Dr. Kaitlin Paxton Ward
Joint PhD, Social Work and Developmental Psychology
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
About me
People Analytics Research: I am currently a People Analytics Researcher at Google, where I conduct research that aims to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. My work prioritizes empowering and advocating for vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, BIPOC populations, caregivers, and workers who engage in emotional labor. Recent projects include a longitudinal multilevel model to monitor employee mental health during COVID-19, a mixed-methods analysis of underrepresented workers to inform Google's hybrid policies, an impact analysis of Google's racial equity programs, and a supervised machine learning longitudinal analysis to examine the equity of Google's performance evaluation and promotion processes.
Statistical Independent Contracting: I provide independent contracting services to universities and public and private organizations where I conduct advanced quantitative analyses. Recent projects have included quasi-experimental program evaluations, longitudinal and population-based research, and evaluations of randomized controlled trials. All services thus far have resulted in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
Mental Health Therapy: I began providing individual and group outpatient therapy services in 2016, and have been fully licensed since 2020. I maintain a clinical licensure in Illinois and Michigan. I currently treat clients between the ages of 10 and 70; I treat individuals, families, and folks navigating complex and/or non-traditional relationships. My clinical expertise is in child and family therapy, marital and relational therapy, LGBTQ+ empowerment, anxiety, OCD, depression, and complex trauma and PTSD.
Education
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
50. Pace, G. T., Lee, J. Y., Ward, K. P., & Chang, O. D. (2025, in press). Exploring father-adolescent closeness: A random forest approach. Family Relations.
49. Hoffman, S., Ward, K. P., Byers, E., Marsiglia, F., & Wood, D. (2025, in press). Stigma of suicide’s effects on gatekeeping behaviors among families in Mexico. Child & Youth Care Forum.
48. Ward, K. P., Grogan-Kaylor, A., Ma, J., Pace, G. P., Lee, S. J., & Davis-Kean, P. E. (2025). Interactions of gender inequality and parental discipline predicting child aggression in low- and middle-income countries. Child Development, 96(1), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.14152
47. Ward, K. P., Lee, S. J., & Chang, O. D. (2025). “Tell me what I’m doing wrong”: Criticism of parenting choices and mental health during COVID-19. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2024.10.008
46. Lee, J. Y., Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., Pace, G. T., & Chang, O. D. (2024). Shared parental responsiveness among fathers and mothers with low income and early child outcomes. Family Relations, 73(2), 683-702. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12913
45. Hoffman, S., Ward, K. P., Black, A., Kirby, D., Wood, D. S., & Marsiglia, F. F. (2024). The influence of access to care on the health literacy of families in Mexico. Health Promotion International, 39(6), daae191. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae191
44. Chang. O. D., Ward, K. P., & Lee, S. J. (2024). Examining coping strategies and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence for the protective role of problem-focused coping. Health & Social Work, 49(3), 175-184. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlae018
43. Hoffman, S., Ward, K. P., Rueda, H. A., & Beasley, L. (2024, in press). Childhood family transitions and adolescent dating behaviors: A longitudinal study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 33, 2238–2250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02758-y
42. Rueda, H., Ward, K. P., & Hoffman, S. (2023). Parental physical and psychological aggression and youth dating violence: A latent class analysis approach. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231218224
41. Ward, K. P., Grogan-Kaylor, A., Ma, J., Lee, S. J., & Pace, G. T. (2023). Associations between 11 parental discipline behaviors and child outcomes across 60 countries. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058439
40. Lee, J. Y., Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., Pace, G. T., & Chang, O. D. (2023). Shared parental responsiveness among fathers and mothers with low income and early child outcomes. Family Relations. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12913
39. Wood, B. M., Cubbin, C., Ward, K. P., & Hernandez, E. J. R. (2023). The link between ACEs, income, and maternal depressive symptoms through a racial and ethnic lens: A moderated-mediation analysis. Mental Health & Prevention, 30, 200284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2023.200284
38. Saasa, S., Ward, K. P., Jacobson, J., & Hill, R. L. (2023). Examining coping and acculturative stress as mediators between perceived discrimination and internalizing symptoms among African immigrants. International Journal of Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12583
37. Rodriguez, C. M., Lee, S. J., & Ward, K. P. (2023). Applying socio-emotional information processing theory to explain child abuse risk: Emerging patterns from the COVID-19 pandemic. Child Abuse & Neglect, 135, 105954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105954
