Policy Briefs

YIP's policy briefs provide clear, nonpartisan summaries of key national issues and policies. Designed for accessibility, they distill complex topics into concise, understandable analyses, bridging the gap between intricate policy debates and a broad audience. These briefs embody our commitment to informed, unbiased discourse, crucial for fostering a well-informed public and encouraging active engagement in policy discussions.

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Briefs harmonize diverse political perspectives in policy teams of 4-6 for insightful policy solutions.

Recent Policy Briefs

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Fuel Efficiency Standards

Environmental Policy

Zaina Nasir

This brief examines recent changes to U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and their implications for vehicle affordability, household fuel costs, and transportation emissions. It evaluates the tradeoffs between reducing regulatory burdens on consumers and manufacturers and maintaining long-term fuel-efficiency and emissions goals, and outlines policy options.

Nurse Shortages in U.S. Public Schools

Public Health Policy

Anika Agrawal, Adithi Balaji, Chiara Yeung, Arabella Go, Lauren Gonzalez-Perez, Menata Abel

School nurses provide essential health services to students, yet access to full-time school nursing remains uneven across the United States. Rural schools and districts with limited resources face particular staffing challenges. This brief examines the causes and consequences of school nurse shortages, evaluates existing federal and state responses, and considers policies that could expand sustainable access to school nursing services.

History of FEMA

Environmental Policy

Zaina Nasir

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, plays a central role in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation across the United States, making its funding, staffing, and organizational structure critical to community resilience. This policy brief examines current changes to FEMA, the risks of reduced federal disaster capacity, and policy options for strengthening prevention, individual assistance, staffing, and youth-focused disaster preparedness.

Tracking Cyclospora: Food Safety, Outbreak Response, and Policy Reform

Public Health Policy

Adithi Balaji, Anika Agrawal, Ava Szajnuk, Arabella Go, Menata Abel, Chiara Yeung, Natro Mia, Lauren Gonzalez-Perez

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a foodborne parasite causing a major stomach illness outbreak across the US, heavily linked to contaminated lettuce and salad greens. Record case numbers have exposed large gaps in how federal and state health agencies track and prioritize food safety. This brief analyzes the current government response, evaluates safety steps, and offers policy solutions to improve future food tracking and outbreaks.

The Russification of Belarus

Foreign Policy

Alicia Li Sa Sigan, Kate Chu, Krithik Elango, Morgan Spillane, Chase Trentacosta, Sophie Chan, Caroline Zhou

This brief examines the Russification of Belarus and its implications for regional stability and international security. It analyzes the current crisis and also evaluates the broader consequences of Belarusian sovereignty and dependence on Russia, as well as the lasting effects on Eastern Europe and international affairs.

Attacks on Relief Workers in South Sudan

Rapid Response

Aisha Foday, Isabel Mylnarsky, Preet Shukla, Evan Kung, Lediya Kajer, Alishba Syed

This brief will cover the growing violence against humanitarian personnel in South Sudan, including the scale, drivers of the killings, and the humanitarian and political consequences of shrinking access.