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Office of the Assistant Secretary |
Policy Information Center |
The abstracts included in this appendix describe the evaluation reports completed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during fiscal year (FY) 1997. They are listed in alphabetical order by agency. The sponsoring agency, report title, abstract, and Federal contact person(s) are listed for each report. For more information on any of the reports, please call the contact person listed at the end of each abstract. Copies of the reports may be obtained by contacting either the Policy Information Center or the National Technical Information Service, addresses for which are given below.
Policy Information Center
Final reports for most of the evaluations listed in this appendix have been submitted to the HHS Policy Information Center (PIC), a centralized source of information on in-process, completed, and ongoing HHS evaluations; short-term evaluative research; and policy-oriented projects. The PIC maintains a resource data base containing information on more than 6,000 completed and ongoing studies sponsored by HHS, other Federal agencies, and private-sector entities. The PIC provides executive summaries (if available) at no cost.
The PIC identification number appears after the Federal contact's phone number. For information about using PIC resources, please contact:
Policy Information
Center
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and
Evaluation
Department of Health and Human Services
Room 438F, Hubert H.
Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue,
SW
Washington, DC 20201
(202) 690-6445
National Technical Information Service
The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) is an information clearinghouse run by the Department of Commerce. It provides reports in both paper and microform formats for a fee. If a final report has been registered with this service, the NTIS accession number follows the PIC ID entry. For more information about ordering copies of reports from NTIS, please contact:
National Technical
Information Service
Department of
Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA
22161
(703) 487-4650
Apendix A Divisions
Administration for Children and
Families
Agency for
Health Care Policy and Research
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Food and Drug
Administration
Health
Care Financing Administration
Health Resources and Services Administration
Indian Health Service
National Institutes of
Health
Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Office of Public Health and Science
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Contents
National Study of Protective, Preventive, and Reunification Services Delivered to Children and Their Families
Self-Sufficiency Project Implementation Manual: Lessons Learned from Eight Years of Office of Community Services Demonstration Partnership Programs
Examination of Special Needs Adoption in New York State--Phase III Report: Subsidized Adoptions in New York State, 1989-1993
Child Maltreatment 1995: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
Descriptive Study of the Head Start Health Component
Evaluation of Nine Comprehensive Community-Based Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Programs: Cross-Site Evaluation Report
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Community Coalition Acting for Positive Parenting
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Family Care Connection
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Community Coalition Acting for Positive Parenting
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of PARE (Physical Abuse and Neglect Reduction Effort)
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of North Lawndale Family Support Initiative
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Dorchester CARES
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Maine Families
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of I CARE
Responsible Fatherhood: An Overview and Conceptual Framework
Responsible Fatherhood: An Overview and Conceptual Framework
Arkansas Prenatal and Postnatal Paternity Acknowledgment Project
LEAP: Final Report on Ohio's Welfare Initiative to Improve School Attendance Among Teenage Parents- Ohio's Learning, Earning, and Parenting Program
First Progress Report on the Head Start Program Performance Measures
REPORT: National Study of Protective, Preventive, and Reunification Services Delivered to Children and Their Families
ABSTRACT: This study determined the number and percentage of children and families in the child welfare system receiving protective, preventive reunification, out-of-home care, and/or aftercare services. It also obtained national data on the number, types, and dynamics of the services provided. Case record abstracts were completed on a nationally-representative sample of 3,000 children and their families served by public child welfare agencies. A subsample was followed for a 9-month period. These findings were compared with findings from a previous study, the 1977 National Study of Social Services to Children and Their Families. The study found that (1) between 1977 and 1994, there was a dramatic decline in the number of children receiving child welfare services, reflecting the evolution of the child welfare system from a broad based social services system to one primarily serving abused and neglected children and their families; (2) the child welfare system has not evolved into an in-home family-based system from a foster care system, as had been envisioned by the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980; (3) foster care drift remains a problem, with more than one-third of the children in foster care remaining there for more than 18 months; (4) minority children, particularly African-American children, are more likely to be in foster care placement than to receive in-home services, even when they have the same characteristics and problems as white children; and (5) kinship care does not explain the dramatically longer stays in foster care for African-American and Hispanic children compared to white children. The final report for this project is also available from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information at 1-800-FYI-3366.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Penelope L. Maza
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8172
PIC ID: 3874
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Westat, Incorporated, Rockville, MD
REPORT: Self-Sufficiency Project Implementation Manual: Lessons Learned from Eight Years of Office of Community Services Demonstration Partnership Programs
ABSTRACT: The Self-Sufficiency Project Implementation Manual is a synopsis of lessons drawn from an assessment of eight years of Office of Community Services Demonstration Partnership Program (DPP) projects. DPP projects were designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of various innovative services that promote self-sufficiency among low-income individuals and families who rely on or are at risk of relying on public assistance. DPP has concentrated on five issues in their projects: (1) case management, (2) micro-enterprise development, (3) minority male employment, (4) homelessness, and (5) youth at risk. The manual presents generic models for establishing effective community-based programs in these areas. All models are presented in the form of logic models in order to provide a consistent framework for understanding. The manual also presents material on evaluating such programs. Each section of the manual is organized into general lessons learned, followed by specific lessons learned regarding each of the five project types. The manual is designed for use by community action agencies, community-based organizations, and local community program planners who are interested in developing a self-sufficiency project. (Final report: 107 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Office of Community Services
FEDERAL CONTACT: Richard Saul
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 401-9341
PIC ID: 4336.4
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: BHM International, Incorporated, Silver Spring, MD
REPORT: Examination of Special Needs Adoption in New York State--Phase III Report: Subsidized Adoptions in New York State, 1989-1993
