This brief describes a continuum of research and evaluation approaches that could help program leaders and staff create more robust programs offering coordinated services to low-income parents and their children. The brief can also help program funders plan descriptive research and evaluation that can inform program development and identify which programs are ready for an assessment of impacts. The brief first discusses how to build a foundation for data-informed program improvement, including how to use program data to assess whether the program is working as its leaders and staff envision. Then, it discusses how research partners can be helpful in supporting program development based on analysis of program data. As programs develop data systems and program services, a descriptive study can examine the types, intensity, and quality of program services across several programs. This will yield a picture of similarities and differences across program models that aim to support low-income parents and their children. Programs that have engaged in data-informed program improvement may be ready to participate in an impact evaluation, so in the final section, we present criteria to help program leaders and funders assess the readiness of a program for an impact evaluation. (author abstract)