West Coast Poverty Center Small Grants Program

WEST COAST POVERTY CENTER
POVERTY AND POLICY SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

Applications due Friday, June 5, 2009, 5:00 p.m.

The West Coast Poverty Center (WCPC) at the University of Washington (UW) invites applications for grants through its Poverty and Policy Small Grants Program. The WCPC Poverty and Policy Small Grants program supports new and continuing research on poverty and poverty-related policy with national and/or west coast relevance. Scholars working on topics relating to poverty and policy in any discipline are encouraged to apply. The Center will award grants of up to $15,000 for research on topics relating to the causes, consequences and effective responses to poverty in the U.S. Of particular interest are proposals that address:

• Changing labor markets and their consequences for economic security and social well-being

• Changing patterns of work and family life, and the consequences of transformations in family formation, employment, and caregiving arrangements for the economic security of parents and children

• Changing demographics and their implications for poverty and public policy, including issues of race, ethnicity, gender and immigration

• The performance of the safety net in the current recession

• Regionally-focused research examining poverty and anti-poverty policy in the west coast states of Washington, Oregon, and California

AWARD
WCPC Poverty and Policy Small Grants will fund reasonable research expenses such as data or software purchases, research assistance, research-related travel, relevant supplies, academic year and summer salary, and/or statistical or other consulting, to a maximum of $15,000.

ELIGIBILITY
Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches are all encouraged as are submissions from scholars in any discipline. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. and an appointment with an academic institution or nonpartisan research institution.

For the complete RFP and an information flyer, please see the attached files or go to our website at http://wcpc.washington.edu/funding/grantannounce.shtml

The West Coast Poverty Center at the University of Washington is a regional hub for research, education, and policy analysis leading to greater understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and the effects of public policy on poverty. Core funding for the Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

Research Assistant - Human Services Policy Center, Evans School of Public Affairs

The Human Services Policy Center (HSPC) is a research center at the Evans School of Public Affairs. The Center pairs applied analytic research with the promotion of policies that improve the lives of children, families, and communities. The Center addresses issues that matter to families, with special attention to the needs of those who are disadvantaged and focuses on policies affecting health, education, safety and economic well-being.

HSPC is seeking a graduate Research Assistant to assist on a funded project to estimate the economic value of caring for young children in the US. One component of this project is to estimate the value of time spent by parents and relatives caring for young children based on compensation they could receive if otherwise employed.

The graduate Research Assistant will assist the Project Director with all aspects of this work. The graduate Research Assistant will work under the supervision of the Project Director.

Primary responsibilities:
• Summarize relevant research literature relating compensation to demographic characteristics.
• Compile and summarize secondary data including census data
• Perform analyses and calculations of value equivalent to other compensation.
• Create graphical displays of research results including charts and tables.
• Perform other duties as requested.

How to Apply:
Please email or send by postal mail resume and cover letter to:

Richard N. Brandon, Director
Human Services Policy Center
1107 NE 45th St.
Seattle, WA 98105
brandon@u.washington.edu

Application inquiries may be made with:
Richard Brandon, brandon@u.washington.edu, 206-543-8483

Requirements:
Doctoral student in economics or a related discipline. Experience working on research projects and compiling and summarizing estimates from secondary data. Proficiency with Word, Powerpoint, and Excel. Some experience with a statistical software package. Good writing and communication skills.