I want to make meaningful contributions to the field on what individuals and families need to overcome the structures and circumstances that impede stability and mobility. Doing that work at a place with the reputation for quality and the commitment to improving policymaking that Urban has means that policymakers are likely to draw on this new evidence in designing policies with tangible effects on people’s lives.
Amelia Coffey is a senior research associate in the Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population at the Urban Institute, specializing in qualitative and community-engaged methods. Her work focuses on research and evaluation of policies and programs intended to support stability, mobility, and well-being for families and young people. She leads several projects focused on identifying the strengths, needs, and challenges of transition-age youth and engaging young people in developing solutions. She is particularly interested in lifting up the experiences of people at the intersection of work and public assistance to identify how the public sector can ensure their basic needs are met. Coffey holds a master’s degree in social policy research from the London School of Economics.