Faculty Research

A review of the community schools model: implications for future practice

Community schools combine academics, family supports, and community partnerships to help students in high-poverty neighborhoods overcome barriers to learning. PPI analysts examined the development of the community schools model, bringing together decades of research on how providing health, social, and family supports; expanding learning opportunities; and strengthening family and community engagement contribute to student success.

Indiana Prison Writers Workshop: Recidivism outcomes among participants

Education and arts programs in prisons help people build skills, confidence, and stability for life after incarceration, but few have been studied closely. The Center for Health and Justice Research (CHJR) at the Indiana University Public Policy Institute partnered with the Indiana Prison Writers Workshop to analyze its effect on recidivism among people returning from IDOC facilities.

Community views on prosecutor-led diversion programs in Monroe County, Indiana

Experts from the O’Neill School and IU Bloomington Criminology and Criminal Justice Department partnered with local prosecutors in Monroe and Lake Counties and the Monroe County NAACP to review diversion programs designed to reduce the harmful impacts of conviction while reserving court resources for more serious cases. This brief examines data collected from Monroe County diversion program interviews and focus groups to assess policies and procedures, document racial and ethnic disparities, and promote accountability and transparency.

Climate resilience building in the emergency response network

Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Professor Beth Gazely collaborated with the IU Public Policy Institute (PPI) to prepare a policy brief investigating what kinds of organizations respond to local disasters in Indiana and to what extent they engage in risk reduction to adapt to climate change. It includes an examination of attitudes and behaviors to understand how thinking about climate change may predict an organization’s success in disaster planning.

Innovative Reentry Initiative in Indianapolis (2024): Summary of findings

Paul H. O’Neill School of Public Affairs Professor Eric Grommon and CRISP researchers contracted with the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety to evaluate the impacts of its Innovative Reentry Initiative program.

Indiana local government officials’ contracting with nonprofits

Local governments routinely contract with nonprofits and other entities to provide essential services. PPI collaborated with Distinguished Professor Emerita Kirsten Grønbjerg to prepare a policy brief examining the contracting arrangements local government officials (LGOs) use to provide a range of services and how contracting with nonprofits has changed over time.

Explaining which local government officials contract with nonprofits

Nonprofits provide substantial levels of service to Indiana communities. PPI collaborated with Distinguished Professor Emerita Kirsten Grønbjerg to prepare a policy brief investigating which conditions related to whether local government officials (LGOs) contract with them.

Disaster response and climate change: What predicts risk reduction behavior?

Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Professor Beth Gazley collaborated with the IU Public Policy Institute (PPI) to study and document disaster response and climate change in Indiana.

Faculty contributions to the 2024 gubernatorial forum

For its fourth annual gubernatorial forum in 2024, PPI collaborated with faculty from across Indiana University to develop a series of policy briefs on critical issues facing Indiana—childcare, workforce development, economic innovation, healthcare, community resiliency, and confidence in institutions.