For decades, CPR has conducted rigorous research into policies and programs that create measurable change for children and families
Research That Changes Lives
About Us
Founded in 1981 by Dr. Jessica Pearson, the Center for Policy Research (CPR) is a Denver-based nonprofit dedicated to research, evaluation, and technical assistance that helps strengthen public systems and expand opportunity for families facing economic and social barriers.
Partnering with federal and state agencies, courts, and community organizations, CPR combines rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods with a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and centering the lived experiences of those most affected by policy decisions.
Publication Spotlight
DEC
2025
Authored by National Fatherhood Initiative® and CPR, this report updates NFI’s landmark 2006 study by examining federal spending associated with father-absent households. Using federal budget data and the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the report finds that in 2018 the U.S. spent $154.2 billion—about 4% of the federal budget—across 14 major assistance programs supporting children and mothers in father-absent households, a 54.5% increase since 2006. The report makes the economic case for investing in low-income fathers through preventive policies—such as paid family leave, workforce training, expanded tax credits, and evidence-based fatherhood program—to strengthen families, reduce child poverty, and lower long-term taxpayer costs.
