What we do

The RAPID Survey Project is a program of national and place-based surveys designed to gather essential information on the experiences, well-being, resiliency and needs of young children and the adults who care for them. Created in 2020, the RAPID survey provides actionable data on the experiences and well-being of the important adults in young children’s lives to inform immediate and long-term program and policy decisions.

The project consists of two national surveys of families with children under age 6 and child care providers (launched in April 2020 and February 2021, respectively), community surveys across the U.S., and a statewide survey in California. Additional communities and states are in the planning phase.

National Data Collection

We employ an innovative study design in which we recruit and collect initial data from first-time participants on an ongoing basis while also fielding monthly surveys to collect data from participants who continue to engage in the study. In this way, we can continuously add participants to the study, collect snapshots of data across time, and assess trends longitudinally. Our household and child care provider surveys are national in scope, though not technically nationally representative.

Statewide Surveys

The RAPID-California voices project aims to survey 10,000 families with young children across the state from 2022-2025. Initiated in November 2022, this multi-year, statewide survey of households with young children aims to better understand the experiences and needs of families, amplify parent voices, and promote data- and parent-informed policies and programs.

Community Voices Projects

RAPID partners with cities, counties, and states across the U.S. to listen to parents and caregivers with children under age 6. Their voices and experiences provide snapshots of what life is like for those raising young children in communities across the country and help to spot national trends. The goal of the project is to lift up parent voices to inform local policies and programs that support families.

Through the Community Voices Project, we field place-based surveys in communities across the U.S. in partnership with trusted local organizations. Partnering organizations share a demand for actionable, timely and relevant community-level data on the experiences, needs, use of programs and resources, well-being of adults in the lives of young children. Community partners and RAPID collaborate to co-design a data collection plan and survey content, implement locally led recruitment strategies, and analyze, understand, and communicate the results. We aim to amplify parent voices locally, complement existing data collection, and build local capacity to transform data and caregiver voices to action.