Child and Family Welfare
At Basis, we believe that strong families build strong communities. Our child and family research supports evidence-based solutions that strengthen systems, improve outcomes, and ensure every child and family has a genuine opportunity to thrive.
Child Welfare
The child welfare system serves children and families navigating some of life’s most difficult circumstances. Our research helps agencies understand outcomes across the full continuum of child welfare services — from prevention and early intervention to foster care and kinship support. We bring experience in proactive solutions, caregiver support, and workforce development that helps systems respond more effectively to the families they serve.
Our Work Includes:
- Leading research-practice-policy partnerships
- Conducting rapid evidence reviews for state and local government partner
- Evaluating kinship caregiver training and support programs
- Supporting cross-sector research in the areas of child welfare and education
Housing
Safe, stable housing isn’t just a basic need — it’s the foundation on which everything else is built. Our housing research draws on public data, program records, and evaluator-collected findings to understand the root causes of housing instability in specific communities. From there, we help partners evaluate and develop innovative approaches to addressing chronic homelessness where it actually lives.
Our Work Includes:
- Assessing the capacity of local emergency shelter service providers
- Evaluating the impact of intervention programs addressing chronic homelessness
- Supporting cross-sector collaboration across housing, emergency services, and the justice system
Community
Wellbeing
Children and families thrive when the systems around them work together. our community wellbeing research uncovers where community members are flourishing — and where they need the most support. We integrate quantitative data with direct community feedback, ensuring that the voices of the people most affected shape the solutions we design.
Our Work Includes:
- Collecting primary data to center the voices of community members and accurately identifies well-being needs
- Strengthening the capacity of philanthropic organizations to make data-driven, high-impact investment decisions
- Connect leaders across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to collaboratively address community needs
Juvenile Justice
Reforming juvenile justice requires more than just good intentions — it requires evidence-based approaches that support healthy development and successful reintegration. Our team conducts research, evaluation, and technical assistance with school districts, state departments of education, and juvenile justice agencies to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth and incarcerated learners. Our researchers bring deep expertise in teacher effectiveness, higher education in prison, and the cross-sector partnerships that make real reform possible.
Our Work Includes:
- Supporting cross-sector partnerships between education and juvenile justice systems
- Helping organizations deliver effective, engaging learning experiences for incarcerated students
- Providing technical assistance to school districts, state education agencies, and juvenile justice systems
