Mdrc

MDRC IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. (SEE SCHEDULE O) THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, WE SEEK TO ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL POLICIES & PROGRAMS THAT AFFECT THE POOR.

FAMILY WELL-BEING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENTFOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, MDRC HAS BEEN A LEADER IN AN EXPANDING FIELD OF RESEARCH THAT EXAMINES HOW CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY WELFARE REFORM AND OTHER SOCIAL POLICIES THAT ARE PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO AFFECT THE EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME STATUS OF THEIR PARENTS. MDRC IS STUDYING SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT SEEK TO BENEFIT CHILDREN BY BUILDING HEALTHIER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, INCLUDING FEDERAL RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD PROGRAMS. MDRC IS THE LEAD EVALUATOR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S $1.5 BILLION INVESTMENT IN HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDE PREVENTIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO PREVENT CHILD MALTREATMENT, IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND INCREASE SCHOOL READINESS. (SEE SCHEDULE O)OUR CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION STUDIES AIM TO DEEPEN POLICYMAKERS' UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECTS OF EARLY CARE ENVIRONMENTS, INCLUDING HEAD START. WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN DEVELOPING AND TESTING PROGRAMS THAT BOLSTER THE EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOLERS AND THE MATH SKILLS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND KINDERGARTNERS. WE'RE LEADING THE EXPANDING CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING (EXCEL) NETWORK, A COLLABORATION OF LOCAL OFFICIALS, PRESCHOOL PROVIDERS, AND RESEARCHERS AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN INNOVATION AND EVIDENCE-BUILDING.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND EMPLOYMENTMDRC WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO STUDY PROGRAMS FOR AMERICANS WHO FACE SERIOUS OBSTACLES TO FINDING AND KEEPING STEADY WORK. OUR VERY FIRST PROJECT, THE NATIONAL SUPPORTED WORK DEMONSTRATION, TESTED THE IMPACT OF PAID WORK EXPERIENCE FOR LONG-TERM WELFARE RECIPIENTS, EX-OFFENDERS, HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSERS, AND IT IS STILL REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SOURCES OF EVIDENCE ON EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS TARGETED TO THESE GROUPS.(SEE SCHEDULE O)TODAY WE ARE TESTING TAILORED INTERVENTIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE WORLDS OF SCHOOL AND WORK, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AT RISK OF ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EX-PRISONERS REENTERING THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE WITH WORK-LIMITING DISABILITIES. THE FINDINGS OF OUR NEW STUDIES AS THEY EMERGE ARE INTENDED TO EXPAND IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS IN THE DIFFERENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, ENFORCEMENT, AND SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS THAT INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE SPECIAL CHALLENGES IN THE LABOR MARKET.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY, HOUSING, AND COMMUNITIESAS AN INVESTIGATOR OF POLICIES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FAMILIES RECEIVING WELFARE BENEFITS, MDRC HAS BROUGHT ITS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND REPUTATION FOR METHODOLOGICAL RIGOR TO THE CHALLENGE OF LEARNING HOW BEST TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF WORKERS AND COMMUNITIES. THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AND AN ASSOCIATED LACK OF ACCESS TO GOOD JOBS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES, AND ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RESOURCES PRESENTS SPECIAL CHALLENGES FOR IMPROVING THE PROSPECTS OF RESIDENTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH POVERTY RATES. MDRC HAS EVALUATED A NUMBER OF "PLACE-BASED" PROJECTS THAT ADDRESSED URBAN POVERTY AND JOBLESSNESS. (SEE SCHEDULE O)WE ARE ALSO EVALUATING A NUMBER OF REFORMS IN PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, HELPING TO IMPROVE THE NATION'S PRINCIPAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

