Policies for Action (P4A) is proud to announce the funding of its first six grantee projects. Founded in 2015, P4A funds research identifying policies, laws, and regulations in the public and private sectors that can support the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF’s) mission to build a Culture of Health. As a part of this effort, the following projects are now underway:

• Providence Portland Medical Center, led by principal investigators Hannah Cohen-Cline, PhD, MPH, and Keri Vartanian, PhD, will assess the impact of a targeted housing voucher distribution strategy.
• Northwestern University, led by principal investigator Amelie Petitclerc, PhD, will assess the impact of early childhood income supplements on long-term health.
• Columbia University, led by principal investigators Jane Waldfogel, PhD, and Ann Bartel, PhD, will assess the health effects of California’s paid family leave law.
• University of Florida, led by principal investigator Sherry Ahrentzen, PhD, and co-principal investigator Lynne Dearborn, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will assess how states are using incentives and other program criteria to advance healthier housing for low-income and vulnerable populations.
• Brown University, led by principal investigators Justine Hastings, PhD and Jesse Shapiro, PhD, will assess the effects of SNAP on food purchases and family nutrition.
• University of Southern California, led by principal investigator Dana Goldman, PhD, and co-principal investigator James Heckman, PhD, of the University of Chicago will assess the long-term health and social returns to early childhood education.

Learn more about our research priorities.