The 2017 NAWRS Bi-Annual Workshop will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from July 30 – August 2. The theme of the conference is: Moving Forward to Reduce Poverty, Increase Opportunity, and Improve Human Service Delivery.

When public systems reduce poverty, increase opportunity, and support the well-being of America’s families, people are better able to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities. The human services field has made great efforts to achieve these important societal goals, but progress has been slow and difficult. The causes of poverty are numerous, and families are diverse in both their structure and their individual needs. Moreover, advances in technology and changes in our social and political context are challenging the viability of existing programs and services.

Effectively addressing these challenges requires us to think creatively about how programs and agencies serving families can best work together, try out new strategies, and harness advancements in technology and science to improve human service delivery. Our vision for the 2017 NAWRS workshop is to highlight state and local government innovations that advance progress toward these three goals. In particular, we seek promising approaches that reach across programs, agencies, levels of government, and the public and private sectors.

The 2017 NAWRS Workshop will bring together people, research, and ideas around state and local government innovations to improve service delivery, research, and policy as we look toward the future. The Program Committee is especially interested in proposals that contribute to the theme, with a focus on the following programs and topics:

Programs

Topics

1. Cross-program integration, such as between TANF and WIOA
2. New uses of data and technology, such as predictive analytics, use of administrative data, social media, and mobile apps
3. Innovative research and evaluation methods
4. Innovative strategies, including two-generation initiatives, social impact bonds, and uses of behavioral science
5. Issues and interventions for particular demographics and social groups, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual or gender identity, rural location, and immigration status
6. Issues and policies related to children, including child support, child care, early childhood education, and health
7. Issues of affordable housing and homelessness
8. Intersections of economic development and human services to enrich quality of life and place
9. Research Academy, which are “hands on” sessions designed to offer specific strategies and technical assistance for conducting rigorous research at the state and local level (please see below for more details)

Submission Requirements

Proposals can be submitted for individual presentations, a panel session of three related presentations, or a roundtable. Submissions should include the following information:

Title: Title of the presentation (for full panel submissions, include the title of each individual presentation, as well as an overall panel title)

Presenter(s): Contact information for the presenter(s) and all corresponding presenters. Contact information should include full name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and affiliation. For full panel submissions, submit the contact information for presenters and corresponding presenters for each individual presentation.

Program and Topic Areas: Please briefly identify the appropriate program and topic areas (e.g., TANF, SNAP, cross-program integration, or innovative research and evaluation methods, etc.), including whether the presentation is intended for the Research Academy.

Type of Presentation: Indicate if you are submitting a proposal for an individual presentation, a full panel, roundtable, or as part of the Research Academy. Descriptions below:

• Individual Presentation: A presentation or discussion around a specific topic given by an individual(s). Generally, individual presentations are grouped into a panel with 1-3 other individual presenters of similar topics to form a 90-minute session. The typical presentation format consists of a slide deck and a period for Q&A at the end of the session. This year some individual presentations may be selected to participate in a “speed dating” format, which is a 20-minute presentation given several times to a rotating audience during a 60 to 90-minute session.
• Full-Panel Presentation: A panel of generally 3 – 4 individual presentations of similar topics that form a 90-minute session. The typical presentation format consists of slide decks for each presentation and a period for Q&A at the end of the session.
• Roundtable: A 60 to 90-minute discussion around a specific topic led by a knowledgeable facilitator or panel of facilitators. The facilitator(s) can set the stage in any way that seems appropriate. This might be a somewhat formal presentation with PowerPoint, a handout, or a general summary of the issues without multimedia. This “stage setting” should take no longer than 10 minutes, so that the remaining 50 minutes can be dedicated to discussion of the issues. The purpose of the session is to be able to delve into a specific topic in more depth than might be possible in a traditional session and for others who might have insight into related issues to be able to share their knowledge.
• Research Academy Sessions: The 2017 NAWRS Program will also include a Research Academy. Launched during the 2012 Annual Workshop, the Research Academy is a “hands on” component of the workshop that is designed to offer specific strategies and technical assistance for conducting rigorous research at the state and local level. The Program Committee is soliciting proposals for sessions (individual presentations, full-panels, or roundtables) to be included as part of the Research Academy that provide good examples of:
  • Random assignment evaluations;
  • Rigorous methods other than random assignment;
  • Tools for supporting rigorous research at the state/local level;
  • Efforts to motivate conducting rigorous research at the state/local level;
  • Incorporating evaluation methods into ongoing performance management.

Abstract (no more than 300 words for individual presentation plus 200-word panel overview): Please explain the: (1) purpose of the presentation, (2) its relevance to the conference theme, and if appropriate, (3) how it addresses one of the topic areas listed above. For presentations that summarize findings from a study, describe the research questions, methodology, and key findings, including implications for policy or practice. Presentations focused on research methods or tools for supporting rigorous research should describe the key components of the methods/tools, along with examples of how they have (or could be) used by state or local social service agencies. Note that panel submissions should include an abstract for each individual presentation, as well as a brief (200 words or less) overall session description. Proposals for a roundtable should include the key topic area for discussion, the specific issues that will be discussed, and what is intended to be accomplished through the discussion.

Proposals should be submitted by March 1, 2017 at the “Submit Now” link below. Questions about the 2017 NAWRS Program, this Call for Proposals, or the 2017 Annual Workshop should be directed to NAWRSWorkshop@gmail.com.