Other Sociology Commons^™

New Hampshire Employees Working In Small Firms Lack Access To Paid Family And Medical Leave, Kristin E. Smith

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, author Kristin Smith reports that in December 2022, just prior to the launch of the NH Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, 40 percent of New Hampshire workers did not have access to paid medical, parental, or family leave. In its first year, the program reached 14,712 workers or less than 3 percent of Granite State workers. Workers in small firms report lower rates of access than workers in larger firms. Women also have lower access to paid leave than men. In addition to a lack of awareness, low enrollment may be linked to NH Paid Family …

A Descriptive Study Of Covid-Era Movers To The Northern Forest Region: "The Perfect Balance Of Things...A Choice Based On Lifestyle, Community, And Values", Jessica A. Carson, Sarah Boege, Libby Schwaner

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

The Northern Forest—a 34-county swath of northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York—saw an increase in domestic migration during the pandemic, with 85 percent of the region’s counties experiencing domestic in-migration gains between 2020 and 2021, compared with 63 percent of counties in the rest of the United States. Who moved to the Northern Forest region, and why? Do they intend to stay? And what does that mean for those who already lived there?

In this research brief, authors Jess Carson, Sarah Boege, and Libby Schwaner share findings from interviews with 16 such movers (and six regional real estate …

New Englanders' Use Of Child Care Varies By Income, Even Among Working Households, Jessica A. Carson

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this data snapshot, author Jess Carson reports that data from the U.S. Census Bureau collected between January and May 2023 show that access to child care remains uneven. Among New England households with a child under age five, 71.1 percent had used at least some child care in the past seven days. However, lower-income households are less likely to use care than higher-income households. While child care use is more prevalent among low-income households with a working adult, rates are still below those in high-income households. Findings suggest that in low-income New England households, access to early care opportunities­­—as …

New England Households Rely On A Mix Of Child Care Arrangements, Jessica A. Carson

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this data snapshot, author Jess Carson reports that data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau between January and May 2023 show that 70 percent of New England households with a child under five use child care, and more than one-third of those rely on multiple arrangements. Findings suggest that even having access to a formal slot in center- or home-based care may not be sufficient for meeting families’ needs. Finding the right type and mix of care is complex and underscores the need for flexible and diverse child care options for New England families.

Permanent Supportive Housing As A Solution To Homelessness, Antonio Serna

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

Homelessness in the United States has grown into a crisis, and those with disabling conditions, such as a physical disability, substance use disorders, or behavioral/mental health disorders, are disproportionately at risk. Prior research in Boston found that in three-quarters of shelter stays in the city between 2014 and 2018, the person was recorded as having a disability. The susceptibility of this group to homelessness and chronic homelessness is partly because disabilities correlate with lower incomes and job insecurity, which pose a challenge to maintaining long-term housing. It is for this reason that permanent supportive housing (PSH)—housing that is paired with …

New Hampshire Parents Use Child Care But Seek More Options, Jessica A. Carson, Sarah Boege

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, authors Jess Carson and Sarah Boege describe child care use and gaps among respondents to the 2022 New Hampshire Preschool Development Grant Family Needs Assessment Survey. The authors report that three-quarters of responding parents with children under age five had searched for child care in the past 12 months; half reported that their search was difficult, with a lack of openings as the main challenge. Despite these difficulties, three-quarters of respondents with young children reported using some form of regular child care. However, four out of five parents who used care rated their child care arrangement as …

Supportive Program Strengths And Gaps For New Hampshire Families: "Just Enough Money To Barely Pay For Most Things", Sarah Boege, Jessica A. Carson

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, authors Sarah Boege and Jess Carson describe child and family program use and gaps among respondents to the 2022 New Hampshire Preschool Development Grant Family Needs Assessment Survey. Parents with children under age nine were asked about programs to help meet family food needs and to support child development and education. The authors find that nearly half of parent respondents used at least one of the programs in question, with the National School Lunch Program having the widest reach. Responding parents were generally familiar with food assistance programs, but less familiar with child development and education programs. …

Changing Child Care Supply In New Hampshire And Vermont’S Upper Valley, Jessica A. Carson, Sarah Boege

