Reference Librarian
For Social Workers
Find information about current policies and opportunites for advocacy at:
- NASW AdvocacyResources and programs from NASW that support advocacy for legislation and policy issues.
- Influencing State PolicyResources tailored specifically for SW faculty and students who are learning to influence state-level policy and legislation. Offers annual contest for students who "endeavored to influence or advocate for a state social policy or a piece of state legislation"
Credits
Thanks to Jane Morris at Boston College for graciously letting us adapt her guide.
Collections of Policy Research
Foundations, think tanks, and research institutions provide a huge volume of analysis and research covering public policy issues.
Keep in mind: Many of these institutions do have stated or unstated ideological biases. Documents from these sources are still useful, provided you understand and interrogate the organizations' histories. Try checking "About Us" pages on the site of individual orgs, and see what else they are producing.
- Congressional Research Service ReportsThe Congressional Research Service (CRS) compiles comprehensive and authoritative research reports for Congress. This page points toward several sources where CRS reports may be found.
- Policy CommonsA large database of think tank, university, government, and foundation-funded policy research. Browse by topic or search.
- Think Tank SearchA search engine covering more than 1200 think tanks and research centers.
Overviews of Current Issues
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context
Search or browse through many current topics of interest here. Includes news, opinions and academic articles.
A Selection of Individual Policy Research Centers, Institutes, & Think Tanks
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities"Nonpartisan research and policy institute" which pursues "federal and state policies designed both to reduce poverty and inequality and to restore fiscal responsibility in equitable and effective ways"
- Institute for Research on Poverty"a nonpartisan research institution dedicated to producing and disseminating rigorous evidence to inform policies and programs to combat poverty, inequality, and their effects in the United States."
- Kaiser Family FoundationFocused on national health issues
- The Urban InstituteA major source for policy information. They focus on "the well-being of people and places in the United States".
- Poverty Solutions"aims to prevent and alleviate poverty through action-based research that informs policymakers, community organizations, government entities, and practitioners about what works in confronting poverty."
- Center for Poverty ResearchThe Center for Poverty's "research informs evidence-based policy on the causes, consequences, and correlates of poverty and inequality in the United States."
- MDRC - Building Knowledge to Improve Social PolicyCheck the Projects tab at the top of the site.
Other Useful Guides
Depending on your focus, some of our other Research Guides may be helpful. The links below will take you to the best page in each guide to start looking for statistics.
