Name change to Social IMPACT Research Center reflects expertise and relevance

July 1, 2009

CHICAGO— The Social IMPACT Research Center (IMPACT), formerly the Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty, announced today that it is expanding its contributions to addressing issues of local and national importance. In addition to its historic role as the Midwest's expert on poverty, the 20-year-old nonprofit research center is enhancing its work with new services and more accessible information, a renewed commitment to a wide range of expertise on many social issues, outreach to new constituencies across the Midwest and the country, and a new name.

The Social IMPACT Research Center, a program of the 501(c)(3) Heartland Alliance, provides research, analysis, consulting, technical assistance, communications, and coalition building to projects in Illinois, the Midwest, and nationally. Specifically, IMPACT provides nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, social service providers, private foundations, and government entities research information and evidence to advance understanding, identify needs, and guide effective solutions in their communities.

IMPACT is continuing to increase awareness of social issues…

IMPACT will continue its signature research and publications in the realm of poverty analysis through its annual Reports on Illinois and Chicago Region Poverty, released each spring, and real-time, day-of analysis of newly released income and poverty estimates from the Census Bureau late each August.

While responding to shifting landscapes…

The current economic landscape has created a heightened reliance on IMPACT's insightful information. Working to create social change can be an uphill battle. With funding scarce, organizations are constantly asked to prove the need for their program and demonstrate its effectiveness, and policymakers must understand where and how best to target scarce resources. With more people in need now than in recent memory, IMPACT's information on social indicators and on the effectiveness of program and policy responses takes on heightened urgency.  Service providers, advocates, and policymakers support their decision-making with facts, data, and research – provided by IMPACT – so that informed decisions are made and struggling families experiencing relief. 

To better equip organizations to drive social change.

Social IMPACT Research Center has spent more than 20 years arming their clients with dynamic research and analysis on today's most pressing social issues—from poverty and homelessness to health care, human rights, and employment. Today, IMPACT remains committed to continuing that tradition but looks to enhance its offerings and ultimately its effectiveness.

New services and more accessible information

IMPACT conducts program evaluations, needs assessments, policy and systems analysis, data identification, mapping, and original research. Services newly available include….

• Data services: Sometimes the research groups need has already been conducted or the data have already been collected. There is no need to recreate the wheel; IMPACT finds, reviews, and analyzes this research and data – saving organizations valuable time and resources.
• Consulting: IMPACT has decades of expertise facilitating planning processes, running coalitions, and providing trainings. From creating a Plan to End Homelessness to trainings on accessing Census data, IMPACT puts organizations on the path to achieving their mission.
• Increased web accessibility: IMPACT has revamped its web presence at www.heartlandalliance.org/research and www.heartlandalliance.org/povertyreport to put more data and publications right at users' fingertips.

Wider range of expertise

In addition to poverty, IMPACT's areas of expertise include issues of homelessness, affordable housing, health care, human rights, employment, income supports, and asset development.

Reaching new constituencies

The Social IMPACT Research Center is expanding its customer and consumer base around the nation through use of media—including new media, more targeted and personal outreach to potential customers, and deliberate marketing efforts, including regular e-communications.

With a new name, expanded services and expertise, and a stronger, bolder vision the Social IMPACT Research Center is able to draw upon its two decades of experience and bring together leadership, expertise, and a commitment to social issue research.   

Look for Social IMPACT Research Center reports and releases in the coming months including an update of the Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Standard for Illinois and a real time analysis for Midwestern states and cities of the Census Bureau's late summer release of income and poverty estimates.

###

The Social Impact Research Center (IMPACT) provides dynamic research and analysis on today's most pressing social issues and solutions to inform and equip those working toward a just global society. As such, IMPACT:

• Conducts research to increase the depth of understanding and profile of social issues and solutions;
• Develops recommendations and action steps;
• Communicates findings using media, briefings, and web strategies to influence a broad base of decision makers; and
• Impacts social policy and program decisions to improve the quality of life for poor and low-income individuals.

For more information: 773.336.6075 | research@heartlandalliance.org | www.heartlandalliance.org/research

 

Subscribe to RSS

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights helps people who are threatened the most by poverty or danger improve their lives and realize their human rights. For more than 100 years we have been providing solutions—both through services and advocacy—creating paths from crisis to stability and on to success. Our work in housing, health care, legal protections, and economic security supports more than 200,000 people annually, helping them build a better future.