Rebecca Rebbe is an associate professor and the Wallace Kuralt Early Career Distinguished Scholar at the UNC School of Social Work. Rebecca’s research examines the measurement of and community responses to child maltreatment. Her research is informed by 7 years of post-MSW practice working with families involved with child welfare systems, in both the public and private sectors. Rebecca specializes in using population-based linked administrative datasets and data science techniques to better understand child maltreatment.

Rebecca is currently funded by an award from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) to examine the child protection interactions and health care utilization of children diagnosed with autism. Her previously funded research projects include a K01 award from the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and an R21 from NICHD. Her work has been published in academic journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Child Maltreatment.

Rebecca was named a Fellow of the Society of Social Work and Research in 2024. At the UNC School of Social Work, she has received the Excellence in Research and the Dean’s Recognition of Teaching Excellence awards.