Colleen Heflin

• 2025 Summer
  • PAI 781 Social Welfare Policy
• 2025 Spring
  • PAI 415 Poverty Policy
  • PAI 781 Social Welfare Policy
• 2024 Fall
  • PAI 996 Master's Project Course
  • PAI 781 Social Welfare Policy
• 2024 Spring
  • PAI 781 Social Welfare Policy

Heflin has experience engaging with federal policymakers, providing expert testimony before Congress, providing technical assistance to states working to improve access to food and nutrition assistance programs, and working with county agencies to redesign their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process. She founded the University of Missouri Federal Statistical Research Data Center and Missouri Population, Education and Health Center. She received the W. Richard Scott Award for Distinguished Scholarship from the American Sociological Association in 2014.  

"Childcare Subsidy Policy Changes and Parental Employment and Earnings Outcomes", Sponsored by Department of Health & Human Services.

"Childcare Subsidy Policy Changes and Parental Employment and Earnings Outcomes", Sponsored by Department of Health & Human Services.

"Evaluating a Medically Tailored Grocery Delivery Program for Rural Veteran Population", Sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation.

"Evaluating a Medically Tailored Grocery Delivery Program for Rural Veteran Population", Sponsored by New York State Health Foundation.

"Evaluating a Medically Tailored Grocery Delivery Program for Rural Veteran Population", Sponsored by Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart.

"Did physical presence waivers impact WIC participation during the COVID-19 pandemic?", Sponsored by Department of Agriculture.

"Exploring the Effects of SNAP Interview Waivers on Program Participation Outcomes:_Doctoral Dissertation Research", Sponsored by Department of Agriculture.

"Food Insecurity and SNAP Receipt After Military Separation", Sponsored by Department of Agriculture.

"Coordination SNAP and Nutrition Supports to Reduce Child Hunger Evaluation", Sponsored by Share Our Strength.

"Building on work to advance understanding of instability in parental employment as a barrier to child care", Sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

"Center for Aging and Policy Studies", Sponsored by National Institutes of Health.

"Hunger SNAPs: Food Insecurity among Older Adults", Sponsored by Russell Sage Foundation.

"Changing Patterns of Eligibility and Take up in SNAP and the Roles of Out of Pocket Medical Expenses", Sponsored by Department of Agriculture.

"Understanding Food Related Hardships Among Older Americans", Sponsored by Department of Agriculture.

