FAQ

The Self-Sufficiency Research Clearinghouse (SSRC) is designed to collect, catalogue and disseminate quality research and resources relevant to researchers and professionals invested in the self-sufficiency of low-income families and individuals. The SSRC was launched on February 15, 2012 to provide a central hub for the exchange of information between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. The SSRC Library collection is constantly growing and evolving. ICF administers the SSRC.

Please refer to the remainder of the FAQs in this section. If you don’t find what you are seeking, we welcome your inquiries, ideas and suggestions. Please email us at [email protected] to share your thoughts.

There are two paths of navigation through the SSRC: Browse Topics and Search Library.

Use the Browse Topics link to view different types of available information in a topic of interest to you. Subcategories and “areas of interest” are available for each of the main topical areas to help you narrow your search. Features such as “Voices from the Field” and “Featured Resource” will also enhance your experience.

Use the Library to look for a specific piece of research or to create a layered search with different search terms (such as author, year of publication, topic and subtopic). Here, you can also search for materials by type of document. Should you require additional support, a “Can’t Find What You’re Looking For?” feature offers assistance.

The types of resources available include: Research Reports and Papers, Journal Articles and Book Chapters, Practitioner Briefs, Research Briefs and Fact Sheets, Policy Briefs and Fact Sheets, Government Reports, Dissertations, White Papers, Annotated Bibliographies, Research Methods Papers, Databases Available for Public Use, Legislation, and Products of the SSRC.

As a national clearinghouse, the SSRC collection includes research and resources gathered from a wide range of sources including: Major initiatives funded by OPRE, Research and Think Tank Institutions; Independent and University-Based Research Centers; Federal, State and Local Governments and Agencies; Poverty and Self-Sufficiency Research Centers; Child and Family Policy Centers; Foundations; Advocacy Organizations; and, other Research Clearinghouses.

In addition, SSRC users may submit research and resources for inclusion in the SSRC collection. Submitted materials must pass a review of relevancy and quality in order to become publicly available through the SSRC. For more information on submitting materials, please click here.

All resources on the SSRC should be treated as copyrighted materials. If you are using a journal article as a resource, remember to fully cite the original article and author. If you are using a stakeholder resource in a presentation or program, remember to note where the resource is from.

Visitors should cite the original authors or editors of materials accessed through the SSRC. Citations should be formatted in accordance with the requirements of your audience. Options include:

• APA Style (American Psychological Association)
• U.S. Government Printing Office Guidelines (GPO)
• MLA (Modern Language Association)
• Chicago Style Guide

APA or GPO will most likely be the preferred style for topics surrounding self-sufficiency. If you need additional help formatting citations try searching University websites for style guides and Frequently Asked Questions (for example see: Purdue OWL).

The SSRC Library collection is constantly growing and evolving. We are especially interested to receive recommendations for Library resources we may be missing. If you know of such a resource, please submit it. Submitted materials must pass a review of relevancy and quality in order to become publicly available through the SSRC.