MDRC’s families and children studies aim to deepen public understanding of how the life chances of low-income children and youth are influenced by policies that affect their families’ economic circumstances, family relationships, or the opportunities available for child and youth development.  more

Investing in the Emotional and Behavioral Development of Preschoolers Young children who can interact well with teachers and peers are more likely to succeed in preschool and beyond. This six-minute video, produced by The MacArthur Foundation, profiles MDRC’s Foundations of Learning Project, a demonstration in Newark and Chicago that is testing an innovative program that combines teacher training with in-class clinical consultation to support children’s emotional and behavioral development in preschool. Alternate QuickTime Version Reducing Behavior Problems Among Preschoolers Charles Michalopoulos Named MDRC’s Chief Economist Jean Grossman Joins MDRC as Part-Time Senior Fellow Free Video: Forum on Financial Incentives in Public Policy

Learning Together How Families Responded to Education Incentives in New York City’s Conditional Cash Transfer Program Opportunity NYC-Family Rewards was a conditional cash transfer program that provided payments to low-income families for achieving specific health, education, and employment goals. Drawing on in-depth interviews, this report looks at how families viewed the education incentives, communicated about them with their children, reinforced educational rewards, and advanced their quality of life through the program. More Than a Job Final Results from the Evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Transitional Jobs Program Alternative Employment Strategies for Hard-to-Employ TANF Recipients Final Results from a Test of Transitional Jobs and Preemployment Services in Philadelphia Working toward Wellness Telephone Care Management for Medicaid Recipients with Depression, Thirty-Six Months After Random Assignment