Brian Allen

Dr. Brian Allen is a Professor at Pennsylvania State University, holding dual appointments in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. He serves as Director of Mental Health Services at Penn State Children’s Hospital’s Center for the Protection of Children. His research focuses on improving developmental outcomes for maltreated and adopted children, including leading the Pennsylvania Adoptees Longitudinal Study (PALS).

His clinical expertise centers on trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and addressing problematic sexual behavior in children. He has secured funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) for projects like integrating animal-assisted therapy into TF-CBT and studying adoptee development. Dr. Allen is also involved in editorial roles for multiple journals and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to child welfare.

Recent work includes meta-analyses on child behavior problems linked to maltreatment and physiological markers predicting TF-CBT outcomes. He collaborates widely on initiatives such as the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network.