Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University

@ipratnu.bsky.social

The Institute for Policy Research is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary social science research institute at Northwestern. We conduct research to improve lives. www.ipr@northwestern.edu

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Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

Patient navigators—trained guides who help patients access care while working alongside their healthcare team—can ease the transition to parenthood for low-income pregnant individuals, according to a new study co-authored by IPR’s Joseph Feinglass. spr.ly/63320BHb5l8

spr.lyPatient navigators help new moms overcome postpartum care barriersA new Northwestern Medicine study has found patient navigators — trained guides who help patients access care and resources while working alongside the healthcare team — can ease the challenging transition to motherhood for low-income pregnant individuals, leading to better health in their postpartum period and more consistent primary care for years to come.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

TODAY: Join us in Chambers Hall at noon for a talk by IPR political scientist Elizabeth Thom on "The Politics of Industrial Decline: Social Programs and Political Behavior in Appalachia.” spr.ly/63321BH8VYc

spr.lyIPR Colloq.: E. Thom (IPR/Pol. Sci.) - The Politics of Industrial Decline: Social Programs and Political Behavior in Appalachia: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityIPR Colloq.: E. Thom (IPR/Pol. Sci.) - The Politics of Industrial Decline: Social Programs and Political Behavior in Appalachia

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Chika Okafor
@drchikaokafor.com

A rushed, imperfect system puts at risk the votes of some of us—and the privacy of all of us. Check voter registration at vote.gov & help loved ones and neighbors check theirs. On Monday, I joined @wbez.org (NPR affiliate) to discuss what the Supreme Court's decision means for voters (link below).

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

In a Q&A with @edweek.org, IPR statistician @statstipton.bsky.social and Florida State's Nicole Patton-Terry discuss their paper, which calls for an "engineering" approach to help reading interventions succeed in diverse classrooms. www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

edweek.orgThe Science of Reading Has an Implementation Problem. Could Engineering Help?Researchers suggest that an "engineering of reading" could better translate evidence into practice.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

One of the best parts of IPR is the interdisciplinary exchange that happens every day. We’re so excited to see what’s possible when even more opportunities for connection and collaboration are right down the hall! 💜 news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026...

news.northwestern.eduRenovated building for social science, education and policy institutes will enhance interdisciplinary connections at NorthwesternThe newly renovated facility, overlooking Deering Meadow, is a hub for teaching, research and collaboration across fields
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

District attorneys are among the most powerful actors in the justice system. New research by @drchikaokafor.com shows prison admissions rose in years when DAs stood for election during the era of rising mass incarceration—roughly 63,000 additional admissions. spr.ly/63324BGXTsj

spr.lyProsecutor Politics: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityNew research by Chika Okafor shows how district attorney elections drove up prison admissions and sentence lengths during the era of rising mass incarceration.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

In an op-ed in @chicagotribune.com, IPR's Terri Sabol breaks down proposed federal rules that would raise Head Start class sizes, ease wage requirements, and cut family-engagement services—changes she says trade long-term gains for short-term savings. spr.ly/63322BGTFlQ

spr.lyTerri J. Sabol: The US cannot afford to lose what makes Head Start work for familiesIn Chicago, half of the city’s Head Start families rely on it so the parents can work.

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Daniel Horton
@danethan.bsky.social

Very pleased to share a new @buffett.northwestern.edu study on the protective effects of Chicago’s tree canopy: Increasing Urban Tree Canopy Associated With Reduced Mortality: A Longitudinal Analysis of Chicago Neighborhoods. Link: doi.org/10.1029/2025... & PR: news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026...

news.northwestern.eduAs urban tree shade shrinks, mortality risesNew study finds that protecting mature trees could help save lives
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

At IPR, we provide the evidence that policymakers need to make people’s lives better. Learn more about how we turn interdisciplinary scholarship from across Northwestern's schools into policy impact: spr.ly/63323B1O0Ud

spr.lyThe Institute for Policy Research (IPR) at Northwestern UniversityAndy Papachristos invites you to explore the research excellence that leads to policy impact within the 50-year old Institute for Policy Research (IPR), home...
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

IPR awarded six seed grants to seven faculty members and doctoral students from four disciplines. These modest awards—around a few thousand dollars each—are set to have a big impact in getting new research on timely topics off the ground. Read more: spr.ly/63327B1OLxB

spr.lySeed Grants Carve Paths to Possible Future Funding: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityIPR faculty use small grants as scaffolding for larger projects
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

