Lenneke Alink is professor of Forensic Family Studies and Scientific Director of the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University. Her research focuses on various aspects of adverse childhood experiences, parenting problems and child maltreatment, such as risk factors, causes, consequences, prevention, and decisions in child protection cases.

More information about Lenneke Alink

Short CV

Lenneke Alink is professor of Forensic Family Studies and Scientific Director of the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University. She obtained her PhD at Leiden University in 2006 and was a visiting scholar at the Center for Child Development, University of Minnesota from 2006-2008, supported by an NWO Rubicon grant. In addition to her position in Leiden, she occupied the Jan Brouwer chair of Prevention, and consequences of child abuse and neglect at the VU from 2012-2017. She has been a member of the KNAW Young Academy, and has received several grants and prizes, such as an NWO VIDI grant and a KNAW Ammodo award.

Research

Her research focuses on various aspects of adverse childhood experiences, parenting problems and child maltreatment, such as risk factors, causes, consequences, prevention, and decisions in child protection cases. One of the research lines of her group focuses on the role of stress regulation in parenting. In addition, the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment is a central aspect of her research. In order to better understand, prevent and treat (consequences of) child maltreatment Lenneke combines more fundamental research – addressing questions about causality, mechanisms, and neurobiological processes – with research in clinical settings and in collaboration with practitioners.

Scholarships

2020    Politie & Wetenschap (€ 110,839)
Evaluatie van de werkwijze van het kindverhoor
Co-PI, with dr. D. Smeets

2019    ZonMw (The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development) (€ 439,940)
Effectively intervening in traumatized parents and children after structural domestic violence: An individualized multicomponent approach
PI, with S. van der Asdonk (main applicant), N. Draaisma, prof.dr. C. Schuengel, dr. R. Rippe, dr. A. van der Voort

2018    LUF (Leiden University Fund), Leo Moret Fonds (€ 180,000)
Resilience after the death of a parent 
PI

2017    Politie en Wetenschap (€ 97,403)
Wanneer blaffende honden bijten. Een risicotaxatie-instrument voor het vroegtijdig signaleren van fataal huiselijk geweld
Co-PI, with dr. M. Liem, dr. P. Aarten

2016    LUF (Leiden University Fund) (€ 125,000)
25 years of fatal violence
Co-PI, with dr. M. Liem

2016    WODC (€ 174,855)
The third national prevalence study on maltreatment of children and youth
PI, with dr. F. Pannebakker, dr. M. Prevoo, prof.dr. Van IJzendoorn, dr. M. Klein Velderman, & dr. I Eekhout

2015    Commissie-Vooronderzoek naar geweld in de jeugdzorg (€ 2,440)
Plan van aanpak onderzoek naar prevalentie geweld 2015 bij kinderen in reguliere zorg, gesloten jeugdzorg, JJI’s en pleeggezinnen
PI

2014    VIDI grant, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (€ 799,911)
Changing chaos: the causal role of household chaos in child maltreatment
PI

2014    Stichting Kinderpostzegels (€ 150,781)
Positive parenting in foster care: A randomized controlled study
PI, with prof.dr. F. Juffer, dr. A. Maras

2013    Jan Brouwer Foundation and Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (€ 200,000)
An intervention-based diagnostic instrument for assessing parenting potential in child protection cases
PI, with prof. dr. M.H. van IJzendoorn, prof. dr. M. J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, prof. dr. C. Schuengel, dr. R. Lindauer, dr. A. Maras

2011    Yulius Research Committee (€ 70,000)
Intervention for foster families: Effectiveness of the VIPP-FC
PI, with prof. dr. F. Juffer, prof. dr. M. J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, prof. dr. M.H. van IJzendoorn, dr. A. Maras

2011    LUF (Leiden University Fund) Major Fundraising (€ 200,000)
Development of interdisciplinary minor Child abuse and neglect across the life span
PI, with prof. dr. Bernet Elzinga

2011    Samson committee (€ 199,297)
Prevalence of sexual abuse in out-of-home care
PI, with prof. dr. M.H. Van IJzendoorn, prof. dr. M.J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, drs. B. Tierolf, prof. dr. F. Lamers-Winkelman

2011    Samson committee (€ 75,855)
Prevalence of sexual abuse in out-of-home care for children with a mild mental disability
PI, with prof. dr. M.H. Van IJzendoorn and prof. dr. M.J. Bakermans-Kranenburg

2011    Starting Grant of Leiden University research profile ‘Brain function and dysfunction over the lifespan’ (€ 50,000)
Roots of Social Cognition: Attachment security and social-cognitive information processing in infancy
Co-PI, with dr. S. Biro, prof. dr. M.H. Van IJzendoorn, prof. dr. R. Vermeiren

2010    Institute for the Study of Education and Human Development, ISED (€ 2,500)
Symposium: “Child maltreatment: Prevalence, sequelae, neurobiological aspects, and intervention”
PI, with prof. dr. Bernet Elzinga

2010    Dutch Ministry of Youth and Family (€ 299,202)
The second national prevalence study on maltreatment of children and youth
Co-PI, with prof. dr. M.H. van IJzendoorn, dr. S. Detmar, dr. T. Vogels, and prof. dr. M.J. Bakermans-Kranenburg

2009    Yulius Research Committee (€ 36,000)
Stress regulation of maltreating parents
PI, with prof. dr. M.H. Van IJzendoorn and prof. dr. M.J. Bakermans-Kranenburg

2006    Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (€ 65,520)
Rubicon award (financing of postdoctoral studies abroad)
PI

Awards

2019       Ammodo Science Award for Fundamental Research, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) (€ 300,000)

2014       Casimir Award 2014 (best teacher of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University)

2010       Award for 'Excellent teacher 2009-2010’ of the Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden

Publications