Alene Kennedy-Hendricks

Alene Kennedy-Hendricks, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management. She is affiliated with the Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy, the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, and the Hopkins Business of Health Initiative. Her research centers on health and social policies affecting individuals with mental health and substance use conditions.

• PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2015
• BA, George Washington University, 2006

Her research interests include health policy analysis, substance use, mental health, behavioral health, policy communication, the politics of health policy, insurance claims data, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored insurance. She investigates how populations interact with multiple systems, such as housing support, child welfare, and the criminal legal system. Her work emphasizes the implementation and impact of health policies on vulnerable populations.

Her recent publications highlight trends in addiction treatment access, the effects of high-deductible health plans on substance use disorder care, Medicaid policy, and interventions in correctional and housing systems. She frequently publishes in top-tier journals including Health Affairs, JAMA Network Open, and Pediatrics, demonstrating a strong focus on policy-relevant, data-driven public health research.

• Licensure Policies and Access to Opioid Use Disorder Medication
• Impact of High-Deductible Health Plans on Buprenorphine Treatment
• Federal Parity and Mental Health Spending
• State-Mandated Opioid Treatment in Jails
• Personal Loss Due to Drug Overdose in US Adults

Dr. Kennedy-Hendricks has not listed any formal advisees or scientific awards in the provided materials. She collaborates extensively with leading researchers in public health and health policy. Her work is supported by institutional affiliations and likely external grants, though specific funding sources are not detailed. She is actively engaged in research and policy discourse, contributing to national conversations on addiction and mental health care access.

She is involved with key research centers focused on addiction, mental health, and health policy innovation, reflecting a multidisciplinary and systems-oriented approach to public health challenges.