Center for Social Policy in Practice
Center for Social Policy in Practice
The Center for Social Policy in Practice spearheads the Carsey School's social policy research portfolio. We conduct context-oriented policy research dedicated to connecting people and places with the resources they need to thrive. Our work uncovers how policy and practice decisions create or reduce patterns in equity along the axes of demographic difference and neighborhood characteristics. We partner with on-the-ground stakeholders to craft actionable strategies for supporting economic growth, good health, and sustainable communities. From our deep roots in New England, our nuanced understanding of rural communities, and our expertise in finely grained local data, we infuse a focus on place into all our work, pairing this lens with a systems-level approach to policy and programmatic solutions. Understanding how thriving livelihoods are hindered or supported at the nexus of person- and place-level characteristics is our specialty.
Projects in the Works
- A new approach to measuring child care supply and demand to support states in building a stronger, more accessible early childhood sector.
- A research and evaluation project with the John T. Gorman Foundation, assessing the impact of their grantmaking on improving outcomes for Maine children.
- Two USDA-funded projects with the UNH Food Systems Lab to identify how to make local farm foods more accessible to New England consumers.
- Research support to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire as they develop a holistic, people-centered approach to community safety in Manchester.
Staff
RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Jessica.Carson@unh.edu
(603) 862-3215
Contributors
ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSOR, CARSEY SCHOOL
CARSEY FELLOW
Analena.Bruce@unh.edu
(603) 862-1144
CARSEY SENIOR FELLOW
New Hampshire Preschool Development Grant Project
The New Hampshire Preschool Development Grant (PDG) is a federally funded $26.8 million collaboration between the University of New Hampshire’s College of Health and Human Services, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and the New Hampshire Department of Education. The PDG aims to build New Hampshire’s early childhood serving systems to improve coordination across systems, better address the needs of disadvantaged children, and create a foundation of improved early childhood outcomes across the state.
HIghlights
Examining Perspectives of New England Farmers Markets
Examining Perspectives of New England Farmers Markets
UNH research studies consumer views on farmers markets and other alternative food networks...
Article
The Power of Ordinary People Driving Policy Change
The Power of Ordinary People Driving Policy Change
A Profile of Dr. Melinda Negrón-Gonzales...
Article