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Social and Behavioral Policy Projects

Selected research projects from Social and Behavioral Policy.

  • Female ABA therapist working with an autistic boy on patterns and sorting

    Interacting with Autism: A USC-RAND Partnership

    The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts partnered with RAND's Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) to produce a video-based website about autism, Interacting with Autism.

  • State Capitol building dome in Sacramento, California

    Evaluating SB 1041 Reforms to California's CalWORKs Program

    The California Department of Social Services has funded research to determine if SB 1041 is achieving its objectives of improving participant well-being and flexibility of services, as well as if there are any unintended consequences.

  • sad girl

    CBITS Offers Online Training and Support to Improve Mental Health of Children and Families

    The Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program is a school-based, group, and individual intervention. CBITS is designed to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and behavioral problems, and to improve grades and attendance, peer and parent support, and coping skills.

  • Girl playing hopscotch, seen from above

    Policy Options for Improving Child Welfare

    Every year, about 3 million children in the U.S. face abuse or neglect. Expanding prevention and treatment services in the child welfare system could improve the lives of children and reduce lifetime expenses by 3 to 7 percent.

  • Head Start program

    Health Services and the Head Start Program

    A RAND project surveys Head Start health managers to determine how services are prioritized, sustained, and implemented. Researchers will also identify program features and policy levers that support Head Start health services.

  • Ruben's Tacos, Taco Grande Menu Item

    Eating Well with Loncheras

    Eating Well with Loncheras is a pilot program to help Loncheras food trucks in the Los Angeles area offer healthier, alternative meal options to improve the health and well-being of the Latino community.

  • woman hugging soldier

    The RAND Military Caregivers Study

    The RAND Military Caregivers Study focuses on caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured U.S. military servicemembers and veterans.

  • caretaker helping elderly woman out of wheelchair

    Special Needs Populations Mapping for Public Health Preparedness

    The Special Needs Populations Mapping tool can help public health agencies develop appropriate strategies for incorporating special needs populations into public health preparedness and response planning.

  • sad soldier

    RAND Assesses Post-Deployment Health-Related Needs of Iraq Veterans

    The Invisible Wounds of War Study assessed Iraq veterans' health-related needs associated with PTSD, major depression, and traumatic brain injury; examined the treatment capacity of the current health care system; and estimated the costs of providing quality health care to all military members who need it.

  • Couple holding a baby

    Welcome Baby Implementation and Outcomes Study

    The Welcome Baby project aims to generate findings that will help improve implementation of First 5 LA's Welcome Baby initiative, a home visiting program for parents of new babies.

  • U.S. military veteran welcomed home by his family and hugging his son

    Welcome Back Veterans Initiative

    The Welcome Back Veterans initiative supported organizations that provided programs and services to address the mental health needs of returning veterans and their families.