Frequently Asked Questions
What do all these acronyms mean?
The National Academies are comprised of four distinguished organizations – the National Research Council (NRC), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). These non-profit organizations provide a public service by working outside the framework of government to ensure independent advice on matters of science, technology, and medicine.
What are the relationships between the Board and the NRC/IOM, and between all of these and the National Academy of Sciences?
The Board on Children, Youth, and Families was established in 1993 under the joint aegis of the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The NRC, IOM, National Academy of Engineering (NAE), and National Academy of Sciences (NAS) are the four organizations which comprise the National Academies. The NRC is the operating arm of the NAS and the NAE. Although the IOM is not a part of the formal structure of the National Research Council, its program is subject to approval by the NRC's Governing Board, and its reports are subject to the requirements of the NRC's Report Review Committee.
The NAS was established by congressional charter in 1863. The NRC, NAE, and IOM were established under the same charter in 1916, 1964, and 1970, respectively, and are all private, non-profit, self-governing membership bodies.
What is the relationship between the Board on Children, Youth, and Families and DBASSE?
The Division on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE, pronounced "dee bass") is the unit of the National Research Council (NRC) that encompasses the Board on Children, Youth, and Families.
Are your meetings open to the public?
All meetings are open to the public, unless otherwise stated in rare circumstances, such as when a committee is deliberating over final conclusions and recommendations. However, we do ask that you RSVP if you would like to attend a meeting, so that we can ensure that the meeting space is large enough to accommodate everyone who plans to attend.
How can I learn about meetings before they take place instead of after they have been held?
You can learn about Board meeting by visiting the Meetings section of our website regularly. We send invitations to meetings and information about projects to people who have indicated an interest in a particular field related to that project.
Who sits on your committees?
Most of the projects undertaken by the National Academies are conducted or overseen by expert committees. Our committees are comprised of 10-20 volunteers from a range of disciplines and sectors, with expertise pertinent to the issues under consideration. Prospective committee members are identified in a variety of ways, most of which involve suggestions from individuals considered knowledgeable in the fields in which nominees are sought. Once a list of nominees has been developed, the list is sent to the chair of the National Research Council (NRC) for approval.
The NRC procedures include specific questions and assessments at virtually every stage of a project that are designed to bring possible conflicts of interest to the surface. Two essential parts of this process are, at the time of appointment, completion of a short form on "Potential Sources of Bias" that lists professional and financial connections and indicates any positions taken in relevant public statements, and discussion of this information at the committee's first meeting. When it is difficult to find individuals with the pertinent knowledge who have not been involved previously with an issue that will come before the committee, the situation is resolved by selecting a carefully balanced group so that all points of view can be represented.
Are you a government agency?
Although the National Academies were created by the federal government to be advisers on scientific and technological matters, the National Academies are private, non-governmental organizations, and we do not receive direct federal appropriations for our work. Many of our studies are funded by government agencies, but we also receive funding from private foundations.
Are you related to the NSF or NIH?
No. The National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health are government agencies and are not related to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the National Research Council (NRC), or the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Do you award grants?
No. The Board on Children, Youth, and Families was created to provide a national focal point for authoritative, nonpartisan analysis of child, youth, and family issues relevant to policy decisions. The focus of the Board is (1) the convening of functions that foster the exchange of ideas among individuals with mutual interests, (2) large-scale studies on issues of national importance, and (3) shorter-term projects that examine time-sensitive issues.
Where does your funding come from?
We are funded by a combination of government agencies and private sponsors. Public support has come from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, and Education, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Private support has come from the California Wellness Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, the Ford Foundation, the Foundation for Child Development, the W.T. Grant Foundation, the Vira I. Heinz Endowment, the Johnson Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the National Foundation for Public Health Policy, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Smith Richardson Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation.
How are your reports reviewed and produced?
Every report produced by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine undergoes a lengthy review process. In addition to extensive review within the institution, the report is reviewed by individuals independent of the institution, who are not involved in the authoring study committee's work. A report may not be released to a sponsor or the public until the chair of the Report Review Committee, or his or her designee, signifies that the institutional review process has been satisfactorily completed. This process ensures the credibility and authority of every NRC report by subjecting it to critical review by a body of peers highly knowledgeable in the subject matter. Adherence to the review process protects against a committee taking a narrow or parochial view of a problem, or failing to consider fully or properly document data or information pertinent to the issue under review. The process is particularly aggressive in differentiating committee opinions and judgment from findings of fact well-grounded in research.
Are your reports free or for sale? And are they all on the Internet?
Limited copies of BOCYF reports are available at no cost from the Board. Please contact us at bocyf@nas.edu to check availability and request publications form the Board. You may also order copies of BOCYF reports at a discount through the National Academy Press (NAP) web site at http://www.nap.edu. Alternatively, you may call the NAP at 1-800-624-6242 (or 202-334-3313 in the DC area) for regular orders.
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