Social & Economic Policy
Abt Global is a trusted partner for evidence-based U.S. policymaking to improve outcomes for children, youth, adults, and families. We apply equity-centered approaches to workforce development, education, food and agriculture, child and family wellbeing, disability policy, and more. We analyze a wide range of employment and training strategies designed to improve equity and economic well-being. Our decade-long evaluation of summer nutrition programs guided Congress to pass permanent summer grocery assistance for families. Our work informs improvements to programs that build fair futures and resilient systems, enabling all to thrive in a more secure society.
We partner with federal agencies to systematically review existing evidence and share findings through multiple research clearinghouses on family support and labor. Our multi-site longitudinal evaluation will determine if two drug-recovery coaching interventions can improve recovery and child welfare outcomes for families.
Large-scale evaluation of career pathways and sectoral training programs for low-income workers to prepare for good jobs
Laid groundwork for new national nutrition program by evaluating summer nutrition assistance pilots for children and families
Examined effectiveness of integrating employment services and treatment and recovery services for people with substance use disorders
Featured In Social & Economic Policy
Spotlight On: Early Childhood Care and Education
The first five years of a child’s life comprise the most dynamic period for their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Children who experience developmentally, culturally, and linguistically responsive early childhood education programs are more likely to build a strong foundation for success in school and life.
Evaluating Child Welfare Community Collaborations
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is transforming the field of child welfare by supporting communities’ efforts to prevent child maltreatment, rather than only respond once it occurs. ACF funded two cohorts of grantees under the Child…
Spotlight On: Evaluation Technical Assistance Services
Abt’s Evaluation Technical Assistance team has helped hundreds of evaluators provide real-world, rigorous evidence of program effectiveness.
Spotlight On: Food and Nutrition
Abt Global supports work in child nutrition to improve the availability of, access to, and consumption of nutritious food in children worldwide.
Spotlight On: Disability Policy & Research
Abt helps clients improve their policies and programs with objective research and implementation support in the areas of employment, income supports, education, housing and health.
3 Questions To Promote Head Start Attendance
This blog asks how we can promote attendance in Head Start, which expands access to early care and education for children from low-income households.
When Compassion Calls: Addressing the Well-Being of Child Welfare Workers
"We don’t have any food. They are going to take my kids! Can you help me?" The desperate plea of a mother came through my voicemail. It was dinner time; I had already left the office for the day. I had been working with this family for months to address several safety risk factors. It was a tough case, and my job as a Prevention Specialist with the Department of Social Services (DSS) was to keep this family safely intact. I felt the weight of this responsibility every day. I knew if I did not intervene, foster care would be imminent for the children. However, the call came during the few hours I slept between jobs. I made less than $30,000 per year at DSS and, to make ends meet, worked a second full-time job at a residential program for youth aging out of foster care.
From Pilot to Policy: Five Things to Know about Summer EBT
States can roll out summer grocery programs in 2024 for students eligible for subsidized school lunches, and here are five things states need to know.
The Social Determinants of Justice: Disability, Employment, and the Justice System Connection
This podcast discusses how supports from elementary school through the hiring process can mitigate links between disability, employment, and the justice system.
Abt Conversations: Implementing Summer EBT—Tips from the Chickasaw Nation
Abt’s René Nutter talks with Tyra Shackleford, Chickasaw Nation’s Summer EBT Manager, about what it takes for a successful Summer EBT implementation.
Abt Team Chosen to Identify and Disseminate Effective Interventions for Low-Income Job Seekers
Abt will operate HHS’s Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse, which is designed to help job seekers with low incomes succeed in the labor market.
Building More Evidence in Reemployment Services for Unemployment Claimants
In 2018, Congress permanently authorized the RESEA program, which aims to help Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants return to work more quickly. As a result, RESEA now requires that states use evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs.
