Projects

The capacity and well-being in the U.S. health workforce has been under threat for years by an epidemic of burnout, and the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated these systems issue further. The New Jersey Emotional Well-Being Institute (NJ-NEW), a program of the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, initiated the Virtual Schwartz Rounds (VSR) forums in […]

As urban areas have developed in New Jersey, some water bodies such as ponds, streams, and wetlands have been filled in, developed over, or rerouted through stormwater systems. In some cases, this process may have in turn increased local flooding, and rerouting surface water into stormwater systems has increased the amount of water flowing through […]

Maternal depression affects up to 20% of individuals giving birth and has significant detrimental effects on maternal and infant health and child development. Preliminary research into New Jersey’s expansion of paid family leave in 2019 and 2020, which expanded paid bonding leave to 12 weeks and up to 85% weekly wages, resulted in a large […]

Industrial agriculture is a significant driver of climate change, but there are regenerative farming techniques which have been developed to mitigate and undo these environmental changes. Regenerative agriculture is a farming and grazing system that works to reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity—resulting in both carbon drawdown and […]

Research shows a strong overlap between witnessing interpersonal violence and experiencing child abuse and neglect, both of which have severe and long-lasting health consequences for children and families. New Jersey has been at the forefront of addressing this critical intersection through the development of the Domestic Violence and the Division of Child Protection & Permanency […]

In 2023, the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission released its third report recommending sentencing reform across four areas “designed to reduce racial disparities and bring greater justice to the justice system.” These areas include: 1) creating a new mitigating sentencing factor for defendants who are survivors of abuse by their victims, 2) establishing […]

In 2024, New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well conducted a statewide survey of older adults and gathered quantitative and qualitative data on residents aged 60 and over on the challenges and concerns related to aging in NJ. The findings show that cost of living—including taxes, housing costs, and overall expenses—are top concerns for residents and […]

As part of efforts to combat climate change and promote low-carbon transportation, New Jersey is advancing programs to reduce its carbon footprint, including the proposed NJ Bill A1487 for an e-bike rebate program through BPU. In 2023, Rutgers Voorhees Transportation Center staff piloted a successful e-bike rebate program in Bridgeton, NJ, enabling 11 participants to […]

With this research, the Policy Lab will evaluate the state’s current progress, taking societal contexts into consideration, review the most effective practices at increasing attainment, and provide recommendations for future considerations to build upon OSHE’s current work.

In partnership with the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration launched an innovative initiative to transform mental health and addiction treatment services for people involved in the justice system in New Jersey. Using the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) methodology and Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, […]

The Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs (WRI) at Rutgers-Camden documented challenges and barriers faced by Camden County and other South Jersey residents in accessing transportation in a previous report, Transportation Accessibility in Southern New Jersey: Barriers, Effects, and Considerations. Building upon this research, WRI received a grant from the New Jersey State Policy Lab […]

This project is examining the effectiveness of low-income community solar programs and enhancing the involvement of under-resourced community stakeholders to achieve energy justice in New Jersey.