and other interventions.
Dr. Finn-Stevenson is the author and co-author of numerous publications, the most recent of which are related to school reform, evaluation of school-based support services, and program development social policy. Among her publications are books entitled Children in the Changing World; The School of the 21st Century: Linking Child Care and Education; Child Development and Social Policy; and The First Three Years and Beyond: Brain Development and Social Policy. She has been an advisor on domestic policy issues to the staff of the White House Office of Policy Development and a consultant to the Connecticut legislature's Committee on Work and Family, the Committee on Education and Labor, the U. S. House of Representatives, and the U. S. Senate Subcommittee on Children, Youth, Families, Alcohol, and Drug Abuse. She regularly advises school districts and state departments of education on programs and services for children and serves as a consultant to state and federal policymakers and foundations. Dr. Finn-Stevenson earned her doctorate from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Appointments
Child Study Center
Assistant Clinical ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Child Study Center
- Child Study Center - Scholastic Collaboration
- School of the 21st Century
Education & Training
- PhD
- Ohio State University (1978)
Research
Overview
The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum, builds on the research on human-animal interaction to enhance socio-emotional skills. Designed for all students from PreK-Grade 6, Middle School and High School. Also appropriate for use with students with special needs.
Medical Research Interests
News
News
- July 12, 2022
21C and Mutt-i-grees Schools Eligible for New Funding
- December 06, 2017
A New Study on the Effectiveness of Integrated Student Support Services
- June 08, 2016
Caution: Meeting Our New Therapy Dog May Leave You Smiling for Hours
- May 04, 2016
Mutt-i-grees Curriculum to be Highlighted at International Conference