More than 11 million U.S. workers lost wages to minimum wage violations between 2021 and 2023. A new policy brief from IPR and the Workplace Justice Lab examines why wage theft persists and what it takes to make labor laws effective in practice. Read more: spr.ly/63322B1OIwY

spr.lyWhy Labor Laws Fail to Protect Workers : Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityNew policy brief explores the gap between agencies' powers and practices Every year, about 17% of low-wage workers in the U.S. are paid less than the minimum wage they a re legally owed. On average, they lose 20% of their income . Between 2021 and 2023, more than 11 million workers lost wages this way.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

A new poll found support among young voters for a Democratic socialist presidential candidate. IPR's Tabitha Bonilla told FOX 32 Chicago that the survey may not clearly measure support for socialism itself and could reflect broader economic concerns. spr.ly/63323BEawy3

spr.lyWhat's driving Gen Z's embrace of socialism?A recent article found that 53% of voters ages 15–39 want a Democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election. Tabitha Bonilla, an associate professor at Northwestern University, breaks down what the findings mean.

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Political Science Department at Northwestern University
@polisciatnu.bsky.social

Wage theft—when employers fail to pay workers what they are legally owed—remains a pervasive problem in the United States and around the world. New Policy Brief from @ipratnu.bsky.social fellow and Political Science Professor Daniel J. Galvin: www.ipr.northwestern.edu/our-work/pol...

ipr.northwestern.eduPolicy Briefs: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityIPR policy research briefs recap important policy-relevant findings.

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Political Science Department at Northwestern University
@polisciatnu.bsky.social

@ipratnu.bsky.social, the Chicago Worker’s Collaborative, & the Workplace Justice Lab, dir. by Prof Daniel Galvin, have received an ANCHOR grant to survey temporary workers in Cook County to expose exploitation & enforce workplace rights for the most vulnerable. news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026...

news.northwestern.eduNorthwestern funds support 12 community programs dedicated to health, opportunity and resilienceThe ANCHOR grant program has awarded more than $2 million to Evanston and Chicago groups
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

A new study by Craig Garfield and colleagues finds that fathers die frequently in the first years of their child's life, often from preventable causes. Yet there are no systems to track it. "If we don't measure it, we can't change it," Garfield said. spr.ly/63320BDOiN0

spr.lyDads are dying after their kids are born, and no one is tracking itNew study examines paternal mortality data in Georgia, finds 60% of deaths were preventable
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

American voters are more accepting of gay candidates than ever—but only if they look and act “straight.” Martin Naunov finds that voters across party lines still penalize candidates who look or sound even slightly gender nonconforming. spr.ly/63329BDM9Mf

spr.lyMore support for gay candidates — but only if they look and act ‘straight’A new study from Northwestern University sought to answer whether Americans have moved past prejudices against gay people, and what kind of gay candidates face little to no electoral penalty. The research reveals American voters are more accepting of gay candidates than at any point in our history, but acceptance is conditional and varies by political party.

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com

Younger siblings enjoy real advantages in life. But being born first is a far better bet in life, the data shows. Why birth order leaves an indelible mark on some people’s future has long eluded scientists. Now we have some answers:

washingtonpost.comColumn | Your birth order affects your future, but not for the reason you thinkWhy birth order leaves an indelible mark has long eluded scientists. Now we have some answers that suggest what parents and policymakers can do about it.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

As temperatures reach 90 degrees across the Chicago area this week, read about how a working group co-led by Daniel Horton is working with city and community partners to map who is most vulnerable and build tools that help save lives as temperatures rise: spr.ly/63329B8N1FW

spr.lyMaking Chicago Safer in Heat Waves: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityChicago’s deadly 1995 heat wave showed how neighborhood conditions and social ties determine who stays safe in extreme weather. Now, IPR associate Dan Horton is leading a working group to map those risks through a Heat Vulnerability Index. Combining data like temperature, public health records, and residents’ on-the-ground insights, the index will pinpoint which Chicago communities face the greatest danger as climate change makes heat waves more common.

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Martin Naunov
@naunovmartin.bsky.social

Cool to see my recent @thejop.bsky.social study covered by LGBTQ Nation. And here's a recent Fox Chicago interview if you'd rather hear me talk about it: youtu.be/flb60Z7NksM?...

youtu.beFOX 32 News at Noon - Wednesday, Jun. 03, 2026YouTube video by FOX 32 Chicago
LGBTQ Nation@lgbtqnation.com

A study examined support for gay candidates based on gender presentation. The results may surprise you. - buff.ly/EEdVJ3o

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
@buffett.northwestern.edu

Drawing on data from 121 countries, a new study in Nature Food shows how food insecurity, water insecurity, and food safety challenges often go hand in hand in both low-income & high-income countries. Co-authored by @ipratnu.bsky.social's @profserayoung.bsky.social. 📖: www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comA lack of clean drinking water is associated with lacking food and experiencing food safety threats in 121 countries across the globe - Nature FoodFood preparation typically requires access to clean drinking water. This Analysis of data from the World Risk Poll explores the links between food sufficiency, clean drinking water availability and th...

