The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) is a national, nonprofit policy organization founded in 1978 that advances anti‑racist, family‑centered public policy and practice to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. CSSP conducts policy analysis, provides technical assistance to public systems, partners with community leaders and families, and develops policy strategies across child welfare, early childhood, economic security, health justice, immigration, and caregiving to promote racial, social, and economic equity.
Child welfare reform and oversight, early childhood systems and services, family economic security (including SNAP and income supports), health coverage and access for children and families, immigration‑related family supports, caregiving and workforce policy, policies to advance racial equity and LGBTQIA+ youth inclusion, and technical assistance for results‑based public system reform.
Primarily foundation grants and philanthropic support, supplemented by government grants and contracts and fee‑for‑service revenue for technical assistance and capacity‑building; also accepted individual donations.
Partners and funders often include large national foundations (e.g., Annie E. Casey Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative), collaborative initiatives such as Help Me Grow National Center and the National Results and Equity Collaborative, and prominent organizational leaders and founders (co‑founders Tom Joe and Harold Richman, current President & CEO Leonard Burton, immediate past president Judith Meltzer).
Nonprofit (501(c)(3) policy and advocacy organization)