ABSTRACT: Large urban states like New York accounted for two-thirds of the precipitous national growth in the number of children in foster care between 1986 and 1991. The growth of caseloads and the need for more concentrated permanency planning necessitates new and innovative data collection efforts related to special needs adoption. This project was initiated in order to pilot a statewide data collection system for special needs adoptions. Information was collected on characteristics of the adopted child and the adoptive family, procedural issues, and the exact nature and amount of subsidy payments provided to the adopted child. This information was collected for the entire population of children being placed in New York via both public and private agencies. The project resulted in five phase reports. This (Phase III) report contains a descriptive analysis of statistics on the number of children placed between 1989 and 1993 in New York State, the level of this support, and the nature of the children's special needs. The report finds that (1) 12,858 new adoption subsidies were approved in New York State during the study period; (2) 62 percent of children receiving an adoption subsidy in the State qualified because they were hard to place; (3) personality or behavioral problems were the most prevalent reason for a child's classification as handicapped; (4) about one-fourth of children qualified for a subsidy had physical handicaps or severe medical conditions; (5) more male than female children were adopted with a subsidy in New York State; and (6) about half of all special needs children are placed in adoptive homes headed by a single mother. See also PIC ID No. 4380. (Final report: 81 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Cecelia Sudia
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8764
PIC ID: 4380.1
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
REPORT: Child Maltreatment 1995: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
ABSTRACT: The Child Abuse and Neglect Data System collects data on child maltreatment from States, territories, and other reporting jurisdictions. This report, which presents data collected from reports of child maltreatment investigated by States in 1995, finds that (1) in 1995, more than 1 million children were identified as victims of abuse or neglect (a rate of 15 per 1,000 children); (2) about 80 percent of the perpetrators of child maltreatment were the parents of the victims, while another 10 percent were other relatives and about 2 percent were people in other caretaking roles; (3) 52 percent of victims suffered from neglect, about twice as many as were subjected to the next most frequent kind of maltreatment--physical abuse (25 percent); (3) about 13 percent of victims were sexually abused; (4) more than half of all victims were 7 years of age or younger, about 26 percent younger than 4 years old, and about 21 percent were teenagers; (5) the majority of victims of neglect and medical neglect were younger than 8 years old, while most victims of other forms of maltreatment were older than 8 years old; and (6) 45 States reported that 996 children were known by the child protection services (CPS) agency to have died as a result of abuse or neglect--most of these deaths were children 3 years of age or younger. The report also finds that (1) CPS agencies investigated nearly 2 million reports alleging maltreatment of about 3 million children (a rate of 43 per 1,000 children); (2) reports were received from professionals (53 percent), family members (19 percent), friends and neighbors (9 percent), and anonymous sources (19 percent); and (3) nationally, about 36 percent of investigations resulted in a disposition of either substantiated or indicated maltreatment, while 58 percent of allegations were not substantiated. The report is available on the Internet at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/. See also PIC ID Nos. 5387-5387.3.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Gail E. Collins
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8087
PIC ID: 5387.4
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Incorporated, Rockville, MD
REPORT: Descriptive Study of the Head Start Health Component
ABSTRACT: This study provides a description of the Head Start health component, which encompasses medical, dental, nutritional, and mental health domains. It describes health screening, examination, referral, treatment, and followup procedures across the four health domains. It reviews the case records of 1,200 4-year-olds enrolled in a national sample of 40 randomly selected Head Start programs and interviews their parents regarding the child's health status and health service utilization patterns. It also describes Head Start programs' staffing patterns and staff training, utilization of community health resources, and barriers to the provision of health services through interviews with appropriate Head Start personnel. The final report was completed in November 1996.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: James Griffin
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8138
PIC ID: 5849
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CDM Group, Incorporated, Chevy Chase, MD
REPORT: Evaluation of Nine Comprehensive Community-Based Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Programs: Cross-Site Evaluation Report
ABSTRACT: This evaluation (1) designed and implemented a process and impact evaluation of nine comprehensive community-based child abuse and neglect prevention projects funded by the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN), (2) provided technical assistance to the nine projects in meeting the requirements of the evaluation, and (3) aided the programs in their efforts to design and implement their own internal program evaluations. The evaluation was conducted in three phases over a 3-year period. The nine projects examined had up to ten service components, many of which were different across the programs. Therefore, a series of individual experimental designs were developed for each service component. Process and impact data were collected across programs and through a series of studies conducted in each site. All grantees were aided in refining their evaluation and research plans. The report provides a context for understanding the experiences of the nine projects. A literature review, an examination of study methodology, the projects' implementation experiences, an accounting of the study findings, and policy recommendations are offered. The report finds that several program elements are vital to the success of the projects. These include (1) an emphasis on community involvement and ownership, (2) employing a positive approach, (3) starting on a small scale, and (4) implementing a strong evaluation and using it as a program management tool. The report recommends that NCCAN implement several strategies to enhance the success of these kinds of projects, including (1) focusing future grant programs on more narrowly defined target populations, (2) stressing the importance of community involvement, and (3) providing to grantees with a research framework and priorities delineating key research questions on child maltreatment and requiring them to implement appropriate process and outcome evaluation designs. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851.1-5851.9.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Families First in Fairfax
ABSTRACT: This report describes Families First in Fairfax, one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. These projects were intended to provide models of collaborative, community-based strategies for effectively preventing child maltreatment. Developed by the Fairfax County, Virginia Department of Human Development, the program addresses the prevention needs of a diverse and growing multi-ethnic population. Families First in Fairfax consisted of three major components (1) public awareness and community education, (2) early identification and intervention, and (3) crisis intervention. The report finds that (1) the program being operated in Fairfax County at the end of the grant period differed substantially from the one originally proposed--a number of child abuse prevention strategies attempted during the first 2 years were ultimately discontinued; (2) the greatest barrier to program implementation during the first 2 years was a lack of specificity on how to achieve the program's mission; (3) during the last 2 years, program development was dynamic and yielded many effective strategies that were made permanent at the end of the demonstration period; (4) the demonstration program fostered growth in parenting programs, family and early infant health care programs, neighborhood resource centers, and directories of services made available to ethnic minority populations; (5) the program also encouraged increased collaboration and information sharing between the agencies and organizations working in the area of child abuse and neglect prevention; and (6) the biggest problems during the 5-year demonstration period were frequent leadership changes and staff turnover. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851 and 5851.2-5951.9. (Final report: 19 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.1
