#2026APPAM Policy Areas

Policy Areas

Submissions are being solicited in the following policy areas for the #2026APPAM. Every session during the conference will be categorized into one of these primary policy areas.

Keyword Program Flags: Submitters may select up to three keywords that best describe their submission topic. These selections will be used as program flags so conference attendees can narrow their search by more than just the broad policy areas below. Session filters will be available in the Online Program and in the conference mobile app. Keywords are an optional new feature and will not be used as part of the review process.

• Crime, Justice, and Drugs (CRIME) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Drug use and legalization, incarceration effects, prisoner outcomes, police and court processes, international crime, black markets, corruption, rehabilitation programs, recidivism, human rights abuses, etc. May overlap with Employment and Training Programs on prisoner re-entry and job training.

• Education (EDU)
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Head Start, pre-K, kindergarten, elementary education, high school, college, student loans, school and teacher accountability, disadvantaged students, charter schools, grants and financial aid, teacher evaluation and effectiveness, curriculum, student achievement and attainment, class size and composition, after school and summer programs, Veterans (GI Bill), arts and culture programs in schools, etc.

• Employment and Training Programs (EMP)
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Unemployment, underemployment, re-training programs, veterans transition to civilian careers, workplace accommodation for persons with disabilities, earned income tax credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit, unemployment insurance, internships, apprenticeships, outsourcing, etc. May overlap with Social Equity on affirmative action and diversity hiring programs. May overlap with Crime and Drugs on prisoner re-entry and job training.

• Family and Child Policy (CHILD)
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Marriage and marriage education, child support enforcement, child care access, child care subsidies and quality, infants and toddlers, child wellbeing, parental education and employment, vulnerable children and families, school readiness, intergenerational mobility, childhood hunger, family resource and income management, familial immigration concerns, single parent and child custody issues, family planning, etc.

• Health Policy (HEALTH) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), barriers to health care access, wellness programs for aging populations and persons with disabilities, rehabilitation programs for veterans, obesity and nutrition (exclusive of SNAP and WIC), reproductive health, health care costs, physician behaviors, health literacy, alcohol, drug and tobacco use, arts programs as rehabilitation, etc.

• Housing, Community Development, and Urban Policy (HOUSE) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Housing stipends, Section-8 housing, community development plans to alleviate crime and poverty, foreclosures, home ownership, relocation assistance, Federal Housing Assistance Loans (FHAs), mortgage assistance, home owner and rental insurance, veterans housing programs, etc.

• Innovations in Science and Technology (SCI) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Science as evidence in policymaking, resource allocation related to science, technology, innovation and economic development; knowledge management within and across organizations national borders, etc.

• Methods and Tools of Analysis (METH) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Methods of analysis, big data, new and existing data sources, data comparisons, program monitoring tools and dashboards, data collection and structuring, research design, policy informatics, computational modeling, system dynamics, data visualization, applications of analytic methods, evidence-based decision making, estimating causal effects, assessing bias, etc.

• National & Homeland Security and Crisis Management (SEC) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: core security issues such as traditional intelligence and defense analysis, international security problems in general, homeland security, disaster, crisis, and emergency preparedness and management, and emerging issues such as peace operations and intricacies of information warfare.

• Natural Resource, Energy, and Environmental Policy (ENV) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Energy options and use, new sources of energy, pollution, waterways, conservation efforts, protected land and species, natural resource scarcity and management, green economies, land reform, climate change, sustainability, etc.

• Politics, Media, and the Policy Process (POL) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Energy options and use, new sources of energy, pollution, waterways, conservation efforts, protected land and species, natural resource scarcity and management, green economies, land reform, climate change, sustainability, etc.

• Population and Migration Issues (POP) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Immigration trends, culture, population growth and decline, aging populations, policy reactions to demographic changes, minority and immigrant migration, labor migration across borders, etc.

• Poverty and Income Policy (POV) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Food insecurity, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, Home Energy Assistance Programs (HEAP), welfare, school breakfast and lunch programs, personal retirement planning and income, impacts on poverty and inequality, the Great Recession outcomes, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), poverty reduction programs, savings and asset accumulation, disaster assistance, veterans assistance, disability programs including Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, international development, etc.

• Public and Nonprofit Management and Finance (PM) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Performance management, citizen assessments of public performance, measuring efficacy of federal, state and local programs, block grants, intergovernmental finance, nonprofit management and finance, program implementation, citizen engagement, tax policy, knowledge management, public information sharing, budget cuts, government priorities, etc.

• Social Equity and Race (SEQ) 
  This policy area includes, but is not limited to, research on the following issues: Gender (including transgender and non-binary gender identification), race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration and LGBTQ issues, affirmative action and diversity programs, etc. May have overlap with Employment and Training Programs on affirmative action and diversity hiring programs.