Other Sociology Commons^™

New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program Reaches Young Children Statewide, Harshita Sarup, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

In this brief, authors Harshita Sarup and Jess Carson offer an update on enrollment in the New Hampshire Care Scholarship Program and describe the age and geographic distribution of enrolled children. Using data from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the authors confirm that enrollment more than doubled between December 2023—just before program eligibility was expanded in January 2024—and December 2025. More than 5,800 children, two-thirds of whom are under age five, are now served through the program, reaching each county of the state. The authors underscore the importance of continuously tracking program implementation and leveraging local …

The New Hampshire Voluntary Paid Family And Medical Leave Program: Did The Program Increase Coverage?, Kristin Smith

Carsey Publications

In this brief, author Kristin Smith evaluates whether the New Hampshire Voluntary Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program increased paid family and medical leave coverage. The NH Voluntary Paid Leave program launched at the start of 2023. Granite State Poll data show no change in the share of workers with medical, parental, or fam­ily medical leave benefits between December 2022 (pre-program) and December 2024. Specifically, about 3 percent of New Hampshire workers were enrolled in the NH PFML program by June 2025. In the first two- and one-half years of the program, it did little at the state level …

Can The Government Control Hurricanes? New Survey Results On Conspiracies And Science, Lawrence C. Hamilton

Carsey Publications

In this brief, author Lawrence Hamilton explores the results of a nationwide 2025 survey that asked over 1,000 people whether they agreed with conspiratorial claims such as government control of hurricanes, flat Earth, or faked Moon landings. Mixed in with the conspiracy questions were others asking about agreement with basic scientific facts such as Earth orbiting the Sun. Nine to 38 percent agreed with the conspiracies whereas 40 to 75 percent agreed with the science; many others were unsure.

Generation and political identity both correlate with conspiracism. Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z respondents more often agreed with conspiratorial statements; …

Covid Mortality Diminished But Low Fertility Means Deaths Still Exceeded Births In More Than Two-Thirds Of U.S. Counties, Kenneth M. Johnson

Carsey Publications

In this brief, author Kenneth Johnson reports that only 3,606,000 babies were born in the United States between July 2023 and July 2024, according to new Census Bureau estimates. This is 43,000 fewer babies than the year before, which barely exceeds the 43-year low in 2020–2021. Births are diminishing because fertil­ity rates are at record lows. In contrast, deaths and mortality rates dimin­ished modestly last year, though deaths remain nearly 10 percent above pre-pandemic levels. As a result, the balance between births and deaths remains in flux.

These national trends are important, but one stark statistic illustrates the impact of …

Reach And Utility Of The New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program, Harshita Sarup, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

In this primer, authors Harshita Sarup and Jess Carson describe the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program after recent policy changes. The authors find that while an estimated 55,000 children are eligible, only 7 to 8 percent are enrolled. Scholarships can represent significant savings for families, particularly with multiple children, although reimbursement rates can leave gaps for providers. The authors conclude by discussing some potential strategies for increasing the reach and efficacy of the program.

High Child Care Costs Strain Nh Family Budgets, Tyrus Parker, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

In the fourth primer of the Granite Guide to Early Childhood series, authors Tyrus Parker and Jess Carson report that, in 2023, the average price of full-time, center-based care for an infant and a four-year-old in New Hampshire was nearly $32,000 a year. Equivalent to 28 percent of median family income for New Hampshire households with children under 5, this is four times the 7 percent threshold that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has deemed affordable.

High costs can push care out of reach for the lowest-income families, perpetuating inequity. Perhaps the most important relief from high …

Fewer Providers, Longer Distances: New Hampshire's Child Care Landscape, Jess Carson, Harshita Sarup

Carsey Publications

In this primer, authors Jess Carson and Harshita Sarup discuss New Hampshire’s “supply” of child care. Licensed child care centers make up the majority of New Hampshire’s early care and education landscape, although family needs are also met through licensed home-based providers, unlicensed providers like relatives, and federal programs like Head Start. Between 2017 and 2024, New Hampshire gained about 2,100 slots among providers serving children under age 5, despite losing 13 percent of licensed providers serving that age group. These closures consolidated available supply into fewer, larger child care centers. This consolidation further exacerbates the state’s uneven capacity to …

New Hampshire's Well Educated, Underpaid Child Care Workforce, Rebecca Glauber, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

In this primer, authors Rebecca Glauber and Jess Carson discuss New Hampshire’s child care workforce. They report that New Hampshire child care workers are more likely than other workers to have at least some college experience, but they earn far less. Annual earnings among full-time child care workers are just $32,310, about half those of other workers in the state. Although child care and early educators express high job satisfaction, the field is subject to turnover and short staffing as workers seek opportunities that better match their education and the cost of living in New Hampshire. They conclude that continued …

Preschool Availability In New Hampshire Public Schools, Eileen Elizabeth Murphy, Tyrus Parker, Carrie Portrie, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

In spring 2024, researchers at the University of New Hampshire undertook data collection to better understand the landscape of preschool offerings in New Hampshire’s public schools. School districts provide preschool using a variety of models based on local needs. All public school districts must provide access to a free appropriate public education for preschool-aged children with an identified disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B. Children identified under IDEA Part B have an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, to support their learning. Some districts receive Title I funding to include preschool opportunities for children who are …

Granite Guide To Early Childhood: Introduction To New Hampshire’S Child Care Sector, Evan England, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

The early care and education (ECE) sector in New Hampshire is a complex ecosystem that must account for families’ needs and resources, the capacity and availability of the workforce, and the costs of providing services. This ecosystem is also bolstered (and constrained) by local, state, and federal policy. This series of primers, titled the Granite Guide to Early Childhood, synthesizes the widely disaggregated scholarship on child care in New Hampshire and compiles this work into an unprecedented accessible collection. These primers aim to provide a vital understanding of key factors involved in developing a high-quality, affordable, and equitable ECE …

What Do New Hampshire Families Want For Child Care?, Rebecca Glauber, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

Most New Hampshire families with young children need child care, although both use and preference vary. In this primer, authors Rebecca Glauber and Jess Carson describe the complexity of families’ child care decision making, shaped by preference and the reality of available offerings. Evidence suggests that family priorities differ, but reliable arrangements are key for most. The need for a diverse mix of accessible options and an emphasis on reliability are true for families outside of New Hampshire as well.

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

Carsey Publications

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", Jess Carson, Sarah Boege, Libby Schwaner

Carsey Publications

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, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

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, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

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

Carsey Publications

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, Jess Carson, Sarah Boege

Carsey Publications

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, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

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. …

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

Carsey Publications

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 …

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

Carsey Publications

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 …

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, Jess Carson, Kamala Nasirova

Carsey Publications

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, Jess Carson, Alison Moore

Carsey Publications

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 …

Low-Income New Hampshire Parents’ Food Acquisition Decisions, Sarah Boege, Jess Carson

Carsey Publications

Drawing on interviews with 16 low-income New Hampshire parents in 2022, this paper explores the complex decisions that families make in choosing what foods to buy and where (and how) to shop.

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

Carsey Publications

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

Carsey Publications

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, Jess Carson, Tyrus Parker, Rebecca Glauber

Carsey Publications

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, Jess Carson, Analena Bruce, Isaac Leslie

Carsey Publications

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

Carsey Publications

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

Carsey Publications

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

Carsey Publications

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 …