Center for Innovation and Research on Choice-filled Lives

CIRCL seeks to transform systems by identifying and implementing innovative, actionable, research-based approaches that strengthen the multiple levels of the system to effectively support human development and ultimately human flourishing. Grounded in the belief that relationships are the foundation of development, our work aims to make visible and impact the relational and structural levers of systems change, inform policy and practice, disrupt generational inequities, and drive lasting improvements so that all individuals, children, families, and communities can live Choice-Filled Lives.

Current systems in the United States are not intentionally designed with the understanding that humans are social creatures whose outcomes and experiences are shaped by complex, interconnected systems, across education, policy, health, workforce, and community contexts. This compliance driven, production-centered approach to systems design has led to persistent gaps in academic, behavioral, well-being, and physical outcomes across groups with different social identities. At CIRCL, we believe that disrupting the cycle of systemic marginalization requires intentional, human-centered, relational alignment across structures, policies, individuals, and practices at multiple levels of the system. 

Our research scientists and evaluators, and global partners collaborate to conduct rigorous applied implementation science that is tied to real lived experiences and contexts, in an effort to inform and expedite research-to-practice pipeline development in the social, cognitive science, and product development sectors, with a sense of urgency around opportunity and access. We also support research projects geared toward advancing organizational capacity and impact, such as equity audits, donor prospect research, market analyses and efficiencies studies. Our Research Center also hosts our annual convening: Innovations in Research, Practice and Philanthropy. 

Are you interested in launching a research study, evaluation or other project to tell your organization‘s story and communicate your impact? Do you need support ensuring that your Deep Learning Models are free from inherent biases? Primary focus areas include:

• Short-term Intervention & Validation Studies
• Longitudinal Intervention Studies
• UX Research (Ed-Tech and Consumer Products)
• AI Bias Mitigation for LLM's
• Program and Intervention Evaluations
• Theories of Change & Logic Models
• Equity Audits 
• Landscape Analyses
• Organizational Efficiency Studies & Survey Research 
• Donor Prospect Research 
• Program/Initiative and Intervention Evaluations
• Assessment & Progress Monitoring Tool Development and Validation 
• Basic Cognitive & Developmental Studies tied to Implementation Science
• Research Reports, Policy Briefs, and White Papers, and Literature Reviews

We conduct research studies tied to implementation that have potential to make an impactful difference in children's and family's journeys toward Choice-filled Lives and eliminating opportunity gaps. In doing so, we ground all research efforts in our Research for Equity Statement.