Strengthening Achievement under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act: A State Perspective

This paper provides a review of opportunities for data collection and analysis that have the potential to underscore best practices in measurement of goal achievement for CCDBG programs. Conceptual Model for Evidence-Informed Policy Formulation and Implementation is discussed as a framework to guide data driven decision making.

Analysis of Iowa’s Child Care Assistance Database

This paper describes the process by which data from Iowa’s Child Care Assistance Database was analyzed. The outcomes of the analysis and recommendations are provided along with descriptions highlighting the relevance of the measurement to policy and practice.

Competitive, Integrated Employment: A Driver of Long-Term Value Creation

A research paper released in conjunction with The 2022 Harkin International Disability Employment Summit shows that companies that make a commitment to competitive, integrated employment for persons with disabilities enjoy a competitive advantage and are positioned to capitalize on a $13 trillion global disability market.

The paper was written by Harkin Institute Senior Fellow Robert Ludke and is the latest publication in his ongoing work to explore the connection between disability inclusion and long-term value creation for shareholders, stakeholders, and society. 

This research paper was a collaboration with Voya Cares, Voya Financial’s program that serves people with disabilities and their caregivers. 

Iowa Summit on Disability Employment Business Toolkit

As society’s attitudes on disability have changed over time, efforts to be more inclusive of people with disabilities have grown significantly. Since its creation, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement has worked extensively to collaborate with global leaders in business, government and advocacy to foster inclusive and integrated work environments for people with disabilities. The Iowa Summit on Disability Employment is meant to serve as a catalyst for Iowa’s leaders to rethink the workforce and consider the largely untapped labor pool of people with disabilities that are excited to work and gain a sense of independence.

Solving “Then What”?

Empowering Investors to Achieve Competitive Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities This white paper explores the role the investor community can play in improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Investors have both the power and the influence to work with the companies they invest in to fully integrate people with disabilities into all levels of their operations – from entry level to executive management. This paper, authored by The Harkin Institute Research Fellow Robert Ludke, provides a blueprint for achieving this.

Innovative Employment Practices at Work

Harkin International Disability Employment Summit 2019

The proceedings from the 2019 Harkin International Disability Employment Summit provides detailed information and takeaways from the the fourth Harkin Summit, which took place April 8-9, 2019 in Paris.

Harkin International Disability Employment Summit 2018

The 2018 Harkin International Disability Employment Summit provides detailed information and takeaways from the the third Harkin Summit, which took place November 15-16, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

Closing the Retirement Savings Gap

Half of U.S. employees do not participate in a retirement savings program in their workplace. Part-time and low-wage employees, and those employed by small businesses and in service occupations, have the lowest access and participation rates. This brief examines the role of state retirement savings programs in addressing this problem.

SNAP Healthy Food Pricing Incentive Programs: State Comparison & Evaluation

This report discusses results from surveys and oral interviews conducted by The Harkin Institute for the purpose of providing state policy recommendations to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) healthy food pricing incentive programs. The survey results and oral interviews will be used to compare the answers between two sub-groups, those who had received funding from their state government and those who did not, and their beliefs on whether healthy food pricing incentive programs have an impact on the economy, increase food security among SNAP participants, impact the health of SNAP participants, and are feasible, scalable, and acceptable among SNAP participants, vendors, and stakeholders.

2022 Harkin on Wellness Report

The Harkin Institute published the 2022 Harkin on Wellness Report in conjunction with the HOW Symposium held on March 29, 2022. This report will highlight nine organizations from across the United States that are leading the way in nutrition security. It is the goal of the Harkin on Wellness Report, to highlight the top wellness and nutrition initiatives in the country that are examples of organizations able to make a large impact through effective policy, system, and environmental change. We encourage others to use this as a tool to build partnerships and create sustainable, crosssector coalitions within their own community and beyond.

Piloting a New Way Forward: Using Farm Bill Pilots to Guide Future Ag Policy

An important but often overlooked component of the Farm Bill is the use of pilot programs and projects: small-scale testing programs operated over a short period of time to determine the viability of long-term nationwide programs. Pilot programs are a financially effective ways for policymakers to attempt new programs on small scale before committing taxpayer dollars. This report seeks to inform policymakers and experts on the outcome of pilot programs included in Farm Bills from 1981 to 2018.

Strategies to Improve Healthy Eating in SNAP

The Harkin Institute and the Center for Science in the Public Interest held in-person stakeholder convenings, individual interviews with SNAP recipients, interviews with food retails, and state-wide polling and used the data gathered to create the following report, which offers recommendations to inform the potential impact, feasibility, barriers, and supports for future pilot projects to test strategies to better support healthy eating among SNAP recipients.

2021 Harkin on Wellness Report

The 2018 Harkin on Wellness (HOW) Report provides detailed information about 11 successful community wellness and nutrition initiatives from around the United States. The report is designed to share best practices for how communities and organizations can invest in health.

2019 Harkin on Wellness Report

The 2019 Harkin on Wellness (HOW) Report provides detailed information about 10 successful community wellness and nutrition initiatives from around the United States. The report is designed to share best practices for how communities and organizations can invest in health. The 2019 designees were recognized for their work strategically connecting food systems with health and wellness.

2018 Harkin on Wellness Report

The 2018 Harkin on Wellness (HOW) Report provides detailed information about 11 successful community wellness and nutrition initiatives from around the United States. The report is designed to share best practices for how communities and organizations can invest in health.

2020 Honor Roll of Donors

The Harkin Institute’s honor roll of donors for Fiscal Year 2020, which runs from July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020.

2019 Annual Report

The Harkin Institute’s Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report provides highlights and information about the Institute from July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019, as well as an honor roll of donors for Fiscal Year 2019.

2018 Annual Report

The Harkin Institute’s Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report provides highlights and information about the Institute from July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018, as well as an honor roll of donors for FY2018.

2017 Annual Report

The Harkin Institute’s Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report provides highlights and information about the Institute from July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017, as well as an honor roll of donors for Fiscal Year 2017.

Drake University Accessibility Map

The Harkin Institute created this detailed accessibility map to help people with disabilities navigate Drake University’s campus. This map provides a simple but detailed look at campus buildings, elevators, sidewalks, offices, and more.

Jordanian Disability Law Infographic

In 2017, the Jordan government passed a disability law modeled after the United States’ Americans with Disabilities Act. To commemorate this important step in the protection of rights of Jordanians with disabilities, student employees at The Harkin Institute created an infographic in English and Arabic that provides and outline of this landmark legislation.

Advocacy Infographics

These infographics are practical tools to help organizations and their supporters advocate for their issues.

I.D.E.A

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975 improved accessibility to education for students with disabilities. This act granted students the right to free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Since its passage, the performance of students with disabilities has improved greatly in almost every aspect of education.

Television Decoder Circuitry Act

The Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 made television more accessible to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. This infographic series shows the progress television and the TDCA has undergone over the years.

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act Often referred to as “The Emancipation of the Disabled,” the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of Senator Tom Harkin’s most well-known pieces of legislation. This series of infographics provides general facts about the ADA and explains in detail the bill’s five major titles.

Employment for People With Disabilities

Senator Tom Harkin has made expanding the rights of people with disabilities his life’s work. This infographic series provides a quick glance into the employment of people with disabilities globally.