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, authors Jess Carson and Sarah Boege describe changes in the early childhood education and care landscape of Grafton and Sullivan Counties in New Hampshire and Orange and Windsor Counties in Vermont, collectively known as the Upper Valley. The authors find that the Upper Valley lost 25 regulated child care providers serving children under age 5 between 2017 and 2021. However, with closure rates twice as high among family-based providers than among center-based providers and some new providers opening, the net number of slots has remained relatively stable (5,169 slots in 2021). The overall effect has been to …

Why Interstate Child Care Scholarship Policy Choices Matter In The Upper Valley: "You Can Only Charge The Families So Much", Sarah Boege, Jessica A. Carson

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, the authors explore how state-level decisions in New Hampshire and Vermont manifest in the early childhood education and care sector, through the lens of the interstate Upper Valley region. They demonstrate the significant differences in the reach and adequacy of child care financial assistance programs (“child care scholarships”) across state lines, with Vermont’s program setting family income eligibility thresholds higher and delivering higher-value reimbursements to child care providers than New Hampshire’s program. While scholarships are key for widening low-income families’ access to high quality care, they are not a panacea. Not all eligible families participate in child …

Child Care Investments And Policies In The Upper Valley, In The Pandemic And Beyond: “People Have To Hurry Because This Arpa Funding Isn’T Going To Last Forever”, Sarah Boege, Jessica A. Carson, Kamala Nasirova

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, the authors illustrate New Hampshire and Vermont’s different responses to supporting the early childhood education and care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the limited publicly available data on pandemic relief funds through the lens of the interstate Upper Valley region. While data limitations preclude the authors from identifying which child care pandemic relief programs worked best and for whom, the authors find spatial and program type differences in relief receipt. Using data from interviews with early childhood educators in the Upper Valley, the authors identify the role that temporary relief funds have played in keeping …

Institutional Grantmaking To New Hampshire Nonprofits, Jessica A. Carson, Alison Moore

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In 2019, the New Hampshire Funders Forum contacted the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire for support in creating an inaugural report on institutional grantmaking in the state. After initial exploration raised questions about the comprehensiveness of existing data sources, the Funders Forum commissioned Carsey to develop an alternate approach utilizing original tax filings to create the most accurate and comprehensive portrait of institutional grantmaking in the state available. This report represents the culmination of that effort and is intended to provide a baseline description of institutional grantmakers that support New Hampshire nonprofits for members …

Conspiracy Vs. Science: A Survey Of U.S. Public Beliefs, Lawrence C. Hamilton

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, author Lawrence Hamilton reports the results of a nationwide U.S. survey that asked respondents whether they agreed, disagreed, or were unsure about a series of statements that mixed pseudo-science con­spiracy claims with well-established scientific facts.

Around 10 percent of respondents agreed with conspiracy claims that the Earth is flat, NASA faked the Moon landings, or COVID-19 vaccinations implant tracking microchips. For comparison, 58 to 83 percent agreed with statements of basic scientific facts—such as the Earth is billions of years old, or revolves around the Sun. Although agreement with conspiracy claims was low overall, it was significantly …

"Daylight Maximizing" Time For All, Rebecca Ray

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

Twice a year debates erupt across the continen­tal United States: should we keep Daylight Savings Time or leave it behind for­ever? The only preference with widespread agree­ment is against changing clocks, one way or the other. Perhaps all of the participants in this perennial argu­ment have a common opponent: not each other, but the time zone lines as they are currently drawn.

Keeping Daylight Savings year-round would bring unreasonably late sunrises in Detroit and other cities in the Northwest corners of our current time zones, creating morning traffic hazards for pedestrians. But Standard Time brings winter sunsets before 5 p.m. …

Childcare Remains Out Of Reach For Millions In 2021, Leading To Disproportionate Job Losses For Black, Hispanic, And Low-Income Families, Jonathan Koltai, Jessica A. Carson, Tyrus Parker, Rebecca Glauber

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, collected in late summer through the fall of 2021, this brief documents recent racial and income disparities in reports of inadequate access to childcare and identifies the employment-related consequences of these shortages.