K-12 EDUCATIONFOR 25 YEARS, MDRC HAS BEEN LEARNING WHAT MAY BE MOST EFFECTIVE TO RAISE THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF FAILING. WE COLLABORATE WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, CHARTER ORGANIZATIONS, AND NATIONAL NONPROFITS TO EVALUATE THEIR PROGRAMS AND TO USE THAT INFORMATION TO HELP THEM DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES FOR CONTINUOUS PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.AT A TIME OF GROWING NATIONAL AND STATE INTEREST IN IMPROVING LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND BETTER PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND WORK, OUR EVALUATIONS HAVE ESTABLISHED MDRC AS A RESPECTED VOICE IN EDUCATION RESEARCH AND POLICY AND AS A LEADER IN DESIGNING RIGOROUS EDUCATION EVALUATIONS. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION POLICYMAKERS AND THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR HAVE FOCUSED NEW EFFORTS ON INCREASING STUDENT PERSISTENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. SINCE THE LAUNCH OF ITS OPENING DOORS DEMONSTRATION IN THE EARLY 2000S, MDRC HAS BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND NONSELECTIVE FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS. THROUGH OUR WORK, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS DEVELOPED BY OTHERS, HELPED REPLICATE THOSE PROGRAMS IN NEW CONTEXTS, AND ASSISTED COMMUNITIES AND INSTITUTIONS IN DEVELOPING NEW INTERVENTIONS BASED ON THE EVIDENCE DEVELOPED IN THE STUDIES AVAILABLE. ONE OF OUR CENTERPIECE PROJECTS, SUCCESS, FOCUSES ON HELPING STATES AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ADOPT AND SCALE THE MORE SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND TESTED.CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATIONMOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO ADDRESS BOTH EDUCATION AND WAGE DISPARITIES, POLICYMAKERS, EDUCATORS, EMPLOYERS, AND PHILANTHROPISTS HAVE INCREASINGLY BEGUN TO INVEST IN NEW MODELS OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) THAT ARE BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT ALL STUDENTS NEED POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS TO ADAPT TO AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX LABOR MARKET. NO LONGER SIMPLY A STAND-ALONE VOCATIONAL CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL OR AN OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS COURSE AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CTE NOW ENCOMPASSES A BROAD RANGE OF MULTI-FACETED MODELS INCLUDING CAREER PATHWAYS, APPRENTICESHIPS, SECTORAL TRAINING, AND EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS AND SERVES EVERYONE FROM SECONDARY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS TO AT-RISK YOUTH AND ADULT WORKERS. BUILDING ON MDRC'S 20-YEAR HISTORY OF STUDYING CTE PROGRAMS, THE CENTER INCUBATES NEW IDEAS, SYNTHESIZES FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED, AND DISSEMINATES THIS KNOWLEDGE TO POLICYMAKERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND OTHER RESEARCHERS IN ORDER TO HELP ENSURE THAT EXPANSION OF CTE PROGRAMS IS INFORMED BY A GROWING EVIDENCE BASE. THE CENTER DRAWS ON KNOWLEDGE ACROSS EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEMS AND USES A BROAD LENS TO DETECT CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES, DEVELOP A TARGETED RESEARCH AGENDA, AND SHARE FINDINGS. CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCHTHE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS EMERGING FROM DECADES OF "GET TOUGH" POLICIES THAT QUADRUPLED THE RATE OF INCARCERATION NATIONALLY, TO THE POINT WHERE THE UNITED STATES, WITH LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, NOW HOLDS MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S PRISONERS. A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES AND LOCALITIES ARE REFORMING THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. THEY SEEK TO REDUCE INCARCERATION AND INCREASE FAIRNESS BY CHANGING THE WAY CASES ARE HANDLED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE SYSTEM (ARREST AND PRETRIAL) TO THE BACK END (INCARCERATION AND REENTRY). THE MDRC CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH WORKS WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, POLICYMAKERS, COURTS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ANSWER PRESSING QUESTIONS AND IMPROVE BOTH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE OUTCOMES OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN IT.CENTER FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (CABS)TOO OFTEN, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES DO NOT CONSIDER THE WAY PEOPLE ACTUALLY THINK AND BEHAVE. IT IS OFTEN ASSUMED THAT THOSE MOST IN NEED WILL FIND A WAY TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, BUT BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE DEMONSTRATES THAT EVEN SMALL HASSLES CREATE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT THOSE IN NEED OF SERVICES FROM RECEIVING THEM. APPLYING THESE INSIGHTS CAN IMPROVE THE WAY PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED AND SERVICES ARE DELIVERED. CABS HAS COLLABORATED WITH MORE THAN 100 AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND NONPROFITS IN 26 STATES TO DEVELOP AND TEST BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CLIENTS AND STUDENTS.CABS COMBINES MDRC'S EXPERTISE IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS WITH INSIGHTS FROM BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE. PROJECTS THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH CABS DEVELOP INNOVATIVE, LOW-COST INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND THE EXPERIENCES OF THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING THESE SERVICES. INTERVENTIONS ARE BASED ON RESEARCH FROM BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR. PROBLEMS TACKLED BY THE CENTER ADDRESS RELEVANT POLICIES IN HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS. USING A DIAGNOSTIC METHODOLOGY TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES MOST AMENABLE TO LIGHT-TOUCH, HIGH-IMPACT INTERVENTIONS, CABS DESIGNS INTERVENTIONS AND TESTS THEIR IMPACT THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IMPLEMENTING SUCH APPROACHES.CENTER FOR DATA INSIGHTSACROSS THE SOCIAL SECTOR, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALL BENEFITING FROM GREATER ACCESS BOTH TO MORE DETAILED AND FREQUENT DATA AND TO A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR INCREASED COMPUTING POWER. WITH DATA-SCIENCE TOOLS AND GUIDANCE IN APPLYING THEM, PRACTITIONERS CAN HARNESS MULTIPLE SOURCES OF DATA TO GAIN NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS THEY SERVE, THE CONTEXTS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE, THEIR STAFF MEMBERS, AND THEIR PROGRAM FEATURES. WHEN SUCH TOOLS ARE INCORPORATED INTO DAILY OPERATIONS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY, THEY CAN HELP PRACTITIONERS IMPROVE THEIR PROGRAMS AND THE LIVES OF THOSE THEY SERVE.THE CENTER FOR DATA INSIGHTS FURTHERS MDRC'S LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO HELPING ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHICH WE COLLABORATE THEIR PROGRAMS AND SYSTEMS BY HARNESSING THE BENEFITS OF OPERATIONAL DATA-SCIENCE TECHNIQUES THOSE THAT PRODUCE ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS THAT CAN AFFECT DAILY PRACTICE. RANGING FROM SIMPLE DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARIES TO ADVANCED MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS, THE CENTER'S PROJECTS AIM TO USE INSTITUTIONS' INCREASINGLY RICH DATA TO PROVIDE NEW INSIGHTS THAT CAN HELP THEM REFINE AND TARGET THEIR SERVICES. THE CENTERPIECE OF CDI'S WORK IS A MAJOR FEDERAL PROJECT THE TANF DATA INITIATIVE WHICH WORKS WITH WELFARE AGENCIES IN BUILDING LONG-TERM STAFF CAPACITY AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, WHILE ALSO MAKING IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE QUALITY OF TANF DATA.

FAMILY WELL-BEING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENTFOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, MDRC HAS BEEN A LEADER IN AN EXPANDING FIELD OF RESEARCH THAT EXAMINES HOW CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY WELFARE REFORM AND OTHER SOCIAL POLICIES THAT ARE PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO AFFECT THE EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME STATUS OF THEIR PARENTS. MDRC IS STUDYING SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT SEEK TO BENEFIT CHILDREN BY BUILDING HEALTHIER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, INCLUDING FEDERAL RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD PROGRAMS. MDRC IS THE LEAD EVALUATOR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S $1.5 BILLION INVESTMENT IN HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDE PREVENTIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO PREVENT CHILD MALTREATMENT, IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND INCREASE SCHOOL READINESS. (SEE SCHEDULE O)OUR CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION STUDIES AIM TO DEEPEN POLICYMAKERS' UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECTS OF EARLY CARE ENVIRONMENTS, INCLUDING HEAD START. WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN DEVELOPING AND TESTING PROGRAMS THAT BOLSTER THE EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOLERS AND THE MATH SKILLS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND KINDERGARTNERS. WE'RE LEADING THE EXPANDING CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING (EXCEL) NETWORK, A COLLABORATION OF LOCAL OFFICIALS, PRESCHOOL PROVIDERS, AND RESEARCHERS AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN INNOVATION AND EVIDENCE-BUILDING.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND EMPLOYMENTMDRC WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO STUDY PROGRAMS FOR AMERICANS WHO FACE SERIOUS OBSTACLES TO FINDING AND KEEPING STEADY WORK. OUR VERY FIRST PROJECT, THE NATIONAL SUPPORTED WORK DEMONSTRATION, TESTED THE IMPACT OF PAID WORK EXPERIENCE FOR LONG-TERM WELFARE RECIPIENTS, EX-OFFENDERS, HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSERS, AND IT IS STILL REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SOURCES OF EVIDENCE ON EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS TARGETED TO THESE GROUPS.