"Employment Instability as a Barrier to Child Care", Sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Book
  • Heflin, C. M., Harrington Meyer, M., Food For Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity. Russell Sage Foundation, 2025.
• Journal Articles
  • Heflin, C. M., Harrington Meyer, M., "Strengthening Snap’s Ability to Address Old Age Food Insecurity." Contexts, 2025.
  • Ueda-Ballmer, M., Heflin, C. M., Liu, Y., Yu, Q. and Ramanathan, S., "Understanding Factors Associated with 911 and 988 Use in Mental Health Crises." Community Mental Health Journal, 2025.
  • Heflin, C. M., Ziliak, J. P., "Does the Reference Period Matter When Evaluating the Effect of SNAP on Food Insecurity?." Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 2024.
  • Fannin, W. C., Heflin, C. M. and Morrissey, T., "Earnings and Employment Patterns Following Child-Care Subsidy Receipt." Social Service Review, 2024.
  • Fannin, W. C., Heflin, C. M. and Lopoo, L. M., "The Effects of Waiving WIC Physical Presence Requirements on Program Caseloads." Social Service Review, 2024.
  • Morrissey, T. W., Heflin, C. M. and Fannin, W. C., "Room to grow: examining participation and stability in child care subsidies using state administrative data." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 2023.
  • Heflin, C. M., Fannin, W. C. and Lopoo, L. M., "Local Control, Discretion, and Administrative Burden: SNAP Interview Waivers and Caseloads During the COVID-19 Pandemic." American Review of Public Administration, 2023.
  • Ojinnaka, C. O., Arteaga, I., Hodges, L. and Heflin, C. M., "SNAP Participation and Medication Adherence Among Older Black Medicaid-Insured Individuals Living With Hypertension." American Journal of Hypertension, 2023.
  • Li, J., Zuo, D. and Heflin, C. M., "Adoption Of Standard Medical Deduction Increased SNAP Enrollment And Benefits In 21 Participating States." Health Affairs, 2023.
  • Heflin, C. M., Hodges, L., Arteaga, I. and Ojinnaka, C. O., "Churn in the older adult SNAP population." Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 2023.
  • Rothbart, M. W., Heflin, C. M., "Inequality in literacy skills at kindergarten entry at the intersections of social programs and race." Children and Youth Services Review, 2023.
  • Zuo, D., Heflin, C. M., "Cognitive Impairment and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Take-Up Among the Eligible Older Americans." The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2023.
  • Morrissey, T. W., Heflin, C. M. and Fannin, W. C., "Room to grow: examining participation and stability in child care subsidies using state administrative data." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 2023.
  • Ojinnaka, C. O., Arteaga, I., Hodges, L. and Heflin, C. M., "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation and Medication Adherence Among Medicaid-Insured Older Adults Living with Hypertension." Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2023.
  • Altman, C. E., Dondero, M., Heflin, C. M. and Nusbaum, D., "Current and Future Food Insufficiency During Covid-19: Examining Disparities by Race/Ethnicity and Recent Work Loss." Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 2022.
  • Heflin, C. M., Sun, X., "Food Insecurity and the Opioid Crisis." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2022.
  • Darolia, R., Heflin, C. M., "The Social and Community Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2022.
  • Heflin, C. M., Darolia, R. and Kukla-Acevedo, S., "Exposure to Food Insecurity during Adolescence and Educational Attainment." Social Problems, 2022.
  • Heflin, C. M., Rothbart, M. W. and Mackenzie-Liu, M., "Below the Tip of the Iceberg: Examining Early Childhood Participation in SNAP and TANF from Birth to Age Six." Population Research and Policy Review, 2022.
  • Heflin, C. M., Hodges, L., Ojinnaka, C. O. and Arteaga, I., "Hypertension, Diabetes and Medication Adherence among the Older Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program Population." Journal of Applied Gerontology, 2022.
  • Heflin, C. M., Patnaik, H. A., "Material Hardship and the Living Arrangements of Older Americans." Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 2022.
  • Heflin, C. M., Morrissey, T. W., "Patterns of Earnings and Employment by Worker Sex, Race, and Ethnicity Using State Administrative Data: Results from a Sample of Workers Connected to Public Assistance Programs." Race and Social Problems, 2022.
