UC Davis Center for Public Policy Research

The Center for Public Policy Research at the University of California, Davis, serves state and local governments, private agencies and academic institutions.

  • We conduct research to bring science to policy
  • We provide research services to support social policy and evidence-based practice development
  • We draw on the expertise of faculty and researchers at UC Davis and throughout the UC/CSU system

Mission: To inform public policy through rigorous research and conscientious, impartial analysis of issues.

Scope of services

  • Methodological support
  • Statistical analysis of population-based survey data
  • Analyses of administrative data
  • Program evaluation
  • Surveys
  • Experimental and quasi-experimental research
  • Longitudinal research
  • Literature reviews, policy analysis and technical writing

Specific areas of research expertise

  • Poverty and child abuse links
  • Mental health treatment effectiveness
  • Long-term outcomes of foster care
  • Child-caregiver relationships
  • Child maltreatment and parenting
  • Effects of childhood trauma
  • Child forensic psychology
  • Juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice and corrections
  • Welfare and work participation
  • Women's health

Center resources

  • CPPR principals direct and manage all aspects of projects
  • Project staff include research faculty, graduate students and specialists from UC Davis
  • Project staff have extensive experience with empirical research
  • Additional research services and methodological support are available via sub-awards with other UC and CSU campuses
  • Dedicated private network for CPPR researchers (not connected to the Internet)
  • Secure server on private network for housing confidential data
  • Proximity to the California State Capitol, which facilitates communication and collaboration

National Youth in Transition
Database Project

Foster youth now have a crucial opportunity to shape foster care in California—and throughout the United States—as part of a broad program evaluation. This project is called NYTD, which stands for National Youth in Transition Database. It is a nationwide project involving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The NYTD survey is a chance for youth to provide information about their own experiences to improve services.

For more information

If you or someone you know would like more information about this project, please contact California Foster Youth Help by phone at (877) 846-1602, email fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov or by visiting the website www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov for information about the National Youth in Transition Database Survey.

You can also visit the NYTD website at www.calnytd.com.