The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute is a free repository of scholarly research and data about veterans and the programs and policies that affect them. The mission of the Institute, which is housed within RAND—a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization—is to leverage decades of research, expertise, and strategic partnerships to enhance the lives of America’s veterans, their families, and their caregivers.
The Institute’s approach is grounded in empirical data and rigorous analysis, providing insights that policymakers, organizations, and communities can trust and implement. In collaboration with its partners at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, RAND experts brought renewed attention to America’s hidden heroes—military and veteran caregivers—through research reports, public events, commentary, and Congressional testimony.
RAND experts worked with The Heinz Endowments to help ensure that federal and non-profit veteran employment transition assistance programs are effective and sustainable, while also identifying ways to improve the military-to-civilian transition process.
In addition, the Institute released numerous studies to improve the lives of America’s veterans including single-parent veteran households and veteran families, while research on respiratory health and alternative drug treatments sought to promote veteran well-being.
Research has also revealed how important state-level policies are for veteran health and wellness.
As an example, a recent study showed how critical state and local policy can be in addressing veteran suicide. RAND experts worked with the New York Health Foundation to conduct an in-depth investigation about the needs of new veterans in that state and offered ways that local policymakers and organizations could continue to work to improve the lives of veterans there. The study serves as a model for other state and local government entities.
Veterans can sign up to attend webinars and receive new RAND research findings via a free bi-monthly webinar series with an overview of a research topic and a discussion with experts. Recordings of recent webinars, which include discussions about transition and veteran families, are also available on the website under Research and Policy Insights. Veterans can sign up for the Institute’s newsletter to receive information about new research and upcoming events by simply adding their email address at the bottom of the Homepage and clicking on Subscribe.