Uncovering Barriers in Employment to Expand Workforce Access
Racial bias can be present in any step of the employment process. That includes how jobs are advertised, applications are screened, tasks and work hours are assigned, mentoring is offered, compensation is set, and retention and promotion decisions are…
Assessing the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees eligible U.S. employees of covered employers job-protected unpaid leave to attend to their or their family’s eligible medical issues. Employees may have access to pay while on leave through other means…
Latest in Social & Economic Policy
TSPi Improves Conservation Services Through Agile Digital Transformation
TSPi is using agile teams to modernize the financial management portion of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s information technology portfolio.
Understanding Homeless Encampments in Long Beach, L.A. River Basin, and San Fernando Valley
A Conrad N. Hilton Foundation-funded, Abt-led evaluation studied three encampments in Los Angeles.
Bridging the Data Gap: Uncovering Long-Term Outcomes of Workforce Development Programs
Abt’s long-term studies of career pathways and apprenticeship programs will provide critical new information on sustainability of participants’ earnings gains.
Our Experts: Social & Economic Policy
Children, Youth & Families
Abt identifies effective practices and more responsive programs to improve the well-being of children and families and prepare young adults for adulthood. Our state-of-the-art research and evaluation build evidence and helps answer hard questions about what works. We deliver the resulting data and technical assistance to guide informed choices about approaches to advance family economic independence, address adolescent behavioral health, and expand effective services for children and families. We collaborate with people with lived experience and expertise and key decision makers at all levels to promote equity for both children and caregivers.
Disability
Over 1 billion people worldwide are experiencing disability, and most people will experience it in their lifetimes. Abt’s evaluations and technical assistance advance disability research and inclusion of disability in U.S. public policies and programs in employment, income support, education, housing, and health. Our multi-disciplinary team of disability professionals includes experts in labor economics, evaluation methods, health policy research, survey methodology, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, and information technology. We combine experience implementing studies and systems, deep knowledge of a wide array of programs and issues, and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research methods to understand needs, make changes, and measure impact.
U.S. Food Security & Agriculture
Abt partners with federal agencies and others to build food security solutions for healthy communities while making food systems more resilient through sustainable agriculture. For decades, our studies have informed national policy decisions and legislation to prevent and mitigate food insecurity and promote nutrition—especially for children and families. Today, we also deliver climate vulnerability, impact assessments, and cost-benefit analyses for new climate-smart agricultural strategies. We regularly engage communities and other stakeholders as we compile data into best practices, enabling scaling of multisectoral programs to reach those most affected by food insecurity.
Workforce Development
Abt builds evidence and identifies promising practices to help workers find and retain jobs and advance to higher-paying positions. Our experts provide technical assistance to partners such as U.S. federal, state, and local government workforce agencies; education institutions; and community and philanthropic organizations. Our strategies include a wide range of research-informed approaches generating actionable evidence to improve economic well-being. To promote fairness, our approaches address the needs of certain populations, such as healthcare workers and those with disabilities, substance use disorders, and justice system involvement.
Value for our Clients
Our work for public, private and non-profit organizations reflect our shared values and steadfast commitment to quality standards, best price, and lasting impact.
Our Clients In Social & Economic Policy
Join Our Team
Interesting in a rewarding career with Abt? Visit our Careers Page to find out more about what it means to work with us. Already all-in? Search for a job now.
Featured Jobs in
Clinical Services Lead Proposal
Afghanistan
Abt Global is preparing for an upcoming USAID-funded health activity (project) in Afghanistan that aims to improve the quality of health and nutrition services, increase access to health services, improve healthy behavior and care-seeking practices, and strengthen the health system to enhance resilience. The activity will focus on increasing equitable access to and utilization of quality health and nutrition services and adoption of health behaviors, especially for women and children, in both the public and private sectors.
Private Sector Partnerships & Investment Director, Morocco EcoRise Activity
Abt Global (Abt) seeks a Private Sector Partnerships and Investment Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Morocco EcoRise Activity. The activity will leverage the private sector for sustainable, inclusive economic growth and strengthen Morocco’s resilience to shocks and long-term stressors, including water scarcity and drought. Interventions will seek to improve the enabling environment for investment and business growth for a sustainable economy, assist early-stage entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through access to finance and technical support to create and scale innovative solutions increasing economic resilience, and promote a skilled workforce to support the development and growth of a sustainable and equitable economy.