Doing Better By Knowing More

series of forums honoring the memory of Harold Richman, who, with his friend and colleague Tom Joe, founded the Center for the Study of Social Policy in 1979 and chaired its board from 2000 until his death in 2009. Harold contributed much to the field of children's and family services. His distinguished career reflected his belief that actions to improve children's and families' lives require a rigorous understanding of research and a commitment to policy innovation. Harold began his life's work as a White House Fellow This paper provides recommendations related to expanding the knowledge base necessary to improve outcomes for children, families and communities. We recognize that not everyone will agree with these ideas. We put the paper forward in the spirit of furthering discussion, prompting additional debate, and accelerating the availability of innovative, purposeful and evidence-informed strategies that can improve life outcomes for children, strengthen families, and build healthy, safe and supportive communities. We thank the many people whose ideas and experiences we draw upon in this paper. We are indebted to for their astute review and critiques of drafts of the paper. We thank Leila Fiester for her masterful editing and her unmatched ability to give clarity to the expression of complex ideas. And we salute those leaders in government, philanthropy and community initiatives who balance the related needs for innovation and evidence as they do their work every day. Finally, we appreciate the generous support of The Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation for the symposium, which they provided in recognition of Harold's many contributions to the field of children's and family services. And we honor Pastora San Juan Cafferty for her friendship with Harold and thank her for her guidance to and support of the symposium. We expect this and subsequent Harold Richman Public Policy Symposiums to be a forum for civil debate of differences, for reaching consensus when possible, and for renewing commitment to creating opportunities for all children, families and communities – all of which were markers of Harold Richman's work and life.