Urban across the Country

Urban’s researchers partner with state and local leaders to provide the evidence, tools, and support they need to improve lives and strengthen communities. This work includes strategic advising to translate research into action, program evaluations to measure effectiveness, and research and data analysis to inform decisionmaking. Our experts develop custom data tools and modeling to support equitable resource allocation and lead community-engaged research and convenings to ensure policies reflect local priorities.

Use this page to explore Urban’s work. Search by region to see examples of our research, and filter by evidence and products to narrow results by topic or type of work.

Dive deeper into your state and community with our data tools. View highlighted tools below, select “Data tools” under “Filter by Product Types,” or head directly to our data tools page.

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State and community data tools
Explore our work by state
Research Report Health Policy for Low-Income People in New Jersey
There are two Highlights for each state. The Highlights that focus on health cover Medicaid, other public insurance programs, the health care marketplace, and the role of public providers. The Highlights capture policies in place and planned in 1996 and early 1997.
Research Report Long-Term Care for the Elderly: Profiles of Thirteen States
Despite state complaints about the heavy cost burden that long-term care for the elderly places on Medicaid the current method of long-term care financing is quite economical. This report reviews the three major strategies that states are following to control this spending and finds that despite
Research Report Medicaid Managed Care for Persons with Disabilities
Because of the complex care younger persons with disabilities frequently require, most states are proceeding slowly to move them into managed care. This paper examines the policy choices made by states in adapting managed care to persons with disabilities. The report compares capitation arrangements
Brief Job Prospects for Welfare Recipients
A national telephone survey of 500 employers found that employers most frequently say they are looking for an entry-level worker who is reliable and has a positive attitude rather than a worker with specific skills. Among the findings in the brief is that many employers are willing to hire people
Brief Childbearing by Teens
More than half of mothers on welfare were teenagers when they first gave birth, but there is little research to guide states searching for effective programs to reduce teen pregnancy. This brief examines the major policy options considered by states to reduce teen childbearing.
Research Report Income Support and Social Services for Low-Income People in Colorado
The state reports describe the safety net and health care programs in place for low-income people on the eve of welfare reform. The reports also analyze the particular circumstances that are shaping the state's response to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)
Research Report Why Laws Sometimes Restrict Even When They Can't Be Fully Enforced
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines the "gray area" in tax laws--he concludes that the law requires objective standards even when it is approximating subjective goals. Sometimes there are true dilemmas, so that any choice will raise some costs that we would just as soon avoid. An honest