The Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy was created in 2012 as an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)4 organization that recognized the importance of the Congressional Social Work Caucus and sought to complement its mission and work in accordance to the rules of the United States House of Representatives. Former Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns, who founded the Congressional Social Work Caucus during the 110th Congress in 2010, assisted in the creation of CRISP and holds the position as its Chair of its Advisory Board.