The authors find that, in Fall 2021, about 5 million U.S. households had a child under age 12 who was unable to attend childcare as a result of it being closed, unavailable, unaffordable, or because parents were concerned about their child’s safety in the past month. Black and low-income households were more likely to experience inadequate childcare access. …

Half Of New Hampshire Residents Buy Local Farm Food At Least A Few Times A Month, But Engagement Varies By County, Jessica A. Carson, Analena Bruce, Isaac Leslie

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

Getting local farm food to customers in ways that make financial and logistical sense for both farmers and consumers has long challenged the growth of direct-to-consumer sales. And despite a surge of interest in local foods spurred by the pandemic, there have been few data sources available to farmers and local food advocates for measuring consumers’ contemporary engagement with local food systems and market types.

In this brief, Jess Carson, Analena Bruce, and Isaac Leslie describe data collected in the May 2021 Granite State Poll and find that while more than 80 percent of Granite Staters report buying local farm …

Scaling Equitable Solar Finance, Eric Hangen, Rebecca Regan, Sarah Boege

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

The U.S. solar photovoltaics industry has taken off over the past decade, but without deliberate action low- and moderate-income communities could be left behind in the transition to clean energy.

Drawing on substantial literature related to multiple dimensions of low-income solar finance and interviews with key informants in the field, authors Eric Hangen, Rebecca Regan, and Sarah Boege recommend public investments and policy changes that could help scale the provision of equitable solar finance.

Bringing Solar Energy To Low- And Moderate-Income Communities, Eric Hangen, Rebecca Regan, Sarah Boege

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

The U.S. solar photovoltaics industry has taken off over the past decade, but without deliberate action low- and moderate-income communities could be left behind in the transition to clean energy.

Drawing on substantial literature related to multiple dimensions of low-income solar finance and interviews with key informants in the field, authors Eric Hangen, Rebecca Regan, and Sarah Boege recommend public investments and policy changes that could help scale the provision of equitable solar finance.

The Slow Dawn Of Climate-Change Awareness, And Its Challenge For A Sustainable Planet, Lawrence C. Hamilton

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this perspectives brief, author Larry Hamilton summarizes his research on public perceptions of climate change, drawing on a decade of nationwide and New Hampshire surveys.

He reports that public awareness of human-caused climate change rose slowly over the past decade, showing no sudden jumps after climate-related events such as major storms. Awareness rose twice as fast among members of Generation Z compared with older generations, although increases occurred within each of those generations too. Faster change among young adults fits with other research showing people at that life stage tend to be more active in updating their beliefs with …

Four-In-Five Adults Are Vaccinated Or Intend To Get A Vaccine, Sarah Boege

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this data snapshot, author Sarah Boege reports that by March 29, one-quarter of U.S. adults reported that they had already received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 39.1 percent hadn’t yet been vaccinated but reported that they will “definitely” get one when available and another 17.4 percent said that they “probably” will. However, 10.1 percent of adults will “probably not” and 8.2 percent will “definitely not” get a vaccine.

These data suggest that a large majority of adults could be vaccinated in the coming months, but experts see risks in having a sizeable group remain …

Share Of Childless Adults Eligible For Eitc Triples Under American Rescue Plan, Jessica A. Carson

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this fact sheet, author Jess Carson explores how changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2021 affect childless tax filers.

Findings show that the share of childless adults who can claim a credit has tripled under the new provisions, and that the biggest driver of widened access is lowering the minimum age for eligibility. Childless filers in different areas of the country and of different racial-ethnic groups all have wider access, but gains are larger in some groups than others.

Policymakers considering whether to retain all or part of the EITC expansions in future years should consider how …

Improving Staff Communication For Small Non-Profits: Girls' Empowerment Program Case Study, Elizabeth Schwaner

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this white paper, author Elizabeth Schwaner discusses challenges faced by Girls' Empowerment Program, a non-profit organization based in the northeast U.S. that serves at-risk girls in its community through a year-round mentoring program paired with a residential social summer camp. Despite its undeniable strengths, issues with communication are a persistent challenge. Like many small organizations staffed by a few paid employees and many volunteers, identifying specific practices that lead to miscommunication or helpful informational pathways can be a challenge. This case study elucidates some of those challenges and opportunities for Girls' Empowerment, but with the expectation that other small, …

New Data Show One-In-Six Children Were Poor Before Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica A. Carson, Sarah Boege

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

New American Community Survey (ACS) data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on September 17, 2020 show child poverty at 16.8 percent in 2019, down from 18 percent in 2018. Sub-national patterns in child poverty remain intact; for example, higher in rural and urban places than in the suburbs. Importantly, 2019 child poverty declines are likely now outdated due to the COVID-19-related recession, the effects of which may last years. For instance, child poverty had still not yet returned to pre-Great Recession rates from 2007 in all states by 2019, illustrating that recovery in child poverty can be a long …

Covid-19 Didn't Create A Child Care Crisis, But Hastened And Inflamed It, Jessica A. Carson, Marybeth J. Mattingly

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this Carsey Perspective, authors Jess Carson and Marybeth Mattingly describe the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the nation’s already-fragile early childhood care systems.

