This symposium will focus on a study of research utilization by legislators in two states—one of the most politically polarized and one of the least politically polarized states in the nation. In the first round of 106 face-to-face interviews, legislators nominated colleagues who were exemplar research users, relationship builders, and youth and family champions. In the second round, interviews were conducted of 88 legislators who were nominated as exemplars, with an 83% response rate in a field where response rates of 20% are typical and 30% are considered good. This presentation will focus on 24 interviews (89% response rate) of exemplar youth and family champions. The symposium will cover legislators’ perceptions of the role that research and relationships with colleagues play in championing youth and family issues and how both are affected by partisan polarization. The findings include the best practices these exemplars use to advance youth and family policies, such as how they frame issues and their preferences for using data or stories to engage their colleagues. Implications will be drawn for professionals interested in using research to build better public policy for families. Ample time will be devoted to discussion.

Objectives

(1)    To explain state legislators’ perceptions of how youth and family issues are advanced by research and relationships with colleagues, and how both are affected by partisan polarization; (2) To identify best practices used by legislators, who are exemplar champions of youth and family issues, to engage their colleagues in supporting youth and family issues, and (3) To draw implications of the study’s findings for professionals interested in using research to build better public policy for families.