36. Ma, J., Grogan-Kaylor, A., Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., & Pace, G. T. (2022). Gender inequality in low- and middle-income countries: Associations with parental physical abuse and moderation by child gender. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11928. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911928
35. Todorovic, K., O’leary, E., Ward, K. P., Devarasetty, P., Lee, S. J., Knox, M., & Andari, E. (2022). Prevalence, increase and predictors of family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, using modern machine learning approaches. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 883294. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.883294
34. Ward, K. P., & Lee, S. J. (2022). Associations of food insecurity and material social support with parent and child mental health during COVID-19. Children & Youth Services Review, 140, 106562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106562
33. Ma, J., Grogan-Kaylor, A., Pace, G. T., Ward, K. P., & Lee, S. J. (2022). The association between spanking and physical abuse of young children in 56 low- and middle-income countries. Child Abuse & Neglect, 129, 105662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105662
32. Ahmed, S. F., Ellis, A., Ward, K. P., Chaku, N., & Davis-Kean, P. (2022). Working memory development from early childhood to adolescence using two nationally representative samples. Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001396
31. Ward, K. P., Lee, S. J., Grogan-Kaylor, A. C., Ma, J., & Pace, G. T. (2022). Patterns of caregiver aggressive and nonaggressive discipline toward young children in low- and middle-income countries: A latent class approach. Child Abuse & Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105606
30. Ward, K. P. (2022). The transition to siblinghood: An understudied yet influential process pertinent to social work research. Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swac009
29. Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., Grogan-Kaylor, A, & Singh, V. (2022). Anxiety and depression during COVID-19: Are adults in households with children faring worse? Journal of General Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-07256-9
28. Saasa, S., Ward, K. P., Sandberg, S., Jacobson, J. (2021). Financial hardship, neighborhood cohesion and child externalizing behaviors: An extension of the family stress model among immigrant mothers. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106153
27. Ward, K. P., Grogan-Kaylor, A., Pace, G. T., Cuartas, J., & Lee, S. J. (2021). A multilevel ecological analysis of the predictors of spanking across 65 countries. BMJ Open, 11(8): e046075. https://doi.org/:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046075
26. Rodriguez, C. M., Lee, S. J., & Ward, K. P. (2021). Underlying mechanisms for racial disparities in parent-child physical and psychological aggression and child abuse risk. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105089
25. Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., Rodriguez, C. M. (2021). Couples’ relationship conflict during the Covid-19 pandemic: A risk and resilience perspective. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211006359
24. Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., & Lee, J. Y. (2021). Parental social isolation and child maltreatment risk during a pandemic. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00244-3
23. Forsyth, S. M., & Ward, K. P. (2021). Media use and men’s approval of intimate partner violence in Honduras. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260521993926
22. Rodriguez, C., Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., & Pu, D. F. (2021). The perfect storm: Hidden risk of child maltreatment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Child Maltreatment. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559520982066
21. Grogan-Kaylor, A., Castillo, B., Pace, G. T., Ward, K. P., Ma, J., Lee, S. J., & Knauer, H. (2021). Global perspectives on physical and nonphysical discipline: A Bayesian multilevel analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025420981642
20. Lee, S. J., Ward, K. P., Chang, O. D., & Downing, K. M. (2020). Parenting activities and the transition to home-based education during the Covid-19 pandemic. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105585
19. Saasa, S., Ward, K. P., & Escamilla, S. (2020). Immigrant generation, race, and socioeconomic outcomes of mothers in urban cities: Who fares better? Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01059-6
18. Shaw, S. A., Ward, K. P., Pillai, V., Mahram, L., & Karim, H. (2020). A randomized clinical trial testing a parenting intervention among Afghan and Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. Family Process. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12592
17. Ward, K. P., & Lee, S. J. (2020). Mothers’ and fathers’ parenting stress, responsiveness, and child wellbeing among low-income families. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105218
16. Lee, S. J., Pace, G. T., Ward, K. P., Grogan-Kaylor, A., & Ma, J. (2020). Household economic hardship as a moderator of the associations between maternal spanking and child externalizing behavior problems. Child Abuse & Neglect. (advanced online publication). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104573
15. Cuartas, J., Ward, K. P., Ma, J., & Grogan-Kaylor, A. (2020). Physical punishment and Colombian children’s and adolescents’ cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101140 *Findings were featured in a testimony in the Colombian House of Representatives when discussing a bill to ban corporal punishment in Colombia.
