The Dawn of the Evidence-Based Budget

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/worthy-of-government-funding-prove-it

David Bornstein

The New York Times

30 May 2012

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When we consider the vast sums that governments spend — and the responsibility public officials bear — it seems crazy that policy makers don’t routinely make good use of evidence. The new White House effort to base spending decisions on hard evidence is a step toward delivering more social good per taxpayer dollar.

Can School Heal Children in Pain?

https://medium.com/bright/can-school-heal-children-in-pain-d9ef3abb9176

James Redford

Bright Magazine

1 June 2015

Text / Under 800 Words

Adverse childhood experiences — like assault, emotional abuse, observing domestic violence — can fundamentally alter a child’s body and brain. Lincoln High School teachers are taking in a "trauma-informed care" approach to their teaching to help those vulnerable students whose brains have been altered due to violence, abuse, or assault.

Changing Course

http://ctmirror.org/2015/01/21/changing-course

Arielle Levin Becker

The Connecticut Mirror

21 January 2015

Text / Over 3000 Words

Science suggests that having a secure relationship with a caregiver can help protect a child’s brain and body from the effects of adversity. A Connecticut program for young children who have experienced trauma or other challenges has gotten results by focusing on that relationship – and the things that can interfere, including depression, family violence, and a parent’s own history of trauma.

How Conservative, Tough-On-Crime Utah Reined In Police Militarization

http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/how-conservative-tough-on-crime-utah-reined-in-police-milita

Evan McMorris-Santoro

Buzzfeed

1 September 2014

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The militarization of police forces in cases such as Ferguson, Missouri’s riots has led the state of Utah to question what can be done to prevent such an overuse of force from happening. Utah expanded upon a law passed by Democratic legislature in Maryland, which Utah’s ACLU reworked with some libertarians, to require the police to provide data about SWAT team usage. Utah’s success demonstrates that demilitarization bills passed with bipartisan support are not impossible.

How one city cut violent crime by 60 percent

http://www.fayobserver.com/article/20131222/News/312229757

Greg Barnes

Fayetteville Observer

22 December 2013

Text / Under 800 Words

Areas of High Point, North Carolina have suffered from crime, poverty, and neglect, until the city began implementing Operation Ceasefire, a policing program that uses data collecting, community support against crime. High Point is now leading the country in its success of Operation Ceasefire, boasting dramatic reductions in violent crimes, domestic abuse, robberies, and drug-related offenses.

Mumbai slum dwellers say 'I have to help' stop violence against women

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-09-15/mumbai-slum-dwellers-say-i-have-help-stop-violence-against-women

Marco Werman

Rhitu Chatterjee

Public Radio International (PRI)

15 September 2015

Radio / 5-15 Minutes

In the Mumbai slum of Dharavi, an NGO called Society for Nutrition, Education & Health Action (SNEHA) is working to make life safer by teaching men the importance of not being violent towards women. Through an app called Eyewatch, community members are able to document acts of domestic violence, which helps SNEHA team members locate victims and their abusers.

Philly-area firm leads the hospital-bill fight vs. the $500 Tylenol

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/thepulse/item/62231-inside-the-complicated-world-of-medical-billing

Zach Seward

NewsWorks

5 December 2013

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With more and more Americans having to pay medical costs out of pocket, a small company out of Philadelphia called ELAP is on the front lines of the war against escalating charges. By helping overwhelmed patients to de-mystify and negotiate medical bills, they are ensuring patients get the best value and avoid egregious financial distress.

Putting Charities to the Test

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/putting-charities-to-the-test

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

5 December 2012

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For most well-meaning donors, it can be difficult to calculate which charities are most effective with their funding - that is those that aim to solve the most serious problems, use interventions that work, employ cost-effective strategies, are competent and honest, and can make good use of each additional dollar. Organizations like GiveWell are part of a new and welcome trend toward rigorous evaluation of social change programs, and helps people best decide where to donate based on what causes matter to them most.

The Power to Cure, Multiplied

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/the-doctor-will-stream-to-you-now

David Bornstein

The New York Times

11 June 2014

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Project ECHO - driven by a single doctor with a cause - pulled together a team of specialists to develop a model that combines technology with collaborative care and careful patient tracking to help cure for diseases spread to patients around the world through community healthcare agents, as opposed to only specialty centers. This kind of "disruptive innovation" is effectively working to demonopolize health care knowledge and access, and lends to a health system capable of meeting today’s soaring demands for care.

Leading the Way Out of Debt

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/leading-the-way-out-of-debt

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

30 January 2013

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Neighborhood Trust is a New York-based nonprofit offering financial advice to individuals experiencing economic hardships. Providing hands-on coaching, counselors are able to inform their clients about financial options they may have otherwise not known about like college financial aid or child care tax credits.