In addition to working together to define common goals, we also need reliable information about the outcomes of the individuals and families served by various programs in order to know whether those goals are being achieved. Despite having copious data, it is not always evident how to turn that data into meaningful information. NAWRS has traditionally convened researchers and human service stakeholders to bring data and ideas together and to encourage the understanding and sharing of findings, best practices, and innovations. The vision for the 2019 NAWRS conference is to continue this tradition and consider new collaborations from across different programs, policy areas, and research specialties that will build up the lives of those served through human services programs.

Proposal Submission Instructions

All proposals are due on March 1, 2019 and must be submitted through the online form, which can be accessed here. Presenters will be notified of the acceptance of their proposal by May 1, 2019, and each presenter will need to confirm their participation by May 15, 2019.

Proposals must include the following six elements:

1. Presentation Format
Proposals for the 2019 workshop are invited in one of three formats. Indicate your preference for one of the three options. Please note that the program committee may suggest a different format for your presentation but will confirm that the change is acceptable before finalizing proposals.

• Individual Presentation: You may present a paper or project, related to the conference theme and topics. We welcome submissions for work in progress as well as published work. Individual sessions should include 15 minutes of presentation with an additional 5 to 10 minutes for questions and discussion. Presentations on similar topics may be paired together for a 75-minute session, or asked to present in a panel format as a condition of acceptance.
• Full Panel Presentation: Panelists present a series of up to three papers focused on a common theme exploring multiple perspectives and experts. The panel is organized by a primary presenter who will introduce the topic and panelists. The submission must include an overall description of the panel, a separate abstract for each presentation and the names and affiliations of all panel members.
• Speed Session: You will give your presentation individually (not as part of a panel) three times to three different groups of 10 or more conference attendees during a 90-minute speed session. Attendees will choose three presentations to attend during the session and will rotate to the next presentation about every 20 minutes. Presentations should be concise and no longer than 15 minutes in order to allow a few minutes for Q&A.

2. Research Academy
The NAWRS Research Academy was launched at the 2012 NAWRS Annual Workshop as a long-term initiative to build state and local research and evaluation capacity. The Academy brings federal, state, and local researchers and administrators together with other research and evaluation experts to discuss how to incorporate rigorous research methods—including random assignment experiments—into ongoing agency efforts to improve and document program effectiveness. Examples of previous Research Academy sessions include expert presentations on random assignment procedures, human-focused evaluation approaches, multi-armed treatment strategies, rapid cycle evaluation methods, and data-driven decision-making.

We welcome submissions for Research Academy sessions at our 2019 Conference. Please indicate whether your submission aligns with these goals by selecting yes under the “Research Academy” question on the online submission form.

3. Program Areas and Topics
Proposals for the 2019 workshop should align with the theme Collaborating Across Lines to Build Up Lives. The theme can be addressed in a number of different program areas, and to ensure that the conference provides a balance across these various programs, we ask that the proposals indicate the program(s) on which the presentation will focus. Beyond programs, however, presentations may focus on a particular take-away message such as collaborations between different levels of government or new uses of data. In the submission, please indicate the topic(s) that the presentation will address.

Program Areas – Choose up to 2

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Separate State Programs (SSPs), and other forms of cash assistance
• Child Support Enforcement
• Workforce programs such as employment and training, postsecondary education, career pathways, sector strategies, and programs funded via the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
• Nutrition assistance programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), WIC, and Free and Reduced School and Summer Lunch programs
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Affordable housing programs and subsidies
• Unemployment Insurance (UI)
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Early education and child care programs, including Head Start
• Child welfare and foster care programs
• Fatherhood programs
• Vocational Rehabilitation programs
• Other (describe)

Topics – Choose up to 2

• Collaborations between agencies, levels of government, programs, researchers, practitioners, and/or community partners
• Building capacity in local programs to use and/or apply research and evidence
• Uses of data and technology, such as predictive analytics, administrative data, social media, and mobile apps
• Innovative research and evaluation methods, especially those that produce results and insights that can be integrated into policy and practice
• Trauma-informed research, policy, and methods
• Innovative strategies, including two-generation initiatives, social impact bonds, uses of behavioral science, and human-centered research and program design
• Issues and interventions for particular demographics and social groups, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual or gender identity, rural location, and immigration status
• Issues and policies related to children, including child support, child care, early childhood education, and health
• Issues of affordable housing and homelessness
• Intersections of economic development and human services to enrich quality of life and place
• Other (describe)

4. Presentation Title

5. Abstract (300 word maximum per abstract)

6. Presenting Authors (Contact Information, Affiliation, and Bio)

Please complete all proposals via the Call for Proposals Submission Form.

All presenters must register for the workshop and pay all registration fees. Specific information regarding the registration fees and lodging will be available on this website.

All travel and per diem expenses are the responsibility of the selected presenters and facilitators.