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Community Coalition Acting for Positive Parenting
ABSTRACT: This report describes the Community Coalition Acting for Positive Parenting (CCAPP), one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect to develop community-based, collaborative models to effectively prevent child maltreatment. Located in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, CCAPP was developed by Temple University's Center for Social Policy and Community Development as a university-community collaboration to provide child abuse prevention interventions at the community level. The program attempted to stimulate and support a wide variety of prevention interventions in the community by providing small grants and technical assistance. The report finds that (1) CCAPP affected three different groups: the community, child abuse professionals, and the University, allowing members of each group to learn from members of other groups and fostering an expanded community cooperation; (2) CCAPP sparked the institutionalization of community-based efforts to support families and inform the community about its role in preventing child abuse; (3) the creation of a community-based planning and development council or community board through which key leaders can both receive and disseminate information is very important; (4) CCAPP shifted its attention away from child abuse and neglect to a more positive, family support approach by fostering Family Life Festivals, library programs, and parent-child activities, which reduced parental isolation; (5) using community-based providers as agents for prevention activities enabled the program to attract more of the target population; and (6) universities that have experience working with social issues facilitate program implementation and lend legitimacy to community-based efforts. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5851.1 and 5851.3-5851.9. (Final report: 19 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.2
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Family Care Connection
ABSTRACT: This report describes Family Care Connection (FCC), based in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN). Developed and administered by Community Health at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the program provided family support incorporating neighborhood drop-in centers, neighborhood-based task forces, parenting classes and support groups, home visits, substance abuse counseling, outreach, a school-based program, and public awareness activities. FCC sought to replicate in several high-risk communities a preexisting program that used community-based parent education to improve parent-child relationships. FCC expanded services at an existing drop-in center and established four centers in three more at-risk communities. The centers provided services such as respite care, child development, recreation, education, and counseling. An evaluation of the program found that (1) 279 parents had graduated from the parenting classes between September 1989 and June 1991, and that these graduates reported that they would be less likely to use physical punishment with their children; (2) the rate of low-birthweight babies decreased after program implementation in two communities; and (3) FCC was successfully established as an institution in the communities through aggressive pursuit of funding and by using staff that were hired by and paid by "partner agencies." The report concludes that FCC achieved notable success in institutionalizing its services in the communities in which it established drop-in centers under the NCCAN grant. It carefully selected community agencies as partners, and established personal contacts and networking connections with agencies and organizations in its target communities. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5851.2 and 5851.4-5851.9. (Final report: 16 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.3
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Community Lifelines Program
ABSTRACT: This report describes the Community Lifelines Program (CLP), one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. Developed by the Family Life Development Center of Cornell University in collaboration with the government and human service agencies of Chemung County, New York, the program implemented activities designed to alleviate community conditions that lead to isolation, poor self-image, and economic stress, thereby reducing some of the underlying causes of child abuse and neglect. CLP was responsible for several program initiatives in the city of Elmira and the rural Van Etten/Spencer school district, which included Parent Partner Programs (PPPs), parent support groups, activities encouraging better parent-child communication, and family support programs. The report describes the community, the grantee agency, the program design and changes over time, barriers to program implementation, and strategies used to overcome these barriers. It also describes the program's effects and efforts to institutionalize the various components of the CLP. The report finds that the Elmira PPP was very successful, as was the CLP in Van Etten/Spencer. In Elmira, the PPP fostered better relationships between schools and parents, between individual parents, and between parents and children. In Van Etten/Spencer, several initiatives were successful, including a program for parents of teenagers (Parent Lifelines), an after-school program, and a playgroup. However, several other initiatives had little impact or were initiated too late in the demonstration period to be measured. These included the Family Portraits component, the Family Connections Room, and Food Stamps Outreach. The public awareness campaign launched in conjunction with CLP was successful and useful, according to a reader survey. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5851.3 and 5851.5-5851.9. (Final report: 25 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.4
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of PARE (Physical Abuse and Neglect Reduction Effort)
ABSTRACT: This report describes the Physical Abuse and Neglect Reduction Effort (PARE), one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. This project was developed by the Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (ESCAPE), located in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The report discusses the environmental factors and indicators of social disruption associated with increased risk for child abuse and neglect in Puerto Rico. It provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of PARE's program design and operations, as well as evaluation findings. The PARE program provided intervention strategies in an effort to stop the cycle of child abuse in the future, while preserving the family. PARE was designed to be family oriented and emphasized self-help and volunteer action. The demonstration model emphasized interventions directed toward the individual, the family, and the community, as well as cultural factors. The report describes several of these interventions, including (1) an interagency task force, (2) a public awareness campaign, (3) respite centers, (4) a life skills curriculum, (5) an educational curriculum for prenatal clinics, (6) a Parent Aid Program, and (7) a Parent Laboratory. The report finds that (1) the development and implementation of three respite centers pioneered new concepts and approaches to providing secondary prevention; (2) 702 volunteers provided support services and served as role models; (3) the program gained the support of the community, government officials, public and private agencies, the business community, and the media; and (4) the public awareness campaign was broadcast throughout Puerto Rico and reached a large segment of the population. The report concludes that PARE increased child abuse awareness in Puerto Rico, but that more work needs to be done before child abuse prevention becomes a priority for leaders and politicians on the island. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5851.4 and 5851.6-5851.9.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.5