Child care providers are struggling to address revenue losses associated with closures, fewer enrollments, and new safety guidelines. Meanwhile, demand for formal child care is shifting in yet-unknown ways, with unemployment, telework, uncertain school reopenings for older children, and health-related concerns all playing a part.

The authors conclude that the child care system requires significant policy support to regain lost footage, but encourage policymakers to utilize the pandemic’s disruption as an opportunity to rebuild …

Affordability Challenges Drive Food Insufficiency In The Pandemic, Jessica A. Carson, Sarah Boege

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this data snapshot, authors Jess Carson and Sarah Boege find that getting food is a problem for people experiencing food insufficiency during the pandemic, but affording food is the biggest challenge.

What Do We Know About What To Do With Dams? How Knowledge Shapes Public Opinion About Their Removal In New Hampshire, Simone Chapman, Catherine M. Ashcraft, Lawrence C. Hamilton, Kevin H. Gardner

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, authors Simone Chapman, Catherine Ashcraft, Lawrence Hamilton, and Kevin Gardner report the results of an October 2018 Granite State Poll that asked 607 New Hampshire residents how much they have heard, and their thoughts, concerning the question of whether older dams on New Hampshire rivers should be removed for ecological or safety reasons, or whether the dams should be kept.

Most people admitted they have not heard or read about this issue, but at the same time they agreed that dams could be removed in at least some cases. The more people heard or read about the …

The Benefits And Barriers To Living In Coös County, New Hampshire: Perceptions Of The Region From Emerging Adults, Kristine Bundschuh

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this report, author Kristine Bundschuh identifies the benefits and barriers that emerging adults, age 18–25, perceive as they make the decision to stay in, leave, or return to Coös County, New Hampshire. The main draws to living in Coös are its family and community support systems. Those with local professional and educational plans, or who have purchased a home locally, experience additional benefits. Some emerging adults say they would live in Coös if it provided the employment opportunities, diverse communities, and amenities they seek.

Innovation In Food Access Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica A. Carson

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered income losses and rising demand for food-related support, while social distancing requirements have complicated access to usual nutrition support sites. In response, government agencies, private retailers, nonprofit organizations, and volunteer networks are undertaking innovative efforts to ensure food access by vulnerable populations. By highlighting strategies that are unfolding in real time, this brief shares an array of potential approaches for private, public, and nonprofit stakeholders to use in deploying their resources.

Trusting Scientists More Than The Government: New Hampshire Perceptions Of The Pandemic, Lawrence C. Hamilton, Thomas G. Safford

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, authors Lawrence Hamilton and Thomas Safford report that despite a dramatic increase in the incidence of COVID-19, and an evolving government response, there was no significant change between surveys taken in mid-March and mid-April in the shares of New Hampshire residents who reported they were making “major changes” in their daily routines, had low confidence in the federal government’s response, or expressed trust in information from science agencies.

Rural Areas With Seasonal Homes Hit Hard By Covid-19, Jessica A. Carson

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this data snapshot, author Jess Carson finds that rural counties where at least 25 percent of the housing units are for seasonal use are hit especially hard by COVID-19 compared with urban and other kinds of rural counties.

Views Of A Fast-Moving Pandemic: A Survey Of Granite Staters’ Responses To Covid-19, Thomas G. Safford, Lawrence C. Hamilton

The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository

In this brief, authors Thomas Safford and Lawrence Hamilton report the results of a Granite State Panel survey (March 17-26), asking New Hampshire residents about their views concerning government responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and whether they changed their daily routine because of the pandemic. They report that New Hampshire residents who approve of President Trump’s handling of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and those who regularly watch Fox News are less likely than others to have made major changes in their routines due to COVID-19. Granite Staters have polarized opinions about President Trump’s handling of the pandemic: 40 …