14. Ward, K. P., Wood, D. S., & Young, T. M. (2020). The effectiveness of a retreat intervention for female survivors of child sexual abuse. Research on Social Work Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731520921936
13. Grogan-Kaylor, A. C., Castillo, B., Ma, J., Ward, K. P., Lee, S. J., Pace, G. T., & Park, J. (2020). A Bayesian analysis of associations between neighborhoods, spanking and child externalizing behavior. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104930
12. Ward, K. P., Lee, S. J., Pace, G. T., Grogan-Kaylor, A., & Ma, J. (2019). Attachment style and the association of spanking and child externalizing behavior. Academic Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2019.06.017
11. Ward, K. P., Lee, S. J., Limb, G. E., & Grogan-Kaylor, A. (2019). Physical punishment and child externalizing behavior: Comparing American Indian, White, and African American children. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519861678
10. Ward, K. P., & Limb, G. E. (2019). The importance of biological parent coparenting in an American Indian stepfamily context. Social Work Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svz009
9. Ward, K. P., & Limb, G. E. (2019). Emerging adult attachment and alcohol abuse among American Indians raised in stepfamilies. The British Journal of Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz010
8. Ward, K. P., Porter, N. A., & Wood, D. (2019). The effectiveness of neurofeedback in an outpatient setting: A multilevel modeling approach. Research on Social Work Practice. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049731519831355
7. Ward, K. P., Limb, G., Higbee, S., & Haueter, H. (2019). Stepfamily closeness and depression among American Indian emerging adults: A structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Family Issues, 40(3), 267-292. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X18808574
6. Grogan-Kaylor, A., Ma, J., Lee, S. J., Castillo, B., Ward, K. P., & Klein, S. (2018). Using Bayesian analysis to examine associations between spanking and child externalizing behavior across race and ethnic groups. Child Abuse & Neglect, 86, 257-266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.10.009
5. Ward, K. P., Shaw, S. A., Chang, M., & El-Bassel, N. (2018). Social support moderates the association between traumatic life events and depression among migrant and nonmigrant men in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(5), 698-707. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22324
4. Shaw, S. A., Ward, K. P., Pillai, V., & Hinton, D. (2018). A randomized controlled trial testing group mental health support for female Afghan refugees in Malaysia. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000346
3. Shaw, S. A., Pillai, V., & Ward, K. P. (2018). Assessing mental health and service needs among refugees in Malaysia. International Journal of Social Welfare, 28, 44-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12313
2. Limb, G. E., Hodge, D. R., Ward, K. P., Ferrell, A., & Alboroto, R. (2018). Developing cultural competence with LDS clients: Utilizing spiritual genograms in social work practice. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 37(2), 166-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2018.1448033
1. Ward, K. P., Dennis, C. B., & Limb, G. (2018). The impact of stepfamily relationship quality on emerging adult non-medical use of prescription drugs. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 44(4), 463-471. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2017.1405010
Congressional Reports
2. Limb, G., & Ward, K. P. (2019). Foster care and permanency issues for American Indian/Alaska Native families and children. In National Indian Child Welfare Association (Ed.), Impacts of child maltreatment in Indian Country: Preserving the seventh generation through policies, programs, and funding streams (pp. 256-284). [Congressional Report]. Portland OR: NICWA.