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of North Lawndale Family Support Initiative
ABSTRACT: This report describes the North Lawndale Family Support Initiative (NLFSI), one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN). Developed by the Greater Chicago Council of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, the program tested the efficacy of a model that advocates comprehensive prevention strategies aimed at both the community and its residents. The model called for the provision and coordination of comprehensive prevention services, including community education, parent education, parent support groups, school-based prevention services for children, and therapeutic services for abused children and their families. The report finds that (1) the most successful components of the NLFSI were the advisory council, the community needs assessment, public awareness, and life skills training; (2) the least effective components were the parent education program, the parent support groups, and therapeutic care--this ineffectiveness was due to inadequate program design, local implementation difficulties, and the grantee's perception that NCCAN required more direct services; (3) the NLFSI benefitted from stable and credible staff, who had already established themselves in the community before the program's implementation; (4) staff possessed strong outreach skills which served them well in the public awareness campaign, but they lacked the skills and background needed to implement direct services; and (5) the NLFSI lacked a clearly defined or effectively developed relationship with its grantee agency and had difficulty in being acknowledged as a full-fledged member of the community due to its situation on the campus of a community college located at the edge of the target community. The report also discusses barriers to program implementation and efforts to institutionalize the program, and includes several recommendations in key areas. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5851.5 and 5851.7-5851.9.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.6
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Dorchester CARES
ABSTRACT: This report describes Dorchester CARES, one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN). Under NCCAN funding, Dorchester CARES was initially a collaborative project of the Massachusetts Committee for Children and Youth, Inc. and Federated Dorchester Neighborhood House; however, by the end of the demonstration period, the project included many other collaborators. The model was designed to demonstrate that through collaboration, advocacy, resource development, education, and services, a community can create opportunities for families to increase their social networks and become more independent and self-sustaining. The report finds that: (1) Dorchester CARES staff stressed that it was not an agency, or a program, but rather a collaborative comprised of member agencies and staff who thought of themselves as a process; (2) the project reflected an ecological approach that combined a psychiatric model and a sociological model (the first was directed toward a "sick parent" and stressed therapy and education, while the second was aimed toward the "sick society" and stressed educational and political strategies); (3) over the demonstration period, the program was able to improve family functioning to provide a more nurturing environment for children's development; (4) the program created opportunities for family members to become more independent and self-sustaining and for community members to work together to achieve common goals; (5) the CARES family support program worked by proactively encouraging social networking, increasing nurturing values and skills, and empowering parents to carry out their caregiving roles; and (6) the program was successfully duplicated in several other neighborhoods and was institutionalized in Dorchester. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5851.6 and 5851.8-5851.9. (Final report: 21 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.7
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of Maine Families
ABSTRACT: This report describes Project Maine Families, one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. The Maine Families project was the result of a collaboration between the urban Cumberland County Child Abuse and Neglect Council (CCCANC) and the rural Franklin County Children's Task Force (FCCTF); other local community, school, and service organizations joined the two county organizations to identify and address the needs of children and their families. CCCANC implemented a school family center, a media program, a public library discussion series, a teenage parent day care and support center, a drop-in laundry program, a parents' speaker and support group, and a parent education program in a low-income housing development. FCCTF implemented a summer reading program, a resource directory, a parent education program for Head Start-eligible families, parent cooperative support and education groups, and a parent mentoring and home visitation program. In both counties, the project sponsored community events to reduce the isolation of families and to encourage a sense of support and togetherness. The evaluation of the Maine Families project consisted primarily of a qualitative assessment of the reactions of program participants and leaders, finding that (1) the project was guided by an effort to structure interventions based upon what parents said they needed, rather than on what project staff or other agency staff believed they needed; (2) focus groups revealed that few parents believed that they were doing an effective parenting job and most felt isolated from support and in need of information and assistance; (3) the project emphasized involving business and industry in designing and implementing community programming; and (4) collaboration is enhanced by using a businesslike approach. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5851.7 and 5851.9. (Final report: 18 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.8
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study of I CARE
ABSTRACT: This report describes the I CARE Project, one of nine demonstration projects funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. The project was developed by the Ohio Research Institute on Child Abuse and Prevention to model a prevention program in direct response to the needs and existing resources of the target community. The program implemented four interventions: (1) home health visitation for first-time parents and families with newborns, (2) parent education focused on child development and management of specific child behaviors, (3) a public awareness program in the target community, and (4) provision of support in obtaining basic necessities for families in need. I CARE distributed a series of educational Child Behavior Management Cards throughout the Columbus, Ohio area, as well as refrigerator magnets, local resource directories, and other resource and awareness materials throughout the target community. In addition, monthly family get-togethers were held for parents participating in the home visitation program in order to decrease their social isolation and to provide a forum for discussion and education. After the conclusion of the program, I CARE staff made several conclusions and recommendations, including that: (1) a prevention model containing all the components specified for this demonstration grant would be difficult, if not impossible, notwithstanding a budget of $200,000 per year; (2) although a community-based program cannot correct all the societal problems leading to child abuse and neglect, it should be aware of their effects; (3) an interdisciplinary task force from the community should be considered mandatory; and (4) the uncertainty of future funding is a major obstacle for demonstration or pilot programs. See also PIC ID Nos. 5851-5951.8. (Final report: 23 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: Emily Cooke
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 205-8709
PIC ID: 5851.9
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: CSR, Incorporated, Washington, DC
REPORT: Responsible Fatherhood: An Overview and Conceptual Framework