  • Aratani, Y., Charney, A. and Heflin, C. M., "Using Linked Administrative Data to Improve Child Well-being in the Rental Assistance Demonstration." Cityscape, 2021.
  • Arteaga, I., Hodges, L. and Heflin, C. M., "Giving kids a boost: The positive relationship between frequency of SNAP participation and Infant's preventative health care utilization." SSM - Population Health, 2021.
  • Altman, C. E., Heflin, C. M., Jun, C. and Bachmeier, J. D., "Material Hardship Among Immigrants in the United States: Variation by Citizenship, Legal Status, and Origin in the 1996–2008 SIPP." Population Research and Policy Review, 2021.
  • Huang, Y., Heflin, C. M. and Validova, A., "Material hardship, perceived stress, and health in early adulthood." Annals of Epidemiology, 2021.
  • Huang, Y., Heflin, C. M. and Validova, A., "Material hardship, perceived stress, and health in early adulthood." Annals of Epidemiology, 2021.
• Book Chapters
  • Heflin, C. M., "U.S. Food and Nutrition Policy Across the Life Course." In Life-Course Implications of U.S. Public Policies. Routledge, 2021.
  • Heflin, C. M., Mueser, P., "Program Participation in the Show Me State: Missouri Responds to the Great Recession." In Helping Together: Unemployment Insurance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, and the Great Recession. Stevens, D., Wiseman, M. (eds.) Upjohn Press, 2019.
  • Heflin, C. M., Mueser, P., "UI and SNAP Receipt in the Sun: The Great Recession and Its Aftermath in Florida." In Helping Together: Unemployment Insurance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, and the Great Recession. Stevens, D., Wiseman, M. (eds.) Upjohn Press, 2019.
  • Heflin, C. M., Hodges, L. and London, A., "TAPped Out: A Study of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP)." In The Civilian Lives of U.S. Veterans: Issues and Identities. Hicks, L., Weiss, E. L. and Coll, J. E. (eds.) ABC-Clio, 2017.
  • Heflin, C. M., "The Importance of Context to the Social Processes around Material Hardship." In Routledge Handbook of Poverty in the United States. Haymes, S. N., Vidal de Haymes, M. and Miller, R. J. (eds.) Routledge Press, 2015.
  • Heflin, C. M., "The importance of context to the social processes around material hardship." In The Routledge Handbook of Poverty in the United States. , 2014.
  • Heflin, C. M., "An Examination of Gender Differences in the Relationship between Reporting a Food Hardship and Physical Health." In Food Science and Security. Amsel, L., Hirsch, L. (eds.) Nova Publishers, 2009.
• Conference Proceeding
  • Corcoran, M. E., Heflin, C. M., "Race, Ethnic and Skill-Based Inequalities in Women’s Earnings." In Proceedings and Papers: Conference for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. , 1999.
• Erratum, Journal
  • Heflin, C. M., Butler, S. J., "Erratum to Why Do Women Enter and Exit From Material Hardship? (Journal of Family Issues, (2012), 34, 5 (631-660), 10.1177/0192513X12442822)." Journal of Family Issues, 2013.
• Review, Journal
  • Noonan, M. C., Heflin, C. M., "Does welfare participation affect women's wages?." Social Science Quarterly, 2005.
• White Papers
  • Heflin, C. M., Mueser, P. and Cronin, J., How Accurate is Online Information about SNAP?. Institute for Public Policy, University of Missouri, 2017.
  • Heflin, C. M., "The Great Recession and the Rise in Material Hardship." In Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Consortium, 2013-2018. Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation, Office of the Administration for Children & Families, 2017.
  • Heflin, C. M., Jensen, J. K. and Miller, K. K., Community Resilience: Understanding the Economic Impacts of Disruptions in Water Service. Institute for Public Policy, University of Missouri, 2013.
  • Vancil, A., Rikoon, S., Foulkes, M., Hermsen, J., Heflin, C. M. and Raedeke, N., Regional Profile of Missouri Food Pantry Clients and Households. Institute for Public Policy, University of Missouri. Policy Brief, 2013.
  • Dabson, B., Heflin, C. M. and Miller, K., Regional Resilence: Research and Policy Brief. RUPRI Rural Futures Lab, University of Missouri, 2012.
  • Heflin, C. M., Miller, K., Geography of Need: Identifying Human Service Needs in Rural America. RUPRI , 2011.
  • Rysavy, M., Heflin, C. M., Food Insecurity, Food Stamp Participation and Poverty: The Paradox of Missouri. Institute of Public Policy, University of Missouri, 2009.

