Many human services programs require that applicants complete a series of steps — from providing eligibility to arranging transportation and child care — in order to benefit from services. Program designers often assume that individuals carefully consider their options and make the best decisions for their personal circumstances. Over the past 30 years, however, innovative behavioral science research has demonstrated that human decision-making can be imperfect and imprecise. People — clients and program administrators alike — procrastinate, get overwhelmed by information and choices, miss details, rely on mental shortcuts, and are influenced by even minor changes in the environment. As a result, both program operators and participants may not always achieve their goals, reducing the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs.

The Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS) project, led by MDRC and sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was the first major effort to view programs for low-income U.S. families through the lens of behavioral science. From 2010 to 2016, the BIAS project used insights from behavioral science to design and test 15 interventions with nearly 100,000 participants across seven states. The results of these random assignment tests demonstrated the promise of using principles of behavioral science to improve human services program outcomes. BIAS interventions increased on-time child care subsidy renewals and working families’ use of high-quality child care; boosted the frequency of child support payments and modification requests; and fostered engagement in social service activities like welfare-to-work programs.

Following the success of these 15 initial trials, ACF launched the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency-Next Generation (BIAS-NG) project in 2015, to delve further into the potential applications of behavioral science to human services. BIAS-NG is led by MDRC in collaboration with MEF Associates, Child Trends, Public Strategies, and top university scholars.