Indianapolis, IN – The O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the IU Public Policy Institute (PPI) are pleased to announce the creation of a new research center dedicated to researching issues that address equitable outcomes related to social policy. The Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy (CRISP) will serve as a centralized resource for reliable, nonpartisan data, research and analyses on interrelated issues that make up the elements of social policy.
“A lot of the issues that create disparities within and between communities are about more than just that one discipline,” says Breanca Merritt, CRISP’s director. “It's about the confluence of many other issues. Working to reduce disparities is a very complex task because you really have to tackle problems across a multitude of areas. CRISP is where all that research comes together.”
CRISP’s team of analysts will provide on-going research and evaluation on a variety of inclusion- and equity-based topics—such as poverty, immigration, education, housing, and many other issues that are timely and relevant to Hoosiers.
The Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy operates within PPI, a part of the O'Neill School. PPI’s director, Tom Guevara, echoed Merritt’s statements.
“When legislators, community leaders, and neighbors have a better understanding of social issues, it provides an opportunity for our communities to move forward collectively.” Guevara says. “Dr. Merritt and her team will examine issues affecting disparity and inequity in a way that creates a neutral ground for community conversations around these differences so communities can address them more effectively and succeed together.”
