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.

  • paper dolls

    Evaluation of California's Statewide Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives

    The RAND Corporation is evaluating California's statewide prevention and early intervention programs, which aim to reduce negative outcomes for people experiencing mental illness.

  • Teacher sitting on the floor with a group of diverse children, photo by bernardbodo/Getty Images

    Helping Children Cope with Violence and Trauma

    More than half of U.S. children have been exposed to trauma. These children face heightened risks of mental health and behavioral problems as well as school failure. RAND researchers collaborated with the Los Angeles Unified School District and UCLA to develop the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), a program delivered in schools. CBITS has been proven to reduce symptoms related to trauma and boost school performance. The program is used in numerous schools in the U.S. and across the globe.

  • 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.

  • Diverse group of kids laying on the grass, photo by fstop123/Getty Images

    Project Alert - Getting To Outcomes® Study

    The Project ALERT - GTO study assesses the effectiveness of the Project Alert substance use prevention program alone and in combination with implementation support through a system called Getting to Outcomes (GTO).

  • Close up of a woman looking out a window, photo by Lewis Tse Pui Lung/Adobe Stock

    Navigating Mental Health Care for Veterans

    Findings and resources from RAND's vast body of research provide insights on how to help more veterans receive the mental health care they need.

  • 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.

  • 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.