How We Are Making a Difference: Stories of Impact
At the American Institutes for Research® (AIR®), we help turn good ideas into real results. We work alongside government leaders, businesses, and communities to develop practical, research-backed solutions that strengthen the economy, improve schools and job training programs, and make healthcare work better for everyone.
From boosting workforce participation to supporting safe, reliable care, we focus on what works—helping decisionmakers invest wisely and improve people’s lives. Here are just a few ways AIR is making a difference.
Workforce
Growing Future Talent by Building and Expanding Apprenticeship Pathways and Programs
Registered Apprenticeship Programs can help employers fill high-growth and high-need jobs and prepare workers to fill those roles. AIR works to strengthen apprenticeship systems—focusing on helping partners build, expand, and sustain programs over time.
Helping Workers Stay Employed After Injury or Illness
When workers face illness or injury, staying employed can be challenging—but the right support makes all the difference. AIR partners with states to implement innovative programs that help workers return to their jobs safely, keeping businesses strong and families financially stable.
Harnessing AI to Build a Skilled, Competitive Workforce
AIR is pioneering AI-driven learning solutions to make workforce training more personalized, scalable, and effective. In partnership with Per Scholas and the University of Memphis, AIR piloted Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) to support IT job training—helping workers gain real-world skills faster, reducing barriers to learning, and preparing them for success in high-demand careers.
Helping People Recover and Rebuild After Life-Altering Injuries
When a serious injury changes everything, clear, practical guidance can make all the difference. AIR’s Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) ensures that cutting-edge research reaches the people who need it most, by transforming complex medical findings into easy-to-use fact sheets, videos, and interactive tools. With over 4.1 million visitors across 240 countries, MSKTC is helping individuals regain independence, families navigate recovery, and healthcare providers deliver better care.
Education & Human Services
Improving Financial Skill-Building in Schools
Managing money is a critical life skill, but too many students graduate without the financial knowledge they need. Through research, policy guidance, and hands-on support, AIR helps states, districts, and national partners strengthen financial literacy instruction, so more students gain the confidence to make smart financial decisions for life.
Supporting Student Success Through Early Intervention
When students start to fall behind, early support can make all the difference. AIR’s Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS) helps schools spot warning signs like absenteeism or failing grades and act before small setbacks become serious barriers. With tools and training from AIR, schools across the country are boosting graduation rates, reducing course failures, and helping more students stay on the path to success.
Making Child Care More Affordable and Sustainable in North Carolina
By providing North Carolina with the data, tools, and strategies to make smarter investments in child care, AIR is helping families, ensuring the stability of providers, and strengthening the state’s economy.
Examining the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Progress and Promise
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the nation’s largest investments in veterans’ education and training—but is it delivering real results? AIR collaborated on the first national study of its outcomes, giving veterans and policymakers the data they need to strengthen oversight, improve programs, and support long-term success for those who served.
Health
Improving Healthcare Access and Quality in Rural America
Millions of people in rural communities face serious challenges accessing care—especially as hospitals close and provider shortages grow. AIR works with hospitals, clinicians, and policymakers to strengthen rural health through research, training, and practical tools. From evaluating Medicare payment methods to supporting opioid treatment and patient safety initiatives, our work helps ensure care remains accessible, high-quality, and close to home.
Strengthening Kidney Care: Reducing Costs, Saving Lives
Too many Americans with kidney disease miss out on early care, leading to worsening health, emergency dialysis, and avoidable Medicare costs. AIR works with Medicare, clinicians, other providers and patients with kidney disease to expand preventive care, improve treatment options, and reduce waste. By tracking dialysis trends and supporting Medicare’s innovative models, we’re working to ensure better patient outcomes and smarter spending.
Putting Patients at the Center of Care
AIR works with hospitals, providers, payers, policymakers and others to make healthcare safer, smarter, and more patient centered. From reducing hospital harm to improving antibiotic use in nursing homes, AIR helps turn complex research into practical tools that improve care, lower costs, and elevate patient voices—ensuring people are informed, supported, and heard throughout their care journey.
AIR: Turning Research into Real Results
Across the country, AIR is helping leaders tackle today’s biggest challenges with smart, practical solutions. Whether it’s expanding access to training and child care, improving health outcomes, or making public programs more effective, our work is grounded in evidence and built for real-world impact.