The Social IMPACT Research Center, formerly the Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty, is a full-service research and evaluation resource. Our aim is to provide dynamic research and analysis on today's most pressing social issues and solutions to help equip you in your work toward a just global society.

IMPACT offers a variety of research services designed to help your organization meet its goals, including: Customized research projects - program evaluations, needs assessments, mapping, focus groups, surveys, case studies, and more; Data services - data requests, data subscriptions, or data/research review contracts, Other services - facilitating planning processes, running coalitions, providing trainings, and other expert consulting.

Take a look at our reports and data to learn more about our expertise and to get information to support your work. Please contact us if you're interested in discussing how IMPACT can help you perform a needs assessment, program evaluation, or other custom research project.

New Data Show One Way the State Budget Crisis Affects Human Services

Research allows us to gain an understanding of how the state budget crisis is affecting organizations that provide human services to the people of Illinois. Through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Illinois Comptroller's Office, IMPACT obtained data on the amount of unpaid bills, by state agency, to tax exempt organizations. Take a look for yourself at how the billions of dollars the state owes breaks down:

State Unpaid Bills by Agency as of June 30, 2010

Tax Exempt Organizations Awaiting Payment as of July 12, 2010

Media coverage of these new data:

Coalition Details Who's Owed What by Deadbeat Illinois 

July 21, 2010 Chicago Business

Reports

IMPACT publishes a variety of reports on poverty-related issues. Recent reports include:

• 2010 Report on Illinois Poverty
• Running on Empty: Nutritional Access for Children in Cook County, IL
• The Financial Conditions of Illinois Human Service Nonprofits
• The Size of the Illinois Human Service Workforce
• Back Home Again: LaPorte County, Indiana, Plan to End Homelessness
• Getting By & Getting Ahead: The 2009 Illinois Self-Sufficiency Standard
• Supportive Housing in Illinois: A Wise Investment
• Causes of Poverty

All IMPACT Reports

Events

Check back soon for upcoming events and speaking engagements.

IMPACT in the News

Read or listen to stories on IMPACT's research in the news:

All IMPACT News

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