1. Red Horse, J., Limb, G., & Ward, K. P. (2019). Sovereignty, cultural competency, and family preservation. In National Indian Child Welfare Association (Ed.), Impacts of child maltreatment in Indian Country: Preserving the seventh generation through policies, programs, and funding streams (pp. 235-255). [Congressional Report]. Portland OR: NICWA.
Research Experience
Senior People Analytics Researcher, Google
Location: Chicago, IL (remote)
Dates: April 2022-Present
- Use rigorous social science research to ensure equitable people process outcomes, inclusive experiences, and improve representation for underrepresented groups across Google.
- Led multiple large-scale quantitative and mixed-method analyses presented to the CEO, Chief Diversity Officer, and executives in People Analytics, Benefits, Recruiting, and YouTube.
- Used longitudinal multilevel modeling and supervised machine learning to unveil the top predictors of employee adjustment during COVID-19, which led to company-wide dissemination of self-compassion interventions and a Talks @ Google event with Dr. Kristin Neff.
- Designed and evaluated a technology-based experimental study for employees exposed to sensitive material at YouTube, which led to reductions in trauma symptomatology.
- Served as the primary methodologist for transition-to-hybrid research, which directly informed Google's hybrid policies and highlighted the needs of underrepresented parents and caregivers.
- Evaluated the efficacy of Google’s racial equity programs using propensity score matching; findings were featured in Google’s 2024 Diversity Annual Report.
- Used machine learning and longitudinal mediation to conduct an equity-based employee lifecycle analysis, directly changing processes in recruiting, hiring, and performance evaluation.
- Conducted cross-cultural parent-child user experience research on artificial intelligence and child online safety.
- Used large language models to enhance research summarization and dissemination processes within the people analytics function.
- Served as a grant reviewer for Google’s Award for Inclusion Research and Research Scholar programs.
- Mentored 5+ PhD interns to increase quantitative skillsets and teach analytic best practices.
- Founder and lead of Cancer Survivors @ Google employee resource group, which serves >600 employees globally. Helped scope, receive legal approval for, and design a user experience study using artificial intelligence with cancer survivors.
Research Scientist, UC Berkeley
Location: Berkeley, CA (remote)
Dates: January 2022-June 2023
Responsibilities: Using grant funds from Gavin Newsom, evaluated the efficacy of socio-emotional learning (SEL) on child development in schools across the Northern California region. Used data insights to inform the development and implementation of a continuous improvement process aimed at improving systemic social-emotional learning in California. Supported the development of measures for systemic social-emotional learning; prepared data for sharing with communities of practice. Supported the development, analysis, and writing of materials for sharing learnings with government, private, and university stakeholders. Consulted on the development and implementation of micro-surveys for the Greater Good in Education website to assess teachers’ use of evidence-based SEL tools globally.
Statistical Consultant, Independent Contracting
Responsibilities: Design program evaluation and randomized controlled trials for public and private institutions to examine intervention effectiveness among low-income women, parents, and families domestically and across low- and middle-income countries. Examples include evaluating an RCT of mental health and literacy interventions in Zambia, evaluating the efficacy of a child sexual abuse intervention for low-income women in the US, examining the impact of media use on IPV attitudes among men in Honduras, evaluating the efficacy of a neurofeedback intervention among low-income children with complex trauma in Utah, and evaluating the efficacy of a mother-child relational intervention in Mexico. Conduct complex statistical analyses for university professors on parent-child primary and secondary longitudinal data to assist in publication in high-impact journals. Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals; present findings to program executives and make recommendations for program modification. Projects thus far have utilized path analysis, propensity score matching, multilevel modeling, longitudinal mediation analysis, latent class analysis, growth curve modeling, and categorical data analysis in Stata, Mplus, and R.
