Policy Research and Evaluation Grants

HHS has a long history of supporting research and evaluation of critical and emerging social policy issues associated with the nature, causes, correlates, and consequences of poverty, inequality, income dynamics, individual and family functioning, and child well-being, and translating this research and evaluation into policy insights and action steps. Over the past five decades, HHS has funded Poverty Centers at multiple higher education institutions. HHS-funded Poverty Centers have historically conducted a broad program of research and evaluation; undertaken research coordination across government and academic institutions; identified and mentored emerging scholars; and developed and maintained networks for the dissemination of key policy-relevant results. Substantively, the Poverty Center(s) funded through this program have informed policy discussions and development through analysis of poverty levels and trends; causes of poverty, inequality, and income instability; relevant national, regional and state economic contexts for families with low and otherwise unstable incomes; and government programs and policies affecting families struggling to make ends meet. Under the current solicitation, we are seeking to continue many of the historical activities of the Poverty Centers, but with meaningful shifts in emphases, priorities and activities as described below. First, we seek for the National Research Center on Poverty and Economic Mobility to focus on research and shared insights that identify actionable opportunities to achieve equity in economic mobility policy and implementation. This solicitation defines equity as the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to under-served communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Under-served communities are populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of equity. See also Executive Order 13985 Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. Additionally, we expect the National Research Center on Poverty and Economic Mobility funded under this announcement to provide a greater emphasis on providing HHS with in-house data and policy research expertise, administration of research grants that meet the needs of HHS, and disseminating policy-relevant research through co-hosted events. We seek continued active and ongoing coordination and communication between researchers and policy makers, as well as targeted and effective dissemination of policy-focused findings and results. This new cooperative agreement replaces the current grant with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There are no specific projects that must be continued from the current Poverty Center under this new award other than the continued administrative support of a current fellow through Spring 2020 as well as financial and administrative support of a fellow who will start work in the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation (OPRE) around August 2021.