ABSTRACT: A growing consensus holds that responsible fathering means establishing paternity, being present in the child's --even if divorced or unmarried, sharing economic support, and being personally involved in the child's life in collaboration with the mother. This report, co-sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, summarizes the research on factors that influence fathering and presents a systemic, contextual framework that highlights multiple interacting influences on the father-child relationship. A principal finding of the report is that fathering is influenced, even more than mothering, by contextual forces in the family and the community. A father in an adversarial relationship with the mother is at risk of becoming an irresponsible father, as is a father who lacks adequate employment and income. By the same token, responsible fathering can be fostered by positive changes in cultural, economic, institutional, and interpersonal influences. Thus, the report contends that fathering programs should involve a wide range of interventions. In particular, these programs should (1) involve the mother where feasible, and for unmarried fathers, the families of origin; (2) promote collaborative coparenting; (3) emphasize critical transitions, such as the birth of a child and divorce of the parents; (4) deal with employment, economic issues, and community systems; (5) promote father-to-father learning; and (6) promote the viability of committed and collaborative marriage. By developing a theoretical underpinning to guide empirical research, program development, and program evaluation, this project is intended to help inform policymakers about what is necessary to enable fathers to support and nurture a child.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
FEDERAL CONTACT: Mark Fucello
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 401-5074
PIC ID: 5981
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
REPORT: Arkansas Prenatal and Postnatal Paternity Acknowledgment Project
ABSTRACT: In Arkansas, close to 1 in 3 births are to unmarried mothers. Prior to the establishment of the paternity acknowledgment project described in this report, half of the nonmarital birth certificates did not identify the fathers of these children. The Arkansas paternity acknowledgment project was multifaceted, ambitious in scope, and considerably changed over the life of the 3-year demonstration period. There were five basic models used in the project: (1) basic in-hospital paternity acknowledgment with a genetic testing option; (2) prenatal and multiple postnatal opportunities to acknowledge paternity; (3) interstate paternity acknowledgment transfer project (parents from one State traveled to another State, gave birth, and signed paternity acknowledgments in that State); (4) home visiting nurse program; and (5) alternative parental support program, which abates or reduces child support payments for young fathers who participate in opportunities to increase parental responsibility. The report finds that (1) IV-D (child support) staff identified mothers uncooperative in establishing paternity and surveyed them regarding their lack of cooperation: these mothers stated that they did not want to establish paternity because the child's father was not involved, that the father gave the mother money already, or that the mother did not know where the father was; (2) by the end of the project, 13,688 paternity acknowledgments had been received, and the ratio of paternity acknowledgments to unmarried births ranged from 48 percent in 1995 to 56 percent for the first three months of 1996; and (3) 38 percent of the acknowledgments were matched to children in the Arkansas child support data base, and 27 percent of these had closed by September 1996 (payments were received on 16 percent of matched cases). (Final report: 111 pages, plus appendix.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Office of Child Support and Enforcement
FEDERAL CONTACT: David Arnaudo
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 401-5364
PIC ID: 6221
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: State of Arkansas, Division of Revenue, Little Rock, AR
REPORT: LEAP: Final Report on Ohio's Welfare Initiative to Improve School Attendance Among Teenage Parents--Ohio's Learning, Earning, and Parenting Program
ABSTRACT: Ohio's Learning, Earning, and Parenting (LEAP) program is a statewide initiative that uses financial incentives as a way to increase school enrollment and attendance among pregnant teenagers and custodial teen parents on welfare. The program, which began in 1989, requires these parents (mostly mothers) to stay in school and attend regularly, or, if they have dropped out, to return to school or to prepare for the General Educational Development (GED) test. During the period of this study, teens who met LEAP's requirements received increases to their welfare checks ($62 for school enrollment and an additional $62 each month they attended school regularly). Teens who did not meet program requirements had the same amount deducted from their welfare grant until they complied with program rules. This report is based on a study of 4,151 teens who were identified as eligible for LEAP during the program's second year of operation (August 1990 through September 1991). The report finds that (1) even the initial implementation of LEAP was a considerable achievement as an unprecedented statewide effort requiring new linkages between county welfare and education systems; (2) the program achieved smooth operations after the implementation of a sophisticated statewide public assistance computer system; (3) to a large degree, LEAP met its initial goals to significantly increase school enrollment and attendance for in-school teens and drop-outs, which were directly linked to the incentives and sanctions provided; (4) in general, the impacts on school completion and employment were more positive for teens who were still in school when they were identified as eligible for the program (initially-enrolled participants) than for drop-outs who returned to school; and (6) LEAP increased the employment rates for initially-enrolled teens and had positive impacts on their earnings during the first 2 years of the 4-year followup. (Final report 130 pages plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
FEDERAL CONTACT: Nancye Campbell
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 401-6659
PIC ID: 6668
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, New York, NY
REPORT: First Progress Report on the Head Start Program Performance Measures
ABSTRACT: The Head Start program, established in 1965, has served almost 14 million preschool children. In 1995, the program joined with other Federal programs in developing performance measures to promote accountability through the assessment of program quality and outcomes. This report is the first program assessment using these performance measures. It describes the development of the performance measures, noting that they focus on outcomes rather than on processes. In other words, the outcomes to be measured concern how well the children in the program do, rather than on such things as the credentials of teachers. The Head Start program also has in place a series of Program Performance Standards, which define program activities, while the Program Performance Measures define program results. The report describes the background of the Program Performance Measures development, including the conceptual model used and data sources. Finally, the report includes an account of how the Head Start program will gather data for the measures and establish a "feedback loop" for policy and resource decisions. The report concludes that the performance measures will provide a snapshot of Head Start's program performance at a given point in time and will allow the program to compare its performance to the past. At the national level, it will allow the program to determine how well it is doing through the production of periodic national Head Start progress reports. This first report provides a benchmark against which future performance can be measured and furnishes program accountability information to be used in appropriations decisions. (Final report: 31 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families
FEDERAL CONTACT: John Connigan
PHONE NUMBER: (202) 401-5916
PIC ID: 6693
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Caliber Associates, Fairfax, VA
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE POLICY AND RESEARCH
Contents
Publications of the Patient Outcomes Research Teams (PORTS), May 1996 and Medical Treatment Effectiveness Projects 1989 through 1995
Final Report on Changes Needed in CONQUEST's Software Based Programs