(SEE SCHEDULE O)TODAY WE ARE TESTING TAILORED INTERVENTIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE WORLDS OF SCHOOL AND WORK, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AT RISK OF ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EX-PRISONERS REENTERING THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE WITH WORK-LIMITING DISABILITIES. THE FINDINGS OF OUR NEW STUDIES AS THEY EMERGE ARE INTENDED TO EXPAND IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS IN THE DIFFERENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, ENFORCEMENT, AND SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS THAT INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE SPECIAL CHALLENGES IN THE LABOR MARKET.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY, HOUSING, AND COMMUNITIESAS AN INVESTIGATOR OF POLICIES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FAMILIES RECEIVING WELFARE BENEFITS, MDRC HAS BROUGHT ITS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND REPUTATION FOR METHODOLOGICAL RIGOR TO THE CHALLENGE OF LEARNING HOW BEST TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF WORKERS AND COMMUNITIES. THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AND AN ASSOCIATED LACK OF ACCESS TO GOOD JOBS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES, AND ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RESOURCES PRESENTS SPECIAL CHALLENGES FOR IMPROVING THE PROSPECTS OF RESIDENTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH POVERTY RATES. MDRC HAS EVALUATED A NUMBER OF "PLACE-BASED" PROJECTS THAT ADDRESSED URBAN POVERTY AND JOBLESSNESS. (SEE SCHEDULE O)WE ARE ALSO EVALUATING A NUMBER OF REFORMS IN PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, HELPING TO IMPROVE THE NATION'S PRINCIPAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

K-12 EDUCATIONFOR 25 YEARS, MDRC HAS BEEN LEARNING WHAT MAY BE MOST EFFECTIVE TO RAISE THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF FAILING. WE COLLABORATE WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, CHARTER ORGANIZATIONS, AND NATIONAL NONPROFITS TO EVALUATE THEIR PROGRAMS AND TO USE THAT INFORMATION TO HELP THEM DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES FOR CONTINUOUS PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.AT A TIME OF GROWING NATIONAL AND STATE INTEREST IN IMPROVING LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND BETTER PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND WORK, OUR EVALUATIONS HAVE ESTABLISHED MDRC AS A RESPECTED VOICE IN EDUCATION RESEARCH AND POLICY AND AS A LEADER IN DESIGNING RIGOROUS EDUCATION EVALUATIONS. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION POLICYMAKERS AND THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR HAVE FOCUSED NEW EFFORTS ON INCREASING STUDENT PERSISTENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. SINCE THE LAUNCH OF ITS OPENING DOORS DEMONSTRATION IN THE EARLY 2000S, MDRC HAS BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND NONSELECTIVE FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS. THROUGH OUR WORK, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS DEVELOPED BY OTHERS, HELPED REPLICATE THOSE PROGRAMS IN NEW CONTEXTS, AND ASSISTED COMMUNITIES AND INSTITUTIONS IN DEVELOPING NEW INTERVENTIONS BASED ON THE EVIDENCE DEVELOPED IN THE STUDIES AVAILABLE. ONE OF OUR CENTERPIECE PROJECTS, SUCCESS, FOCUSES ON HELPING STATES AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ADOPT AND SCALE THE MORE SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND TESTED.CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATIONMOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO ADDRESS BOTH EDUCATION AND WAGE DISPARITIES, POLICYMAKERS, EDUCATORS, EMPLOYERS, AND PHILANTHROPISTS HAVE INCREASINGLY BEGUN TO INVEST IN NEW MODELS OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) THAT ARE BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT ALL STUDENTS NEED POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS TO ADAPT TO AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX LABOR MARKET. NO LONGER SIMPLY A STAND-ALONE VOCATIONAL CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL OR AN OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS COURSE AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CTE NOW ENCOMPASSES A BROAD RANGE OF MULTI-FACETED MODELS INCLUDING CAREER PATHWAYS, APPRENTICESHIPS, SECTORAL TRAINING, AND EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS AND SERVES EVERYONE FROM SECONDARY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS TO AT-RISK YOUTH AND ADULT WORKERS. BUILDING ON MDRC'S 20-YEAR HISTORY OF STUDYING CTE PROGRAMS, THE CENTER INCUBATES NEW IDEAS, SYNTHESIZES FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED, AND DISSEMINATES THIS KNOWLEDGE TO POLICYMAKERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND OTHER