Heather Rouse

Heather Rouse is an associate professor in the Human Development and Family Studies program at Iowa State University. She is a researcher focused on child and family policy at the intersection of health, education, and child welfare. Her work involves building and utilizing integrated data from public service systems to inform social policy research. Rouse explores early childhood risks—biological, familial, and community-based—that impact well-being, as well as the critical role of quality early care and education experiences. Her research also examines home visiting programs, the childcare workforce, Head Start, and universal preschool, aiming to advance policies that support children and families.

Ph.D. in School, Community and Clinic Child Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 2007 

M.S.Ed. in Psychological Services, University of Pennsylvania, 2000 

B.D. in Psychology with a Minor in Mathematics, University of Pennsylvania, 1999