University of Georgia

Does the emphasis of the current federal student aid system on income over wealth reinforce Black-White inequality in student borrowing and debt? Does a more wealth-conscious policy have the potential to narrow the racial gap in student borrowing?

How did expansions to state-level Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) programs during the pandemic impact food insecurity for children of immigrants? How did outcomes vary by state and by intersectional demographics?

How have states have begun to exercise the flexibility afforded by Family First Preventative Services Act and what evidence might become available in the future to assess the impact of the legislation?

How do intermediary organizations leverage research to drive education change across the country? How do intermediaries adapt to different political contexts?

This study will investigate the role of intermediaries in conveying research evidence in support of college completion, ways research evidence is used, and the extent to which policymakers rely on intermediaries.

The investigators will examine what research is used by intermediaries, how that research is packaged and conveyed to policymakers, and how policymakers use it across three policy issues at the federal level and in three cities.

After-school programs are designed to provide safe venues for academic enhancement, recreation, and positive youth development. They can be a place in children’s communities that can foster supportive relationships with adults and positive interactions with their peers.

Can trained, informal mentors reduce the rates of substance use among rural African Americans making the transition from adolescence to adulthood? Are informal mentor relationships more effective than simply training families to be supportive of these young adults?

To support the development of a training, specifically designed to enhance the protective processes that rural African American informal mentors provide to emerging adults.