Urban Institute studies touch the lives of everyone, from childhood through adolescence, parenting through old age. Immigrants and minorities are also a focus of Institute research.

A focus on youth-related issues crosses over many policy centers, with emphasis on health, welfare, child care, education, and immigration. Focus on families often revolves around working families and how they fare in today’s economic environment. The Assessing the New Federalism program pays special attention to the low-income working family. Topics revolving around aging focus on what the elderly offer society, health issues, and how this growing population can be better-engaged.

Studies of immigration issues provide timely discourse on an issue of increasing centrality as this growing population establishes itself in society. The Institute provides analyses of employment, fiscal effect, welfare, and immigration trends. Policies affecting the growing minority community are also tracked, with an eye toward practical implications of policymaker decisions.