This report examines three policy options New Jersey could consider to expand coverage for individuals who are left out of federal programs due to their immigration status or because they cannot afford coverage. The options are a Basic Health Program (BHP), a Medicaid Buy-In, and a state-run Public Option.
Topic
Public Policy Practicums
Understanding Attrition in New Jersey’s Teacher Preparation Pipeline
The teacher pipeline in New Jersey reflects both national trends and state-specific structural conditions. Enrollment in EPPs has declined, and completion rates have dropped over time, mirroring broader national patterns of teacher attrition and shortages. At the same time, alternative certification pathways (CE and Limited CE) have reshaped entry into the profession. Policy changes in New Jersey have also influenced the dynamics of the teacher pipeline.
Building Pathways into Behavioral Health Careers for Men of Color
NYC Men Heal is a workforce development pilot program, to be implemented by the Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) in the Fall of 2026. The program is designed to support men of color (MoC) in building rewarding careers in behavioral health professions, including social work and mental health counseling.
The New Jersey Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights: An Implementation Analysis from the Perspective of Immigrant Workers
At the request of Lazos América Unida, the student research team explored the implementation of the DWBoR. The team conducted a document review of New Jersey materials and the experiences of three comparative states. The document review was complemented by insights from key stakeholders and domestic workers to assess how the protections enshrined in the law have been implemented in practice.
Addressing Homelessness: A Comparative Analysis of State Policies, Funding, and Responses
This report was developed for the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness (NJCEH) as part of a Rutgers University — New Brunswick Master of Public Policy Practicum to examine how New Jersey compares to selected peer states in allocating and structuring state funding for homeless services, responding to federal funding changes, and addressing issues related to the criminalization of homelessness.
Addressing Cell Phone Use in Schools: A National Landscape of Policies and Practices
The purpose of this report is to provide data-driven findings to help inform the regulation of cellphone use in schools. This research was conducted from January to May 2025 by graduate students at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University as part of a semester-long practicum led by Dr. Carl Van Horn, Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development.
Building Capacity to Support New Jersey Autism Professionals
The purpose of this report is to inform the organization’s advocacy efforts to maximize the capacity of services provided to individuals with autism in New Jersey. This research examines two professions within the autism professional workforce landscape – behavior analysts and psychiatrists – of New Jersey and two comparable states, selected by Autism New Jersey.
Understanding Awareness and Perceptions of Palliative Care
Conducted in partnership with the Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey (GOCCNJ) and the Rutgers Cancer Institute (CINJ), the research aims to inform patient-facing education, identify barriers to care, and support equitable implementation of New Jersey’s Medicaid palliative care initiative. D
Analyzing Short-Term Involuntary Commitment Policy in New Jersey
Larissa Garcia, Maia Hill, Stephen Keffer, Awn Rizvi, Raisa Rubin-Stankiewicz, Vee Yeo Read Report At the request of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP), Rutgers graduate student researchers from the School produced a report to analyze P.L. 2023, c.139 which doubles...
New Jersey’s Career and Technical Education System: A Comparative Analysis Across States
Bauyrzhan Amanov, Belen Conde, Yanzhen Guan, Jessica Parineet, Cecilia Salazar Read Report New Jersey’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) system delivers valuable career-focused education and work-based learning to over 45,000 full-time secondary students. CTE...