An NIU research team has earned the Journal of Public Health Policy’s Best Paper of the Year for a systematic review that examines how U.S. policies support unpaid family caregivers. The award was presented during the American Journal of Public Health’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in November.
The winning paper, Caregiver Policies in the United States: A Systematic Policy and Literature Review, was coauthored by the NIU team of Health Sciences doctoral student Makenna Green, recent NIU Master of Public Health (MPH) alum Sadia Afrin, and public health professor and interim associate
dean for research and administration Courtney Hughes. Health economist Erin Vernon from Seattle University also coauthored the winning paper.
Hughes said the recognition highlights the significance of examining caregiver needs through a public health lens.
“Our team set out to better understand how legislation can support the growing population of unpaid family caregivers in the United States, and this honor affirms that such work has the potential to inform policy and improve lives,” Hughes said.
She added that the interdisciplinary nature of the project strengthened the research.
“Working alongside students and a health economist to conduct a rigorous systematic review was both energizing and inspiring,” Hughes said. “This award underscores the value of interdisciplinary teamwork in advancing public health policy research.”
Green said the award brings needed visibility to the challenges caregivers face.
“We all know someone who has been an informal or family caregiver or may have been one ourselves. These people care for a loved one without payment or expectation often for years,” she said. “Being named best paper feels like we are pushing advocacy efforts forward and making the needs of caregivers more visible.”
Afrin, who contributed while completing her master’s program, said the experience shaped her growth as a researcher.
“I learned so much from the process, especially from collaborating with such thoughtful and dedicated coauthors,” Afrin said. “Knowing that the research may help bring more visibility to caregivers and their needs makes this recognition especially meaningful.”
Both students said the project reinforced their commitment to advancing caregiver research. Green noted that the honor helped her build connections with public health scholars, while Afrin said she was grateful to have contributed to a project that reflects the team’s shared dedication.
Hughes said she hopes the paper will inform future policy efforts. The team’s review found limited legislative support for caregivers despite the critical role they play. By recognizing the best paper of the year, she said, the journal spotlighted a growing public health issue that deserves continued attention.
Check out the Journal of Public Health Policy’s Best Paper of the Year.