People Analytics Intern, Google
Location: Mountain View, CA (remote)
Dates: May 2021-August 2021
Responsibilities: Examined Google employee psychological adjustment during COVID-19. Conducted multilevel modeling and longitudinal data analysis in R. Findings served as the foundation for the YouTube Mental Health 2022 focus and expanded dissemination of employee wellbeing resources. Wrote a literature review on mental health risks and interventions for employees who deal with sensitive material (DWSM). Results informed survey items included in the DWSM Q3 survey, changed candidate screening procedures, and informed DWSM program direction. Designed a technology-based experimental study for DWSM employees. Contributed to survey design and item selection. Successfully navigated legal and privacy recommendations and requirements. Present results to Google executives and make recommendations regarding Google employee policy.
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Dates: September 2018 - Present
Responsibilities: Examine parenting and family processes across contexts using survey data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), UNICEF MICS, Building Strong Families (BSF), and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Utilize Bayesian estimation, longitudinal modeling, mediation and moderation analysis, categorical data analysis, piecewise analysis, latent class analysis, and structural equation modeling in Stata, Mplus, and R.
Graduate Research Assistant, Brigham Young University
Location: Provo, UT
Dates: August 2016-July 2018
Responsibilities: Gathered and analyzed survey and intervention data from samples of vulnerable populations to elucidate risk and resilience factors. Prepared and published multiple quantitative and mixed methods manuscripts for publication. Assisted in writing, obtaining, and utilizing a $22,000 grant. Designed and implemented a randomized-controlled trial of a parenting intervention among
refugees in Malaysia. Analyzed archival, experimental, qualitative, and longitudinal survey data and prepared manuscripts for publication.
AmeriCorps Program Evaluation Researcher
Clinical Experience
Child and Family Therapist, Heron Ridge Associates
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Dates: November 2018-present
Responsibilities: Provide individual and family outpatient therapy specializing in trauma and child maltreatment. Conduct mental health assessments and formulate treatment plans. Specializations in parental discipline, PTSD, child therapy, anxiety, faith transitions, women’s health.
Case Coordinator and Data Specialist, The Children's Justice Center
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Dates: January 2016-August 2016
Responsibilities: Counseled and educated parents of child victims and witnesses of abuse prior to child forensic interview and data collection; coordinated with multi-disciplinary team to schedule and child forensic interviews and conduct staffings regarding child physical and sexual abuse; implemented crisis intervention, follow-up support, community referrals, and criminal justice advocacy skills; ensured reliable recording of evidence of victim and witness forensic interviews.
Social Work Intern, Primary Children's Center for Counseling
Location: Taylorsville, Utah
Dates: August 2017-April 2018
Responsibilities: Conducted individual and family therapy for children ages 3-17. Led mental health assessments and formulated treatment plans. Specialized in emotion regulation, trauma, domestic violence, depression, and stepfamilies.
Social Work Intern, The Green House Center for Growth & Learning
Location: Pleasant Grove, Utah
Dates: April 2017-August 2017
Responsibilities: Conducted individual and family therapy sessions specializing in interpersonal violence. Led DBT and Social Skills therapy groups for children, adolescents, and young adults ages 3-25 who had experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect. Conducted a program evaluation research project examining the efficacy of neurofeedback – published manuscript in peer-reviewed journal.
Social Work Intern, Resilient Solutions Inc.
Location: Bountiful, Utah
Dates: January 2015-April 2015
Responsibilities: Conducted group and individual therapy session with licensed therapists; contacted area physicians, hospitals, and clinics to increase awareness of Resilient Solutions’ services; assisted licensed mental health professionals with paperwork, note filing, group therapy organization, development of outreach programs, billing, and conferences.
Social Work Intern, Solstice East Residential Treatment Center
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Dates: May 2015
Responsibilities: Observed and helped conduct individual and group therapy sessions for adolescents ages 13-18; provided psychoeducation to delinquent, abused, and neglected adolescents.
Media
CURRICULUM VITAE
View Curriculum Vitae
Updated March 2025
Contact
- Chicago, IL, USA