Research and Analysis in a Changing Social Policy Landscape
Deadline Extended to April 12, 2013
The 2013 NAWRS Workshop will explore how research, program evaluation, and data analysis are supporting state and local social service agencies as they adapt to a changing social service environment. Presentations could include, but are not limited to, examples of how research and analysis have informed or responded to changes in policy, new legislation, budget restrictions, changing demographics, changing expectations, or technological innovation. The Program Committee is especially interested in proposals that combine the practitioner and analyst/researcher perspectives and demonstrate how research and analysis contributed to organizational and policy change or helped facilitate the implementation of change.
We are interested in presentations that offer a diverse representation of social safety net programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Child Support Program, Child Care, Child Welfare, Housing Programs, Unemployment Insurance, Medical Assistance, and Disability Programs (SSI and SSDI). We are also interested in a diverse representation of topics within these programs, including but not limited to, workforce development, health, child outcomes and well-being, nutrition, housing, and program implementation.
Key Topic Areas: Although we welcome and encourage presentations covering a wide array of topics, priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate the contribution of research and analysis to the following key topic areas:
- Strategies for Redesigning and Modernizing Social Safety Net Services and Service Delivery
- How States and Local Governments are Addressing the Changing Social Safety Net (e.g., implementation/administration of the Affordable Care Act, increased SNAP caseloads)
- Child-only Cases: Looking Beyond the Adult-Aided TANF Caseload (e.g., allocation of the TANF Block Grant to child-only cases, implications/administration of parents who transition to SSI)
- Reflections on the 2007-2009 Recession and Its Impact on the Social Safety Net
- Better Understanding the Relationship between Child Well-being and Social Safety Net Programs
- The Role for Rigorous Research Methods in a Changing Social Service Environment
The Research Academy: The 2013 Program will also include a series of sessions sponsored by the NAWRS Research Academy. Launched during the 2012 Annual Workshop, the Research Academy is a “hands on” workshop designed to offer specific strategies and technical assistance for conducting rigorous research at the state and local level. The Program Committee is soliciting proposals for sessions to be included as part of the Research Academy that provide good examples of:
- Random assignment evaluations
- Rigorous methods other than random assignment
- Tools for supporting rigorous research at the state/local level
- Efforts to motivate conducting rigorous research at the state/local level
Submission Requirements: Proposals can be submitted for individual presentations, a panel session of three related presentations, or a roundtable. Submissions should include the following information:
Title: Title of the presentation (for full panel submissions, include the title of each individual presentation, as well as an overall panel title)
Author(s): Contact information for the presenting author(s) and all corresponding authors. Contact information should include full name, email address, and affiliation. For full panel submissions, submit the contact information for presenting and corresponding authors for each individual presentation.
Key Topic Areas/Research Academy: If appropriate, indicate the relevant key topic area(s) from the list above, including whether the presentation is intended for the Research Academy. If the submission is not relevant to the key topic areas listed above, please briefly identify the appropriate topic area (e.g., TANF and workforce development, Homelessness, SNAP access, etc.).
Type of Presentation: Indicate if you are submitting a proposal for an individual presentation, a full panel, or a roundtable.
Abstract (no more than 500 words): Please explain the: (1) purpose of the presentation, (2) its relevance to the conference theme, and if appropriate, (3) how it addresses one of the key topic areas listed above. For presentations that summarize findings from a study, describe the research questions, methodology, and key findings, including implications for policy or practice. Presentations focused on research methods or tools for supporting rigorous research should describe the key components of the methods/tools, along with examples of how they have (or could be) used by state or local social service agencies. Note that panel submissions should include an abstract for each individual presentation, as well as a brief (200 words or less) overall session description. Proposals for a roundtable should include the key topic area for discussion, the specific issues that will be discussed, and what is intended to be accomplished through the discussion.
Proposals should be submitted by April 12, 2013 using the online submission form. Questions about the 2013 NAWRS Program, this Call for Presentations, or the 2013 Annual Workshop should be directed to NAWRS2013@gmail.com.