Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS)

The Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) is a biennial conference convened by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. RECS serves as a forum for researchers, state and local administrators, practitioners, and federal officials and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge research on programs, policies, and services that support families on the path to economic self-sufficiency. Attendees can expect to hear the latest research findings, discuss ways to incorporate these findings into program design and implementation, and identify future research needs. The conference is planned primarily as an in-person event, with select sessions shared virtually. Key topics include TANF programs, policies, and populations; employment and mobility in the labor market; youth well-being and the transition to adulthood; strengthening families, fatherhood, marriages, and relationships; evaluating social programs, building evidence, and using data; and approaches to alleviate poverty and expand opportunity. The conference is free and open to the public.