Federal agencies and Congress, as well as organizations with a focus on children and families, sometimes issue requests for public comment on research directions and legislation. The SRCD Office for Policy and Communications coordinates the preparation of public comments on behalf of the Society and works with other societies on public comments issued jointly in support of the broader scientific community.
SRCD Comments on Advanced Notice for Proposed Rulemaking on the Common Rule
For the first time in 20 years the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has served an advanced notice for proposed rulemaking on changes to Federal Regulations for Protection of Human Subjects. In response, SRCD convened a Task Force on Proposed Changes to the Common Rule, chaired by Celia B. Fisher. On August 20, 2012, SRCD submitted to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the Office for Human Research Protections the Task Force's detailed commentary on the implications of proposed rule changes to balanced IRB review and adequate protection of participants in child and adolescent research.
SRCD Comments on the Draft Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research
On October 14, 2010, SRCD submitted a letter to the NIH (National Institutes of Health) Obesity Research Task Force on its draft Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research. SRCD’s efforts were led by Dr. Barbara H. Fiese, Co-chair of the SRCD Committee on Policy and Communications, and a small working group of SRCD members. A number of SRCD’s recommendations were incorporated into the second Strategic Plan, including explicit support for research that addresses the important role that the family environment plays in the prevention and treatment of obesity, and explicit support for research on the relationship between food insecurity and obesity.
SRCD Responds to the Draft Research Priorities of IES, the Research Arm of the U.S. Department of Education
On September 7, 2010, SRCD submitted a letter to Dr. John Easton, the Director of the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) within the U.S. Department of Education. The letter responded to a draft of the revised IES Research Priorities—the priorities that guide IES research. After reviewing SRCD’s letter (and other letters submitted to Dr. Easton), the National Board for Education Sciences—the Board that advises Dr. Easton—passed revised Research Priorities that included several of SRCD’s recommendations.
SRCD Signs on to Letter Supporting the Inclusion of Social and Behavioral Sciences in Science Education Standards
On July 30, 2010, SRCD and 38 other scientific associations submitted a letter to the Board on Science Education (BOSE) Committee on Conceptual Framework for New Science Education Standards. BOSE is a standing board within the Center for Education, which is more broadly located within the National Academies. The committee’s development of a framework is the first step in a process for revising existing standards in K-12 science education. In a letter to the committee, SRCD and other signatories urged the committee to revise its draft framework to include social and behavioral sciences as core sciences.
SRCD Outlines Research Opportunities Related to Housing and Neighborhoods Policy
On June 4, 2010, SRCD submitted a letter to Dr. Raphael Bostic, the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In the letter, SRCD articulated ways in which HUD’s Fiscal Year 2011 research priorities might better incorporate developmental science.
SRCD Provides Comments to House Committee on Education and Labor on Education Legislation
On March 26, 2010, SRCD submitted comments to the Honorable George Miller, Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. In the letter, SRCD provided an overview on how developmental science can inform the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). ESEA, first passed in 1965, authorizes federally funded education programs that are administered by the states.
SRCD Provides Input for the Development of Basic Behavioral and Social Science Research Opportunities
On February 19, 2010, SRCD submitted recommendations for research opportunities to OppNet, the newly created Basic Behavioral & Social Science Opportunity Network. OppNet was initiated by the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Francis Collins, and endeavors to pursue opportunities for strengthening basic behavioral and social science research at NIH while innovating beyond existing investments.
SRCD Alerts Dr. Collins, the New Director of NIH, to Areas in Which Developmental Science Can Help Advance the Mission of NIH
On October 1, 2009, SRCD submitted a letter to Dr. Francis Collins, the new Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which oversees almost $30 billion per year in medical research. The letter was submitted in response to a request from Dr. Collins, who asked constituents of NIH (including scientific associations, researchers, research organizations, advocates, practitioners, patients, and others) to submit their ideas on how NIH can improve its work. SRCD’s letter added an important voice to the conversation on how NIH can capitalize on new opportunities.