Leading Research
This page lists a selection of research and other informational reports prepared by groups other than SEI that we’ve found to be especially useful for some of our clients. Please email us at info@socialent.com if you have suggestions about other reports we should highlight!
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Connected by 25: Improving the Life Chances of the Country’s Most Vulnerable 14-24 Year Olds
Michael Wald and Tia Martinez of Stanford University presented seminal research in 2003 about the critical factors in supporting youth and young adults in achieving life success. The original report, a 2009 data update to the original report and new 2009 report on Connecting Youth through Multiple Pathways are all available at http://www.ytfg.org/knowledge_pubs.html.
Child Health and Young Adult Outcomes
What is the impact of major childhood health problems – birth-related problems, asthma, serious injuries, mental health, and others – on predictors of life success, such as test scores and educational attainment? Answering these questions is central to understanding how investments in early childhood preventive health measures can produce economic benefits to society as a whole. New 2009 research by Janet Currie and colleagues suggests that many physical health problems in early life are significant predictors of future adult outcomes. This and other related research is available at
http://www.partnershipforsuccess.org/index.php?id=7&MenuSect=3&tag_list=topics.
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
RAND Corporation California Preschool Study
A series of reports from 2007 through 2009 presenting the first comprehensive statewide look at early care and education for preschool-age children in California.
http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org/rand-study/
RAND Corporation California Preschool Study 4
The latest report with policy recommendations for how California can enhance early learning opportunities even amidst the state’s budget crisis.
http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org/rand-study/
HEALTH
Kaiser Family Foundation Health Reform Site
The foundation is continually updating research on access to health care, federal health care reform proposals and related topics. Their site has a multitude of useful resources and current research on the topic.
http://healthreform.kff.org/
FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND ECONOMICS
Making Ends Meet: How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Family in California?
Although researchers and policymakers typically use the federal poverty line as the benchmark to judge economic well-being, this report makes a compelling case that the poverty line is an obsolete measure that fails to take into account the reality of modern families. A new model is presented that shows that most families require income of 200% of the federal poverty level or more in order to meet their basic needs.
http://www.cbp.org/pdfs/2007/0710_mem_003.pdf
Pathways out of Poverty for Vulnerable Californians: Policies that Prepare the Workforce for Middle-Skill Infrastructure Jobs
A new report issued by PolicyLink identifies middle-skilled, high-paying jobs across the State of California that can provide a stepping stone to the middle class for low-income workers. These state infrastructure jobs require more than a high school diploma, but less than a bachelor’s degree. The report highlights innovative training programs that are succeeding in linking low-income young people and displaced workers to these jobs, and how innovative community college programs are making a difference in training tomorrow’s workforce.
http://www.policylink.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lkIXLbMNJrE&b=5136581&ct=8660355
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trust for Public Land: The Benefits of Parks
This 2005 white paper makes the case for why America needs more city parks and open space.
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=13843&folder_id=188
MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING
Is Grantmaking Getting Smarter?
This second-ever comprehensive study of the attitudes and practices of staffed grantmaking foundations in the United States, released in December 2008, finds persistent gaps between grantmaker practices and the needs of nonprofit organizations. This and other related research is available at
http://www.geofunders.org/publications.aspx.
Powering Social Change
This report is a comprehensive overview of social enterprise in the United States, including essays from leading practitioners and funders, case studies highlighting enterprising nonprofit organizations, practical lessons for organizations seeking to diversify their revenue streams, and survey results from 72 nonprofit organizations representing 105 ventures and partnerships.
http://www.communitywealth.org/Powering%20Social%20Change.pdf
Measuring and/or Estimating Social Value Creation
This pioneering report from December 2008, prepared for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, describes and analyzes eight approaches to integrating cost in measuring and/or estimating social value creation. These include two classical methodologies (cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis) and six promising approaches that have been developed by philanthropic and nonprofit organizations in the last decade.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Pages/december-2008-measuring-estimating-social-value-creation-report-summary.aspx