Final Report on Changes Needed in CONQUEST 1.0's Structure and Classification Scheme
Assessment of the Feasibility of Creating a Managed Care Encounter-Level Data base
Customer Satisfaction Survey of AHCPR Publications Recipients
Effects of Informatics Tools and Decision Aids to Help Patient Decision-making about Medical Screening and Treatment
Diagnostic Accuracy in Primary Care: Review of the Literature on Five Chronic Conditions-- Final Report
Evaluation of AHCPR Minority Health Services Research Training Activities
Outcomes and Effectiveness Research in the Private Sector
Partners in Research: Identifying Common Interests
Performance Measurement Inventory Phases II & III Workplan
Final Report: Small Conference Grant Program Evaluation
TITLE: Publications of the Patient Outcomes Research Teams (PORTS), May 1996 and Medical Treatment Effectiveness Projects 1989 through 1995
ABSTRACT: This project tracked the activities and effects of research conducted under the Medical Effectiveness Treatment Program (MEDTEP). Using secondary data sources such as newspaper and journal articles, the project collected information on the products of Agency for Health Care Policy and Research-sponsored medical effectiveness research and the diffusion of these findings into other sources. A bibliography entitled "Publications of the Patient Outcomes Research Teams (PORTS): PORT and PORT II Projects" provides information about publications arising from each PORT, listed by the condition that each addressed. Also included is information about the grant or contract number, project title, name and institution of the principal investigator, project start and completion dates, and a brief description of the project. A second bibliography entitled "Medical Treatment Effectiveness Program Research Projects: 1989 through 1995" presents a comprehensive list of MEDTEP research projects. Projects are categorized under Clinical Studies, with subcategories; Guideline Implementation and Evaluation; and Methods and Measures. Within each category, projects are in alphabetical order by the name of the principal investigator. PORT and PORT II projects are marked. As in the first bibliography, there is information about grant or contract number, project title, name and institution of the principal investigator, project start and completion dates, and a very brief description of the project. For those projects that have been completed, executive summaries and final reports may be available through the National Technical Information Center. (Bibliography: 49 pages; bibliography: 73 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research
FEDERAL CONTACT: Mary Cummings
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1485
PIC ID: 4311
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Walcoff & Associates Incorporated, Fairfax, VA
TITLE: Final Report on Changes Needed in CONQUEST's Software Based Programs
ABSTRACT: This report provides the results of an evaluation of the CONQUEST data base in order to determine the best short-term, intermediate, and long-range strategies for its continued development. Three important findings emerged from this study. First, Microsoft Access was judged to be the best platform (out of 13 alternatives) for CONQUEST in the short and immediate terms. Furthermore, many opportunities exist to improve CONQUEST over the short and immediate terms. Problems identified by users can be corrected by minor enhancements, error corrections, and superficial changes. More substantial changes are also needed, including restructuring of the data base and rewriting of the queries and Access Basic code that perform the underlying CONQUEST search and retrieval operations. Finally, the report determines that the best long-range strategy for disseminating CONQUEST information to the broadest possible audience over the widest variety of platforms is via World Wide Web. This finding also lists the advantages of using the Internet, describes the labor and equipment needed, and estimates that the project would be a multi-year effort costing more than one million dollars. The report concludes that moving CONQUEST in its current form to another stand-alone data base is not desirable. Investments in software should be limited to necessary, cost-effective changes. Further development of the data base should be designed based on the findings of this report, which should also be used in the selection of a new implementation platform. See also PIC ID Nos. 5961 and 5961.2. (Final report: 21 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Quality Measurement and Improvement
FEDERAL CONTACT: Marge Keyes
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1352
PIC ID: 5961.1
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: MEDSTAT Group, Cambridge, MA
TITLE: Final Report on Changes Needed in CONQUEST 1.0's Structure and Classification Scheme
ABSTRACT: This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the structure and classification scheme of CONQUEST 1.0. The evaluation identified changes needed to enhance the use and effectiveness of the data base's structure and classification scheme for codifying clinical performance measures and conditions. The evaluation addressed three broad questions: (1) how does the current application of CONQUEST 1.0 compare with its intended use; (2) what are the impediments to potential users; and (3) which structural and classification scheme improvements are needed in the Condition and Measures data bases? The report finds that the data base is used as intended. Users access it to learn which processes and outcomes to measure for particular conditions, to compare and select clinical performance measures, and to find measures related to practice guidelines. The report also finds that the data base must be kept current and comprehensive in order for it to be of use. Advanced and mid-level users would like additional types of measures, particularly measures on satisfaction with care and access. They would also like more functional status measures and clinical measures for non-acute settings. In regard to the structure of the data base and the classification scheme, (1) many performance measures lack enough similarities to be grouped into batches, (2) the quality of the match between conditions and measures designed for them should be improved, (3) most searches for clinical performance measures for specific conditions returned at least one measure that was not well-matched, (4) codes for clinical events may be too broad, (5) the condition list presented to users should be broadened, and (6) users would like additional information about the performance measures. The report also includes several recommendations to improve the quality of the data base. See also PIC ID Nos. 5961 and 5961.1. (Final report: 16 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Quality Measurement and Improvement
FEDERAL CONTACT: Marge Keyes
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1352
PIC ID: 5961.2
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: MEDSTAT Group, Cambridge, MA
TITLE: Assessment of the Feasibility of Creating a Managed Care Encounter-Level Data base
ABSTRACT: The rapid growth of managed care in recent years is transforming the Nation's health care system. In the process, it is also changing the ability of health services researchers and policy analysts to answer fundamental questions about access, utilization, cost, and quality of care. Data produced as a "byproduct" of the fee-for-service system (including plan-, provider-, person-, and encounter-level data) are either no longer available or vary in comprehensiveness and accuracy. As a result, there is widespread public and private interest in managed care organizations' (MCOs') ability to collect encounter-level data and in the development of an encounter-level data base that could be used for the purposes of research. This report (1) identified models that the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) could employ to work with plans to facilitate the availability of data for research, (2) examines the availability and comprehensiveness of encounter-level data in MCO data bases, and (3) identifies the problems and challenges that might be encountered when trying to use or combine data from MCOs. Among key findings are that: (1) MCO data bases vary substantially in the availability and comprehensiveness of encounter-level data and the ability to link these data with administrative and financial data; (2) MCOs increasingly view their information systems and the data they store, as proprietary, and there are a number of disincentives for MCOs to share their data; (3) computer systems, which were originally touted as an inexpensive way to capture data, are technically complex and costly--problems exacerbated by the lack of industry-wide definitions and reporting standards; and (4) despite these barriers, MCOs are interested in exploring ways to work with AHCPR and other Federal agencies to facilitate the availability of data for the purposes of research. (Final report: 52 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Organization and Delivery Studies
