This report, which examines social service enrollment reforms in FL, PA, TX, and WA, informs the state of California and stakeholders as they consider changes in the enrollment process for public health and social services programs.
<p><b>Enriching the Envelope Experience is a design strategy for an external retrofit to revitalise existing housing. The aim is to create warmer, drier, healthier homes without having to displace the occupants.</b></p> <p>For many New Zealander’s, inefficient housing is negatively affecting occupant health and wellbeing.</p> <p>Preventable health issues place pressure on healthcare systems, costing valuable resources. The climate, housing, and healthcare crisis desperately require improvements to existing housing for warmer, healthier, and happier homes. Currently, the design of New Zealand housing is inefficient for climate resulting in uncomfortable living conditions. There is a global dependence on finite resources, and the ongoing resource use will reach capacity. Desperate attention to the environmental and economic impact is needed to sustain the precious resources. NewZealand is obligated to reach the 2050 climate goals.</p> <p>The design of buildings needs attention to mitigate the 39% carbon emissions by the construction industry and achieve net-zero carbon housing goals.</p> <p>Lengthy rebuilds require displacing people from their homes and communities and increase the demand for housing and resources. The demolition and rebuild further adds to the significant waste issue.</p> <p>Therefore, there is an opportunity to improve the existing housing stock as a readily available resource.</p> <p>The 1940s-1960s State House is a standardized housing typology mass-produced in New Zealand, and often of poor condition, it was an appropriate site to investigate for a retrofit design strategy.</p> <p>A design framework informed by sustainable design standards, case studies and understanding of the 1940s-1960s house typology directed the design process. The research outcome resulted in an external wall design strategy to improve the occupants’ home experience.</p>
Low-income students and students whose parents have not attended college typically are less likely than middle- and upper-income students to complete high school and attend college, and are thus less likely to reap the benefits of attending college. In 1965, Congress established the Talent Search Program to provide information on the high school courses students should take to prepare for college and financial aid, as well as to orient students to different types of colleges and the application process. This report presents findings from Mathematica’s study of the effectiveness of the Talent Search program in Florida, Indiana, and Texas. Based on administrative data and a quasi-experimental design to create matched comparison groups, researchers found that Talent Search participants were more likely than comparison students to apply for federal financial aid and enroll in public secondary institutions. The findings suggest that assisting low-income students to overcome information barriers may be effective in helping them achieve their aspirations to attend college. Practical information—such as guidance on how to complete financial aid and admission applications and what a college campus looks and feels like—may have been one of the key services that Talent Search projects delivered.