RESEARCHERS IN ORDER TO HELP ENSURE THAT EXPANSION OF CTE PROGRAMS IS INFORMED BY A GROWING EVIDENCE BASE. THE CENTER DRAWS ON KNOWLEDGE ACROSS EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEMS AND USES A BROAD LENS TO DETECT CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES, DEVELOP A TARGETED RESEARCH AGENDA, AND SHARE FINDINGS. CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCHTHE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS EMERGING FROM DECADES OF "GET TOUGH" POLICIES THAT QUADRUPLED THE RATE OF INCARCERATION NATIONALLY, TO THE POINT WHERE THE UNITED STATES, WITH LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, NOW HOLDS MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S PRISONERS. A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES AND LOCALITIES ARE REFORMING THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. THEY SEEK TO REDUCE INCARCERATION AND INCREASE FAIRNESS BY CHANGING THE WAY CASES ARE HANDLED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE SYSTEM (ARREST AND PRETRIAL) TO THE BACK END (INCARCERATION AND REENTRY). THE MDRC CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH WORKS WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, POLICYMAKERS, COURTS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ANSWER PRESSING QUESTIONS AND IMPROVE BOTH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE OUTCOMES OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN IT.CENTER FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (CABS)TOO OFTEN, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES DO NOT CONSIDER THE WAY PEOPLE ACTUALLY THINK AND BEHAVE. IT IS OFTEN ASSUMED THAT THOSE MOST IN NEED WILL FIND A WAY TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, BUT BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE DEMONSTRATES THAT EVEN SMALL HASSLES CREATE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT THOSE IN NEED OF SERVICES FROM RECEIVING THEM. APPLYING THESE INSIGHTS CAN IMPROVE THE WAY PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED AND SERVICES ARE DELIVERED. CABS HAS COLLABORATED WITH MORE THAN 100 AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND NONPROFITS IN 26 STATES TO DEVELOP AND TEST BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CLIENTS AND STUDENTS.CABS COMBINES MDRC'S EXPERTISE IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS WITH INSIGHTS FROM BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE. PROJECTS THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH CABS DEVELOP INNOVATIVE, LOW-COST INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND THE EXPERIENCES OF THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING THESE SERVICES. INTERVENTIONS ARE BASED ON RESEARCH FROM BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR. PROBLEMS TACKLED BY THE CENTER ADDRESS RELEVANT POLICIES IN HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS. USING A DIAGNOSTIC METHODOLOGY TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES MOST AMENABLE TO LIGHT-TOUCH, HIGH-IMPACT INTERVENTIONS, CABS DESIGNS INTERVENTIONS AND TESTS THEIR IMPACT THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IMPLEMENTING SUCH APPROACHES.CENTER FOR DATA INSIGHTSACROSS THE SOCIAL SECTOR, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALL BENEFITING FROM GREATER ACCESS BOTH TO MORE DETAILED AND FREQUENT DATA AND TO A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR INCREASED COMPUTING POWER. WITH DATA-SCIENCE TOOLS AND GUIDANCE IN APPLYING THEM, PRACTITIONERS CAN HARNESS MULTIPLE SOURCES OF DATA TO GAIN NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS THEY SERVE, THE CONTEXTS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE, THEIR STAFF MEMBERS, AND THEIR PROGRAM FEATURES. WHEN SUCH TOOLS ARE INCORPORATED INTO DAILY OPERATIONS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY, THEY CAN HELP PRACTITIONERS IMPROVE THEIR PROGRAMS AND THE LIVES OF THOSE THEY SERVE.THE CENTER FOR DATA INSIGHTS FURTHERS MDRC'S LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO HELPING ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHICH WE COLLABORATE THEIR PROGRAMS AND SYSTEMS BY HARNESSING THE BENEFITS OF OPERATIONAL DATA-SCIENCE TECHNIQUES THOSE THAT PRODUCE ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS THAT CAN AFFECT DAILY PRACTICE. RANGING FROM SIMPLE DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARIES TO ADVANCED MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS, THE CENTER'S PROJECTS AIM TO USE INSTITUTIONS' INCREASINGLY RICH DATA TO PROVIDE NEW INSIGHTS THAT CAN HELP THEM REFINE AND TARGET THEIR SERVICES. THE CENTERPIECE OF CDI'S WORK IS A MAJOR FEDERAL PROJECT THE TANF DATA INITIATIVE WHICH WORKS WITH WELFARE AGENCIES IN BUILDING LONG-TERM STAFF CAPACITY AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, WHILE ALSO MAKING IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE QUALITY OF TANF DATA.