FEDERAL CONTACT: Kelly Devers
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1410
PIC ID: 6374
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC
TITLE: Customer Satisfaction Survey of AHCPR Publications Recipients
ABSTRACT: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) provides most information services to consumers through its Publication Clearinghouse. This report assesses consumer satisfaction with the content, format, and procedures for AHCPR publication distribution. The study statistically analyzes the results of a mail survey protocol for individuals who requested one of four patient/consumer guides: Prescription Medicines and You, Understanding Incontinence, Early Alzheimer's Disease, and You Can Quit Smoking. The report finds that respondents (1) find the guides of greater interest to elderly persons; (2) make 75 percent of their requests by telephone; (3) are pleased with the services of the Clearinghouse in distributing patient/consumer guides; (4) with access to the Internet (17 percent) still prefer to order the guides by telephone; (5) order the guides for themselves (70 percent) and that two-thirds keep it for reference; (6) respond positively to different editorial and typographical features of the guides; (7) express little interest in making any of the nine suggested changes to the guides; and (8) are satisfied overall with the guides, and that the 22 percent who are not satisfied cite insufficient information. Although the diversity of the four guides makes generalizations difficult, the report concludes that (1) due to the large number of phone requests, AHCPR should give Clearinghouse staff information about the contents of the patient/consumer guides in order to provide better customer service; (2) AHCPR should make no changes to the organization of the guides or how information is presented; and (3) AHCPR could pursue methods to identify and answer the questions and concerns of individuals who feel that the guides provide insufficient information. (Final report: 15 pages, plus tables and appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Health Information Dissemination
FEDERAL CONTACT: Donna Rae Castillo
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1362
PIC ID: 6375
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Battelle Corporation, Arlington, VA
TITLE: Effects of Informatics Tools and Decision Aids to Help Patient Decision-making about Medical Screening and Treatment
ABSTRACT: This report identifies, evaluates, and synthesizes published and unpublished research on the effects of informatics tools and decision aids used to help patients make decisions about their screening and treatment. These tools provide treatment- and disease-specific information to patients in computerized or noncomputerized form. The report finds that few controlled studies have been conducted on the effects of these tools and aids. Most only consider effects on patient knowledge and satisfaction, and examine only a few treatment choices. Few studies have investigated the effects of tools on patient-clinician communications and health behavior and health outcomes. There are no comparative studies of the cost and effectiveness of different types of tools, and the studies that have been done are of varying methodological quality. Despite these limitations, certain conclusions can be drawn. For example, (1) studies suggest that the use of informatics tools can increase patients' knowledge of treatment alternatives, and patients report that they like these tools; (2) limited evidence suggests that tools influence treatment selection; (3) greater attention to rigorous controls, adequate sample size, and standardized measurement is crucial; (4) use of tools by patients can be limited, especially if there are operational barriers to their use (such as a requirement for a second visit); (5) patients who use informatics tools generally increase their knowledge of treatment alternatives, but the comparative effectiveness of different types of tools in increasing knowledge has not been well assessed; (6) some trials find that patients who use tools are significantly more satisfied with the decisionmaking process than others and that these patients ask their physicians more questions; and (7) scattered evidence suggests that these tools can improve health outcomes by increasing patients' adherence to treatment regimens. (Final report: 43 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Organization and Delivery Studies
FEDERAL CONTACT: Denise Dougherty
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1321
PIC ID: 6376
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC
TITLE: Diagnostic Accuracy in Primary Care: Review of the Literature on Five Chronic Conditions--Final Report
ABSTRACT: This report presents the findings of an iterative literature search and analysis on diagnostic errors and inefficiencies in primary care for five clinical conditions: cutaneous melanoma, breast cancer, heart failure, depression in children, and pediatric asthma. The report points out several gaps in the health services and the clinical knowledge base. It also suggests that these gaps can be addressed by a comprehensive research agenda on primary care, which can be used by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research for future research agendas on each of the specific conditions. Specific research issues include the extent of inaccurate (missed, erroneous, or delayed) diagnoses, and the causes of such deficiencies; the health and monetary consequences of diagnostic errors and inefficiencies; and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing or overcoming the problems. (Final report variously paginated, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Organization and Delivery Studies
FEDERAL CONTACT: James Cooper
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1357
PIC ID: 6381
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC
TITLE: Evaluation of AHCPR Minority Health Services Research Training Activities
ABSTRACT: This report reviews Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) initiatives in health services research training to determine the degree to which they have increased minority participation in health services research. It examines two types of initiatives: (1) pre- and post-doctoral training provided through National Research Service Award grants; and (2) supplementary funding made available to individual AHCPR grantees for the purpose of providing training to individual minority candidates or investigating an area related to minority issues in health services. The report finds that AHCPR has been somewhat successful in increasing minority participation in health services research training. It identified five criteria that are necessary for program success: recruitment, leadership, networking, mentoring, and building a community of scholars. The best practices of successful non-Federal programs were identified as (1) developing sufficient infrastructure to support training, (2) providing sufficient financial support to attract the brightest trainees, and (3) providing necessary support for faculty mentors involved in the program. (Final report variously paginated.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Office of the Administrator
FEDERAL CONTACT: Morgan Jackson
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1455
PIC ID: 6384
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Barents Group, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Washington, DC
TITLE: Outcomes and Effectiveness Research in the Private Sector