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Chika Okafor
@drchikaokafor.com

On Monday, I joined @wbez.org (@npr.org affiliate) to discuss what comes next after the SCOTUS Voting Rights Act decision. We've been here before—Reconstruction, then backlash. Then Civil Rights Movement. Now backlash again. This is not time for despair, but courage. 🎧 www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-...

wbez.orgWhat SCOTUS Voting Rights Act decision means for IllinoisThe Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Louisiana’s second majority-Black Congressional district could have major ramifications for redistricting and minority representation and leadership across ...

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University reposted

Chika Okafor
@drchikaokafor.com

Yesterday, SCOTUS dramatically narrowed the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais. I joined WVON Chicago radio to discuss my research: race-neutral rules don't produce fair outcomes. Opportunity flows through networks, and minorities receive fewer—even in politics. It's not malice. It's math.

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

How does the world we live in get written into our bodies? Join IPR Visiting Scholar Bridget Goosby for an in-person talk on May 18 exploring her research on the social factors driving health disparities. Register here: spr.ly/63329BBwKKX

spr.lyBridget Goosby: Understanding Health Inequities through a Biosocial LensJoin us for a talk by Bridget Goosby on “Pushing the Boundaries: Understanding Health Inequities through a Biosocial Lens.“
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

When drought hits, the effects go beyond crops. IPR sociologist Julia Behrman finds that economic hardship caused by extreme drought and rainfall drives women in Malawi to marry and have children at younger ages. #EarthMonth spr.ly/63325BBPysb

spr.lyFor Agrarian Communities, Climate Change’s Effects Are Personal: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityClimate change has implications for everything from immigration to agricultural policy, but its most immediate impact is on the daily lives of people experiencing its effects. In a recent working paper, IPR sociologist Julia Behrman has turned her attention to how extreme drought and rainfall affect major life decisions among women in Malawi.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

Wild rice, known as manoomin, is central to Ojibwe identity—and it's under threat. Kimberly Marion Suiseeya led a research collaboration with Ojibwe tribes using smart sensor data from lakes, rivers, and wetlands to strengthen tribal sovereignty. #EarthMonth spr.ly/63322BB3B5k

spr.lyResearchers and Ojibwe to use environmental data to strengthen tribal sovereigntyA Northwestern University-led research team has received a $2 million grant over three years from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to build on its work with Ojibwe tribes in the western Great Lakes region studying the health and socio-ecological conditions of manoomin (wild rice in Ojibwe).
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

How can we bridge the divide on climate change? Research by @polisciatnu.bsky.social's Mary McGrath and her colleagues shows that collaborative conversations between friends with opposing views about climate change could shift opinions. #EarthMonth spr.ly/63328BBGtO2

spr.lyCan Conversations with Friends Bridge the Partisan Divide on Climate Change?: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityNew research by IPR political scientist Mary McGrath reveals that after going through four weekly guided discussions, pairs of friends and family members with opposite views about climate change were less polarized about their beliefs. People skeptical of climate change were more likely to see it as an issue that required action and that they believed in—a change that lasted at least three months after going through the intervention.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

Which Chicago neighborhoods are most at risk from extreme heat? IPR associate Daniel Horton is co-leading a working group to find out, and their work has already led the city to extend public pool hours in some neighborhoods. #EarthMonth spr.ly/63329BB1uVc

spr.lyMaking Chicago Safer in Heat Waves: Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern UniversityChicago’s deadly 1995 heat wave showed how neighborhood conditions and social ties determine who stays safe in extreme weather. Now, IPR associate Dan Horton is leading a working group to map those risks through a Heat Vulnerability Index. Combining data like temperature, public health records, and residents’ on-the-ground insights, the index will pinpoint which Chicago communities face the greatest danger as climate change makes heat waves more common.
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
@ipratnu.bsky.social

Congratulations to @profserayoung.bsky.social, who was named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow! 🎉 Young was awarded a fellowship in geography and environmental studies. Read more about her work: spr.ly/63327BBBcSc

spr.lyTwo Northwestern faculty named 2026 Guggenheim FellowsSteve Reinke, professor of art theory and practice, and Sera Young, professor of anthropology and global health, at Northwestern University are among the 2026 Guggenheim Fellows announced by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation earlier this week.