About Youth Policy Lab

The University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab was launched in 2016 with a vision for reducing socio-economic disparities through improvements in education and other social policies affecting youth. By developing evidence-based, policy-relevant research in partnership with local and state agencies, practitioners, and policymakers, Dr. Robin Jacob and Dr. Brian Jacob sought to build upon their exemplary careers in social science research by taking research findings out of academic journals and putting them in the hands of decision-makers. With this aim in mind, they have spent the past seven years bringing the resources and expertise of one of the nation’s leading public research universities to bear on some of Michigan’s most pressing social challenges.

We are data experts who believe government can and must do better for youth, families, and communities. We’re making that dream a reality by strengthening programs that address pressing social challenges. We work closely with our partners to build a future where public investments are based on evidence, ensuring all have a pathway to prosperity.

Mission

Our mission is to inform public policy decisions that impact youth by analyzing data and evaluating programs to help society answer its most pressing questions.

Vision

The Youth Policy Lab, a joint research center of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research, envisions a world where partner-driven and policy-centered research fuels positive social change.