The lessons and findings in Casey-funded studies have been used by government, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. For example, the evaluation of the Centers for Working Families has contributed to the adaptation and expansion of that approach across the country.
Making Connections, a multiyear, multisite initiative, offered the Foundation many opportunities to assess its strategies involving two-generation approaches, community-change efforts and resident and parent engagement. In addition, a large-scale longitudinal survey has been transformed into a database for scholars.
Through investments such as the Census Project, we have helped improve and sustain the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, protecting one of the most important sources of state and local data on kids, families and communities.
For many years, the Foundation maintained a foster care agency that worked with children and families. Evaluations have shown its innovative approaches connected children in care with lifelong families.
Casey supported the evaluation of the Moving to Opportunity for Fair Housing Demonstration Program, a government-funded study in which a few thousand low-income families were offered a chance to relocate from a high-poverty neighborhood to one with lower poverty. Findings are helping identify how the well-being of children and adults changes when living in stronger communities.
Other research and evaluation investments include our work in collaboration with other funders such as the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study and the Research Network for How Housing Matters for Children and Families.
If you're interested in learning more about quality research and evaluation, visit the following Casey-sponsored resources: