Get Updates
Mathematica Named Outstanding Contractor of the Year by
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Award Recognizes Reviews of Home Visiting, Pregnancy Prevention Programs
Contact: Amy Berridge, (609) 945-3378
WASHINGTON, D.C.—November 30, 2010—Mathematica Policy Research—a nonpartisan research firm providing a full range of research and data collection services for federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector organizations—received the 2010 Outstanding Contractor Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Diane Paulsell, associate director of human services research, accepted the award for Mathematica from David Hansell, acting assistant secretary of ACF, during a ceremony today in Washington, D.C.
ACF recognized Mathematica for systematic reviews of the research evidence on two projects: home visiting programs to improve parenting skills and help alleviate child abuse and neglect, and teen pregnancy prevention programs.
Barbara Devaney, senior vice president, said, “Mathematica is incredibly proud to receive this award. We worked diligently in order to assess the quality of research and evaluation findings to help local, state, and federal programs use research in decision making. Using the resources of our recently launched Center for Improving Research Evidence, our systematic evidence reviews objectively determined what works and what doesn’t in these two critically important areas—home visiting and teen pregnancy prevention programs. Our findings can make a real difference in helping policymakers shape programs to safeguard the welfare of infants, toddlers, and teenagers.”
Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE)
Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) was launched in fall 2009 to review the home visiting research literature and assess the evidence of effectiveness for home visiting programs serving families with pregnant women and young children. Mathematica is conducting the review with guidance from a DHHS interagency working group. The review uses innovative research and evaluation tools to determine which programs improve child and maternal health, as well as children’s development and school readiness, reduce family violence, and encourage positive parenting skills. The project gained visibility after health care reform provided funding for states to establish evidence-based home visiting programs for at-risk pregnant women and young children. Diane Paulsell and Sarah Avellar, senior researcher, lead the project.
Pregnancy Prevention Research Evidence Review
Mathematica conducted a systematic evidence review of research on programs to reduce teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors. We designed and conducted an extensive literature search, issued a public call for studies, assessed the quality of the research evidence, and identified program models with evidence of effectiveness. Findings from the review were released in spring 2010 in conjunction with the federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, which provides grant funding to states and local organizations. The review identified 28 models eligible for replication under the initiative. These 28 models were also highlighted as examples of evidence-based programs in the 2010 State Personal Responsibility Education Program grant announcement. Brian Goesling, senior researcher, Christopher Trenholm, associate director of health research, and Silvie Colman, researcher, served as lead staff on the project.
Mathematica Policy Research, a nonpartisan research firm, provides a full range of research and data collection services, including program evaluation and policy research, survey design and data collection, research assessment and interpretation, and program performance/data management, to improve public well-being. Its clients include federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, N.J., Ann Arbor, Mich., Cambridge, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C., has conducted some of the most important studies of disability, health care, education, family support, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs.