About Policy Matters

Policy Matters is a series of policy briefs, policy papers, guides for self assessment, and 50-state comparative reports.

The Policy Matters project provides coherent, comprehensive information regarding the strength and adequacy of state policies affecting children, families, and communities. The project seeks to establish consensus among policy experts and state leaders regarding the mix of policies believed to offer the best opportunity for improving key child and family results. The project focuses on seven core results: school readiness, educational success, family economic success, healthy families, youth development, family relationships, and child safety and well-being with permanent families. We believe these seven core results comprise one composite family-strengthening policy agenda, emphasizing the importance of both individual results and the interaction of multiple results.

The Policy Matters series is part of the foundation for the PolicyForResults.org site. PolicyForResults.org builds on the work of Policy Matters, but relies on more stringent standards of evidence.

PolicyForResults.org is an online tool that allows policymakers to govern more effectively by giving them the latest, high-quality research and evidence to craft policies that will make measurable differences for children and families. CSSP developed this website to help governors and state legislators quickly cut through the well-intentioned but highly fragmented information, advice, research papers, issue briefs, and reports on child and family policy.