The Institute for Thriving Children & Families
The Institute for Thriving Children & Families brings together research, practice, and policy to build a more just society for children, families, and communities. Grounded in equity-focused inquiry and policy analysis, we conduct applied studies that inform real-world improvements.
Our work focuses on strengthening early childhood systems, expanding equitable pathways for the early childhood workforce, engaging families and communities in culturally, historically, and linguistically responsive ways, and addressing structural inequities that limit opportunities for children and families. By translating our findings for communities, advocates, and policymakers, we strive to promote healthy child development, economic stability for families, and a well-prepared and fairly compensated workforce.
Who We Are
The Institute is home to the Straus Center for Young Children & Families and the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), combining the strengths of both centers to produce research and analysis that reflect the realities of the communities we serve.
Led by Dr. Sara Amadon, inaugural executive director, our research team brings deep expertise, cultural humility, and a strong commitment to justice in action.
Learn More About the Straus Center Learn More About NCCP
How We Work
- We build strong partnerships. Our researchers collaborate closely with advocates and policymakers nationwide so that our work can lead to meaningful change.
- We use participatory approaches. Research is conducted with practitioners and partners, not on them.
- We are multidisciplinary. Our team uses mixed-method approaches to answer complex questions and meet the needs of children, families, educators, and communities.
- We are embedded in Bank Street. Our location within Bank Street Graduate School of Education allows us to work directly with educators and educators-in-training.
Recent Work
Our research and community partnerships have led to impactful solutions, including:
- Supporting more stable and affordable child care arrangements for children in foster care in Arkansas. Learn More (pdf)
- Producing 50-state scans on SNAP and other key income supports that help policymakers understand shifting family economic conditions. Learn More
- Building deep, long-standing partnerships across New York City and New York State
- Expanding the early childhood educator pipeline through a microcredential developed with SUNY Farmingdale State College. Learn More
- Documenting how residents of the Corona neighborhood in Queens see science in their daily lives through a partnership with the New York Hall of Science. Learn More
- Conducting critical studies of the early childhood workforce during COVID-19 to understand sector-wide impacts and educator wellbeing. Learn More
Partner With Us
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with organizations across New York and the nation. If you’re interested in partnering on research, evaluation, or policy analysis to elevate the voices of children, families, and educators, please contact Sara Amadon, executive director, at samadon@bankstreet.edu.