Addressing Food Insecurity Among Older Adults in New York State, New York Health Foundation, "Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity" (December 10, 2025)

Oregon Hunger Task Force Meeting, Oregon Hunger Task Force, "Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity" (November 18, 2025)

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management 2025 Annual Meeting, APPAM, "Mental Health and Ending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Emergency Allotments After COVID-19" (November 15, 2025)

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management 2025 Meeting, APPAM, "Food Insecurity in Crises" (November 14, 2025)

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management 2025 Annual Meeting, APPAM, "Golden Years, Empty Plates" (November 14, 2025)

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management 2025 Annual Meeting, APPAM, "First-Time Mothers’ Work and Safety Net Participation Around Birth" (November 13, 2025)

State of Democracy Panel Conversation, Campbell Institute, Maxwell School, "The Political Causes and Policy Consequences of the One Big Beautiful Bill" (November 6, 2025)

Russell Sage Foundation Scholars Workshop, Russell Sage Foundation, "Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity" (October 30, 2025)

2025 Healthy Food, Healthy Lives Conferece, New York Health Foundation, "Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity" (October 14, 2025)

What's at Stake, CPR, Maxwell School, "Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity" (October 8, 2025)

GAO Defense Management Webinar, Government Accountability Office, "Understanding the State of Evidence Regarding the Cause and Consequences of Military Food Insecurity" (September 16, 2025)

Congressional Briefing, House Veteran Affairs Committee, "House Veteran Affairs Committee Briefing on Military and Veteran Food Security" (November 28, 2023)

Annual Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, APPAM, "Do TANF and SNAP Function as Parental Leave for Low-Income Women?" (November, 2023)

White House VA Food Security Summit, Veteran Affairs Administration, "Food Security Summit Research Panel" (September 12, 2023)

Ojinnaka, C., Arteaga, I., Hodges, L., Quick, L., Heflin, C. M., Academy Health 2022 Annual Research Meeting, Academy Health, "SNAP Participation and Medication Adherence Among Older Medicaid-Insured Individuals Living with Hypertension" (June 5, 2022)

Heflin, C. M., Hodges, L., Ojinnaka, C., Arteaga, I., Quick, L., Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Population Association of America, "Churn in the older adult SNAP Population" (April 7, 2022)

Rothbart, M., Heflin, C. M., Morrissey, T., Sun, X., Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Population Association of America, "Does Offering Public PreK Change Social Program Participation?" (April 7, 2022)

Heflin, C. M., Sun, X., Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Population Association of America, "Food Insecurity and the Opioid Crises" (April 7, 2022)

Heflin, C. M., Li, J., Zuo, D., Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Population Association of America, "Increasing Access to the SNAP for Older Adults Through the Standard Medical Deduction" (April 7, 2022)

Morrissey, T., Heflin, C. M., Fannin, W. C., Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Population Association of America, "Room to Grow: Examining Participation and Stability in the Child Care Subsidies Using State Administrative Data" (April 7, 2022)

Fannin, C., Heflin, C. M., Lopoo, L., Annual Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, "Local Control, Discretion, and Administrative Burden: SNAP Interview Waivers and Caseloads during the COVID-19 Pandemic" (March 28, 2022)

SNAP and Nutrition Support Monthly Cohort Meeting, Share Our Strength Advisory Committee, "How will you measure the success of your intervention?" (August 18, 2021)

Data and Evidence Community of Practice Learning Series on Data Visualization and Program Evaluation, American Public Health Service Association, "Building a Culture of Evidence: Opportunities and Challenges" (June 29, 2021)

Heflin, C. M., Li, J., Zuo, D., Understanding Food-Related Hardships Among Older Americans FNS Reporting Conference, "Changing patterns of eligibility and take up in SNAP and the role of out-of-pocket medical expenses" (May 28, 2021)

Congressional Testimony before the Rules Committee, United States House of Representatives, "Examining the Hunger Crisis Among Veterans and Military Families" (May 27, 2021)

Heflin, C. M., Patnaik, H., Population Association of America, Population Association of America, "Material Hardships and the Living Arrangements of Older Americans" (April 6, 2021)

TANF Workforce Development Workgroup, American Public Human Service Association, "Exploring Material Hardship and Administrative Burden" (February 27, 2021)

Committee on National Statistics, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (June 30, 2024 - June 30, 2027)