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The 23rd Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) will be held May 20-22, 2026, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.
RECS is a forum for researchers, state and local administrators, practitioners, and federal officials and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge research on programs, policies, and services that support families on the path to economic self-sufficiency. RECS 2026 will provide an opportunity to hear the latest research findings, discuss ways to incorporate findings into the design and implementation of programs, and identify future research needs. The conference is being planned as an in-person event with select sessions shared virtually.
The RECS Call for Proposals is now closed. Thank you for your submissions! Session acceptance decisions will be shared by March 2026, and additional conference updates will be shared in the coming months.
Learn more about the conference.
Learn More About RECS
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About
The Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) is a biennial conference convened by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
RECS provides an opportunity to hear the latest findings from evaluations of human services and employment programs and policies, discuss ways to incorporate findings into the design and implementation of programs, and identify future evaluation needs.
Past conferences have featured sessions on the following topics:
- TANF programs, policies, and populations
- Employment and mobility in the labor market
- Youth well-being and the transition to adulthood
- Strengthening families, fatherhood, marriages, and relationships
- Evaluating social programs, building evidence, and using data
- Approaches to alleviate poverty and expand opportunity
RECS is free and open to the public. The conference is intended for a broad audience, including researchers, state and local administrators, practitioners, and federal officials and policymakers. While conference sessions focus on research and evaluation, they have policy and practice applications. At previous conferences, a number of sessions were designed to support policymakers and practitioners in understanding, developing, and applying research to their work. Continuing education units are not offered at RECS. For questions, please contact us by email.
Hotel and Travel
HOTEL INFORMATION
RECS 2026 will be held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. The hotel is centrally located in downtown Washington, DC, and provides easy access to local transportation, airports, and train stations. For more information, please visit the Capital Hilton website.
For your convenience‚ a block of rooms has been reserved at the per diem rate for RECS attendees. The room rate is $276 per night (single or double occupancy), plus applicable state and local taxes which are currently 15.95%. To receive this rate, attendees must make reservations with the hotel by Monday, April 27, 2026. After April 27, 2026‚ reservations will be accepted on a space available basis and may be at a significantly higher rate.
Attendees can make hotel reservations online or by phone. To make reservations online, visit the hotel's online reservation system . To make hotel reservations by phone, contact the Capital Hilton at (202) 393-1000 and use the group name RECS 2026 when making your reservations to receive the discounted room rate. You will be asked to provide a valid credit card number at the time of reservation to hold your room. Please use this opportunity to express your room preferences. The hotel will assign specific room types upon check-in‚ based on availability. Upon check-in you will be required to present a valid credit card to cover your accommodations and incidental charges during your stay.
Capital Hilton Address: 1001 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
TRAVEL INFORMATION
AIR TRAVEL INFORMATION
Three major airports serve the Washington, DC area: Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI). The most convenient airport to the meeting location is DCA‚ located approximately four miles from the Capital Hilton , and accessible via public transit. IAD is located approximately 28 miles from the hotel, and BWI is located approximately 33 miles from the hotel.
TRAIN TRAVEL INFORMATION
Amtrak
Amtrak service is available into Washington, DC, via Union Station (WAS). Amtrak is a convenient option for many people who will be traveling from various points along the East Coast. To make Amtrak reservations, call (800) USA-RAIL or visit the Amtrak website
.
MARC Train
MARC Train Service is also available from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area into Washington, DC, via Union Station. Most MARC Train Service operates Monday through Friday only. Tickets can be purchased at Quik Trak machines, Amtrak Ticket Agents, Commuter Direct Ticket Agents, or online at Commuter Direct
. For more information, visit the MARC Train website
.
Metro
The Capital Hilton is accessible via Washington, DC's Metro system. The closest Metro stop is the Farragut North station on the Red line (0.2 miles). The next closest Metro stop is the McPherson Square station on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines (0.3 miles). The Metro Rail System map
(PDF) can help you navigate your way through the DC Metro system. Use the trip planner
on the Metro Rail website for detailed directions and service alerts.
TAXI INFORMATION
Taxi stands are located near the baggage claims of all area airports and at the front entrance of Union Station. Approximate one-way fares to the hotel are as follows:
- From Reagan National Airport (DCA) - $25
- From Dulles International Airport (IAD) - $95
- From Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) - $120
- From Union Station - $15
RIDESHARE INFORMATION
Lyft and Uber pickup areas are at the following locations:
- Reagan National Airport (DCA) — For Terminal 1, the pickup area is on the third (outer) curb. Terminal 2 pickup is available at the Baggage Claim/Arrivals level (first floor) in zones 1-4.
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) — The passenger pickup curb on the lower level outside of the baggage claim, accessible via doors 2, 4, or 6.
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) — The pickup area is located at the terminal curbs on the Upper Level/Departures.
- Union Station — Lyft/Uber can pick up outside of Union Station or in the Kiss and Ride/Cell Phone Waiting Area located in the Union Station Parking Garage.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
You can use Google Maps to customize your driving directions from your location. The Capital Hilton offers valet parking for $59/day. Additionally, there are parking garages and above-ground parking lots within close proximity of the hotel.
FAQ
Recs 2026 Information
When and where will RECS 2026 be held?
The Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) will be held Wednesday, May 20 through Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Capital Hilton located at 1001 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.
How do I make a hotel reservation?
For your convenience‚ a block of rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate for RECS attendees at the Capital Hilton. Visit the Hotel and Travel page for more information.
Can I attend RECS 2026 virtually?
RECS 2026 is being planned primarily as an in-person event. However, select sessions will be livestreamed for virtual attendees. Additional details about in-person and virtual content will be shared closer to the conference, in 2026.
Who organizes RECS?
RECS is convened by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The American Institutes for Research (AIR), under contract to OPRE, provides coordination support to RECS 2026.
Registration
Is there a registration fee for the conference?
Registration for this event is free and open to the public.
When will registration open?
Registration for RECS will open in spring 2026. Subscribe to RECS News to receive the registration announcement and other important conference updates.
Call for Proposals
When will the Call for Proposals open for RECS 2026?
The RECS 2026 Call for Proposals is now closed. Session acceptance decisions will be shared by March 2026.
Conference Content
What topics are discussed at the conference?
The conference focuses on cutting-edge research on programs, policies, and services that support families on the path to economic self-sufficiency. Past RECS have featured presentations and discussions on topics including: TANF programs, policies, and populations; employment and mobility in the labor market; youth well-being and the transition to adulthood; strengthening families, fatherhood, marriages, and relationships; evaluating social programs, building evidence, and using data; and approaches to alleviate poverty and expand opportunity.
Who is the conference intended for?
The conference is intended for a broad audience, including state and local administrators, federal officials and policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. While conference sessions are focused on research and evaluation, they have policy and practice applications. A number of sessions are designed to support policymakers and practitioners in understanding, developing, and applying research. Organizations represented at RECS 2024 included the federal government, nonprofits, universities, research firms, state and local governments, and philanthropies.
Can I earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for attending the conference?
CEUs are not offered at RECS.
General Questions
How can I stay updated on RECS 2026?
You can subscribe to RECS News to receive updates. You can also follow OPRE on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn .
Whom do I contact with additional questions?
Please email RECS@air.org with any questions about the conference.