Organization: The Urban Institute
Mission: The Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities
Activities: SOCIAL SCIENCES - RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS: THE HEALTH POLICY CENTER EXAMINES HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, COSTS, ACCESS, QUALITY, AND OUTCOMES TO GUIDE FEDERAL AND STATE HEALTH POLICY. WE OUTLINE THE TRADE-OFFS OF PROPOSALS TO EXPAND COVERAGE, CONTROL HEALTH CARE COSTS, AND REFORM THE LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM, ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT POLICY CHOICES AND ECONOMIC SCENARIOS. WE STUDY DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO CARE-BY RACE AND ETHNICITY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ACROSS STATES, AND BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSURANCE-IDENTIFYING WHERE GAPS EXIST AND HOW TO CLOSE THEM. WE STUDY REFORMS IN PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, SHAPING AND ASSESSING EFFECTS. AND WE DOCUMENT TRENDS IN QUALITY OF CARE AND IN HEALTH OUTCOMES.
SOCIAL SCIENCES - RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS: THE METROPOLITAN HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES POLICY CENTER UNDERSTANDS HOW PLACE MATTERS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. FOCUSING ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, NEIGHBORHOODS, CITIES, AND SUBURBS, WE INVESTIGATE THE FACTORS SHAPING QUALITY OF LIFE IN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. WE EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL POLICIES THAT GOVERN URBAN HOUSING AND THE PROGRAMS THAT USE HOUSING AS A PLATFORM FOR CHANGE. AND WE ASSESS THE EFFECT OF BROAD DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND HOW CITIES CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF NEW RESIDENTS WHILE PROTECTING THEIR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
SOCIAL SCIENCES - RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS: THE JUSTICE POLICY CENTER SCHOLARS CONDUCT RESEARCH AND EVALUATIONS TO IMPROVE JUSTICE POLICY AND PRACTICE AT THE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS. WE EXAMINE THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND IMPACT OF POLICING, CRIME PREVENTION, AND GANG DISRUPTION INITIATIVES. AS AMERICA'S PRISONS AND JAILS FACE UNSUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DANGEROUS OVERCROWDING, WE ARE FINDING WAYS TO REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION WHILE PRESERVING PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WE ARE ASSESSING WHETHER NEW AND EMERGING CRIMINAL JUSTICE TECHNOLOGIES ARE EFFECTIVE, HOW THEY ARE USED, AND WHAT THEIR IMPLICATIONS ARE FOR PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH GOVERNORS AND MAYORS, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS, POLICE CHIEFS AND CORRECTIONS DIRECTORS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIND SMARTER WAYS TO SPEND SCARCE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESOURCES. OUR STAFF CONDUCT RIGOROUS EVALUATIONS AND IN-DEPTH DATA ANALYSES-AND WE GIVE CONTEXT TO THE DATA THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH VICTIMS, PERPETRATORS, AND THE PRACTITIONERS WHO INTERACT WITH THESE GROUPS. THIS HANDS-ON WORK ALLOWS US TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY JUSTICE POLICY DECISIONS AND MAKES OUR FINDINGS MORE RELEVANT AND USEFUL. WE USE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS TO GUIDE CONCRETE, REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS AND PRODUCE REPORTS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT TRANSLATE COMPLEX RESEARCH INTO ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.
NTEE category: Social Science
Secondary category: Crime & Legal-Related