Center for Social Policy in Practice

a photo of country road during autumn

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

jess carson smiling and standing in the New England Center at UNH
DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY IN PRACTICE
RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Jessica.Carson@unh.edu
(603) 862-3215

 

photo of sarah boege
SENIOR POLICY ANALYST
CENTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY IN PRACTICE

Sarah.Boege@unh.edu
(603) 862-1668

photo of Ben Kragan, research scientist at Center for Social Policy in Practice
RESEARCH SCIENTIST I
CENTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY IN PRACTICE

Ben.Kragen@unh.edu
(603) 205-2878

 

photo of Amy Barry
PROGRAM EVALUATION ASSOCIATE

Amy.Barry@unh.edu
(603) 862-2335

 

Contributors

photo of carrie portrie
PROGRAM MANAGER, NH LISTENS
ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSOR, CARSEY SCHOOL

carrie.portrie@unh.edu

 

photo of analena bruce
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND AGRICULTURE
CARSEY FELLOW

Analena.Bruce@unh.edu
(603) 862-1144

 

photo of beth mattingly
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, REGIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON
CARSEY SENIOR FELLOW

 

photo of mil duncan
CARSEY SENIOR FELLOW
AUTHOR

Milduncan@gmail.com

 

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. 

Learn More

HIghlights

A photo of a vendor at the Exeter Farmers Market selling her items to a customer. New UNH research highlights New England consumers’ perspectives of farmers markets with the goal of identifying new strategies for making these and other alternative food markets more viable for farmers and food producers.

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...

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an image of carolyn arcand with a background image of the UNH campus

Compelled by Complexities

Compelled by Complexities

A Profile of Carolyn Arcand...

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a photo of melinda Negron-Gonzales who is wearing a red scarf. In the background is a map of the world with a blue background showing countries

The Power of Ordinary People Driving Policy Change

The Power of Ordinary People Driving Policy Change

A Profile of Dr. Melinda Negrón-Gonzales...

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