Education, Youth & Families
Abt identifies what works and puts evidence into practice to help America’s children, youth, families, and learners thrive. Our expertise spans early childhood, K–12 and postsecondary education, child and family well-being, youth development, and pathways to economic opportunity. By connecting insights, we improve learning and development, strengthen families, expand pathways to opportunity, and build more responsive systems for evolving needs.
Clients Include
U.S. Department of Education
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
Office of Population Affairs
State, Local, and Tribal Organizations
Foundations, philanthropies, and other nonprofit organizations
Our Work
Advanced collaborative approaches to prevent child maltreatment through a cross-site process evaluation and evaluation technical assistance
With funding from FYSB, ACF’s Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) contracted with Abt Global and its partner, Child Trends to provide local evaluation support to PREP grantees and to disseminate project information.
Study of recovery coaching for parental substance use disorder to determine its effectiveness in improving parent and child well-being
Evaluated HPOG to determine how healthcare training programs affect education, employment, earnings, and career advancement for low-income adults
Evaluated the delivery and impact of the MA ECSO initiative which helps early education leaders and educators improve the quality of their practice
Development of What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards and support for quality systematic evidence reviews in education
Technical assistance for independent evaluations of projects by Education Innovation and Research grantees
Systematic evidence review process to identify best practices that help K-12 students struggling with behavior
Our Experts
Insights
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.
Blog
My Kids Deserve the World: How Children in the Southeast Benefit from Guaranteed Income
This brief provides early insights from parents into how guaranteed income pilot programs improving outcomes for their families.
Publication
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.
Spotlight On
Is Your State’s Literacy Approach Aligned with the Evidence?
Cara Jackson offers tips on using evidence-informed resources to help states, districts, & schools improve literacy instruction.
Blog
Abt Evaluates New Orleans Educator Preparation Programs
Abt is evaluating the New Orleans Supporting Effective Educator Development project.
Project
Online Tool for Systematic Evidence Review
Abt developed an Online Review Tool to help screen studies, conduct systematic evidence reviews, and provide a public website to disseminate review findings.
Impact Brief
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
What Works Clearinghouse Postsecondary Education, Postsecondary Preparation, and Evidence Reporting (WWC-PEPPER) Intervention Reports
Abt developed several reports for the What Works Clearinghouse Postsecondary Education, Postsecondary Preparation, and Evidence Reporting (WWC-PEPPER) project.
Publication
The MA Early Childhood Support Organization Initiative
Abt evaluated the delivery and impact of the MA ECSO initiative which helps early education leaders and educators improve the quality of their practice.
Project