Selected Web Resources

(Note - Annotations supplied from web sites).

U.S. Census Bureau: Poverty in the United States
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html

American Fact Finder http://factfinder.census.gov/
Your source for population, housing, economic, and geographic data!

U.S. Census Bureau: State and County Quick Facts
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/
Use the pop-up menus to select state information.  Also, look for the link Browse More Datasets to find social and economic statistics for your state.  

Rural Policy Research Institute http://www.rupri.org
The Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) conducts policy-relevant research and facilitates public dialogue to assist policymakers in understanding the rural impacts of public policies and programs.  On this site, look for the link under Centers to the Rural Poverty Research Center.

Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)  http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/
The Institute for Research on Poverty, located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a national, university-based center for research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Frequently asked questions about poverty with related statistics include how is poverty measured, who is poor, how many children are poor, and what are good sources of information on basic trends in poverty, welfare, and related issues? Other useful links from this site can be found at http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/povlinks.htm.

Joint Center for Poverty Research http://www.jcpr.org/
The Northwestern University / University of Chicago Joint Center for Poverty Research supports academic research that examines what it means to be poor and live in America. JCPR concentrates on the causes and consequences of poverty in America and the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing poverty. Our goal is to advance what is known about the economic, social and behavioral factors that cause poverty, and to establish the actual effects of interventions designed to alleviate poverty. The Center's research agenda focuses on: changing labor markets and the causes of inequality in the current labor market; family functioning and the well-being of children; the impact of concentrated urban poverty; and the effects in these domains - and others - of changing policy and new programs.  

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities http://www.cbpp.org/
This nonpartisan research group analyzes federal, state and local government policies affecting low- and moderate-income Americans.

Changing America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-being by Race and Hispanic Origin  http://www.access.gpo.gov/eop/ca/index.html
This internet report, prepared by the Council of Economic Advisors for the President's Initiative on Race, covers social-economic conditions faced by African, Latino, Asian, and Native American groups. There is data covering general population, education, employment, income and poverty, health, crime, and housing.

Children's Defense Fund (CDF)  http://www.childrensdefense.org
CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick or into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundations, corporation grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds. Useful information may be found by using the site's Search feature or by using the Site Index.  

Economic Policy Institute http://www.epinet.org/
The Economic Policy Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy.  The mission of the Economic Policy Institute is to provide high-quality research and education in order to promote a prosperous, fair, and sustainable economy. The Institute stresses real world analysis and a concern for the living standards of working people, and it makes its findings accessible to the general public, the media, and policy makers.

The Urban Institute  http://www.urban.org
Founded in 1968, the Urban Institute is a nonpartisan, economic and social policy research organization. Its mission is to sharpen thinking about society's problems and efforts to solve them, improve government decisions and their implementation, and increase citizens' awareness about important public choices. Useful information may be found by using the web site's Search feature or by browsing under Research (What's New and by Topic).

The Heritage Foundation  http://www.heritage.org
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Useful information may be found by using the web site's Search feature or by using the Key Issues pop-up menu (e.g. family, welfare, etc).

Family Research Council: Family Faith and Freedom  http://www.frc.org
The Family Research Council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization. The Family Research Council exists to reaffirm and promote nationally, and particularly in Washington, DC, the traditional family unit and the Judeo-Christian value system upon which it is built. Useful information may be found by following the links Issues in Depth or Family Policy.

Poverty Guidelines, Research and Measurement  
http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/
This government site produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation provides links for information about poverty guidelines. Additional links lead to other institutions and organizations.

Selected Reference Sources

Selected Library of Congress Subject Headings (Search on McQuest)

• Poor Children United States
• Poor Children United States Case Studies
• Poor Women
• Poverty
• Rural Poor
• Urban Poor
• Welfare Recipients
• Homelessness  
• United States Rural Conditions
• United States Social Policy
• Social Classes United States

Search Sociology Databases for journal articles (Citations and/or Full-Text)

Created by:
Roger Myers
Assistant Professor and Reference Instruction Librarian
And
Dr. Barbara Wells
Associate Professor of Sociology
Last Update: February 4, 2009