Publications

Our Research on the Greater DC region.

Research Report

Measuring the Supply of Quality Child Care across the District of Columbia

A key question in child care policy is whether quality improvement is in tension with maintaining a diverse supply of care that meets working families’ needs.
Brief

Direct Cash Transfer as a Vehicle for Speed, Inclusivity, and Equity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, philanthropic entities across the US embraced giving directly—transferring cash to people—as an effective and efficient means of providing relief to those hit hard by the sudden economic and health emergency.
Research Report

DC Flexible Rent Subsidy Program: Findings from the Program's First Year

This report summarizes the first-year results of the District of Columbia’s Flexible Rent Subsidy Program (DC Flex), which gave families an annual subsidy of $7,200 in an escrow account and allowed them to decide how much rental assistance to with
Brief

Strengthening Non-Police Safety Infrastructure in DC: Key Facts and Considerations

The nationwide uprising against police violence in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer sparked new conversations about the scope and role of policing.
Brief

Advancing Cultural Equity through Equitable Development

The Equitable Development Plan for DC’s 11th Street Bridge Park project includes four strategies aimed at securing job, small business, housing, and arts and culture opportunities for current residents of the neighborhoods east of the park’s prosp
Brief

Building Community Power for Equity

This brief is part of a series evaluating Bridge Park’s current work to create equity. A companion report provides an overview of the EDP efforts and Bridge Park’s partnerships.
Research Report

Equitable Development and Urban Park Space: Year 4 Progress Report on Implementation of the Equitable Development Plan of the 11th Street Bridge Park

Washington, DC’s 11th Street Bridge Park is an idea to develop an out-of-use commuter bridge into a public park that would serve as a venue for recreation, arts, and culture.
Testimony

Redefining Public Safety: Lessons Learned from Police Budget Reallocation Efforts

Libby Doyle, a Research Analyst in the Justice Policy Center, and Leah Sakala, a Senior Policy Associate in the Justice Policy Center, provided testimony for a public budget oversight hearing on the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and
Brief

Using Art to Promote a Healthy Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This essay uses an art-focused public health campaign in Washington DC’s North of Massachusetts avenue (NoMa) neighborhood to explore issues related to placemaking, public health, community and economic development, and art.
Testimony

Baby Bonds Provide an Opportunity to Close the Large Racial Wealth Gap

Steven Brown, a senior research associate and associate director of the Racial Equity Analytics Lab, and Signe-Mary, vice president of the Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population provided testimony before the Council of the District of Col
Testimony

Strengthening DC's Education Data Infrastructure

In this letter, members of the DC Education Research Collaborative offer recommendations to improve the District’s education data infrastructure.
Research Report

Promoting Adolescent Sexual Health and Safety, a Community-Based Collaboration

Promoting Adolescent Sexual Health and Safety (PASS) is a unique, community-based effort in Washington, DC, to create and evaluate a program for teenagers that is focused on sexual health and tailored to their experiences and needs.
Brief

Evidence-Informed and Community-Based Recommendations for Improving Black Maternal Health

The Urban Institute collaborated with the National Birth Equity Collaborative, a national nonprofit organization that creates solutions that optimize Black maternal and infant health, to produce a research brief that centers Black expertise, exper
Presentation

Tracking the Credit Health of Washington, DC Residents

Financial health reflects residents’ ability to manage their daily finances, be resilient to economic shocks, and pursue opportunities for upward mobility.
Brief

Parents with Nontraditional Work Schedules in the District of Columbia

Understanding the child care needs of parents working nontraditional hour (NTH) schedule has become a growing concern for policymakers trying to reduce barriers to accessible child care.