ABSTRACT: This project analyzed and evaluated private sector activities in performing outcomes and effectiveness research (OER). It was intended to help clarify the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research's (AHCPR's) future priorities in outcomes and effectiveness research, and to provide insights regarding future opportunities for public-private partnerships in this area. The project reviewed the published literature and other documentation, conducted telephone interviews, conducted case studies, and hosted an expert panel with private sector OER leaders. The study finds that (1) organizations reporting OER activities include large insurers, managed care organizations, health product companies, employer groups, associations, and foundations; (2) private sector organizations conduct OER primarily to improve their strategic and financial positions; (3) private sector OER does not overlap considerably with government-sponsored OER; (4) health product companies usually focus their OER efforts on their new drugs and devices, while less attention is given to other health care interventions, particularly those that are not new or those used primarily for traditionally underserved or vulnerable populations; (5) although provider organizations increasingly conduct a variety of activities involving outcomes measurement, including some OER as defined in the report, much of the outcomes measurement is for monitoring health care performance against certain standards (for instance, in the case of accreditation and quality assurance); and (5) AHCPR has supported the development and validation of many of the research tools used in private sector OER. The study concludes that government-sponsored OER can continue to address certain major topics that are not covered by the private sector, and can continue to advance research tools, training, and other aspects of OER that will benefit private sector efforts.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research
FEDERAL CONTACT: Yen-pin Chiang
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1485
PIC ID: 6385
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: The Lewin Group, Fairfax, VA
TITLE: Partners in Research: Identifying Common Interests
ABSTRACT: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) undertook this project to develop a methodology for systematically matching research interests of private sector organizations with its own in order to identify potential research partners. The methodology was developed in several stages: (1) a segmentation was developed to classify private sector entities by research focus; (2) a matrix identified promising overlap between private sector research and AHCPR research interests; and (3) sample profiles were developed for nine organizations in four health industry segments (pharmaceutical/biotechnology; manufacturing/suppliers; health information systems; and philanthropy). The profiles were created for Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, American Home Products, Medtronic, HCIA, HBO and Company, and the California Endowment. These profiles demonstrate how available sources of information on organizations can be tapped to provide a detailed background for screening these organizations to assess opportunities for research partnering. The methodology focused on publicly traded companies and private foundations, although it is recognized that attractive partnering opportunities exist with privately held companies and a variety of nonprofit organizations other than those with philanthropic missions. The report recommends that AHCPR more fully develop, and then maintain, a matrix of private sector organizations with research interests overlapping its own research portfolio. A deliberate strategy for undertaking one or more collaborative research activities in each cluster should be undertaken in order to provide further experience in the development and management of successful research partnering. Considerations should be given to soliciting input from a cross-section of companies in the various health care market sectors when planning new research initiatives. (Final report variously paginated, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Organization and Delivery Studies
FEDERAL CONTACT: Eric Katz
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1321
PIC ID: 6386
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Center for Health Policy Studies, Columbia, MD
TITLE: Performance Measurement Inventory Phases II & III Workplan
ABSTRACT: The Performance Measurement Workgroup of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Managed Care Forum requested an inventory of performance measures (i.e., clinical, population, and system) currently being used, under consideration for use, or being developed for use by HHS agencies for regulating, monitoring, comparing, and/or evaluating health care services and systems of care. The inventory, which will be created in a CONQUEST-compatible format, will be used to identify opportunities for better coordination and improved efficiency, and to prepare recommendations concerning the direction and coordination of departmental activities in regard to performance measurement. Ideally the project will include one or more non-HHS agencies, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the U.S. Department of Defense. The project includes three phases: Phase I is workplan development, Phase II is pilot testing of the data collection instruments and instructions, and Phase III is data collection and final report writing. As of October 1997, Phase I has been completed; a draft report for Phase II, which includes participation by the VA is in progress; and a task order for Phase III has been awarded and work is scheduled to begin in the near future. See also PIC ID Nos. 6691.1 and 6691.2. (Final report: 13 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Center for Quality Measurement and Improvement
FEDERAL CONTACT: Marge Keyes
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1352
PIC ID: 6691
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Center for Health Policy Studies, Columbia, MD
TITLE: Final Report: Small Conference Grant Program Evaluation
ABSTRACT: In 1991, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) established the current Small Conference Grant Program. The program supports conferences, doctoral dissertations, and small research projects. Under the program, grants of $50,000 or less are awarded to nonprofit organizations to support conferences on issues relevant to health services research and to AHCPR's mission. In January 1996, AHCPR made revisions to streamline the program, which included the implementation of concept letter procedures. The concept letter saves time for both reviewers and applicants because only those conferences that are of interest to AHCPR move to the full review process. The report finds that (1) small grant conference procedures are efficient and result in conferences that meet AHCPR's goals, (2) the objectives of the conferences are being met, and (3) outcomes of the conferences are in accord with their stated purpose. The study recommends that (1) future grant announcements should set a realistic, experience-based time frame for both the review of concept letters and grant applications; (2) AHCPR consider instituting a time limit on application submission once the applicant has been notified of concept letter acceptance to help the agency develop a more realistic list of expected or pending applications; (3) AHCPR be more proactive in planning the dissemination strategy of a conference to increase the impact of a conference; and (4) in the future, AHCPR might consider lending its name, rather than its money, to conferences, as a way for the Agency to extend its reach without increasing funds to the program. (Final report variously paginated, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Office of Health Care Information
FEDERAL CONTACT: Donna Rae Castillo
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 594-1362
PIC ID: 6692
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Center for Health Policy Studies, Columbia, MD
AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY
Contents
Did We Make A Difference? ATSDR's Framework for Community-Focused Evaluation
Site-Specific Outcome Measurement Guidelines for ATSDR Cooperative Agreement States
REPORT TITLE: Did We Make A Difference? ATSDR's Framework for Community-Focused Evaluation
ABSTRACT: In 1994, the Environmental Health Policy Committee, part of the Public Health Service, recommended that all Federal agencies develop guidelines to establish outcome and impact data for use in the evaluation of their activities and products. This report outlines a framework for implementing community-focused evaluation, a program of activities undertaken to assess the outcomes and impacts of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) site-specific activities. The seven steps of the framework include (1) gathering community information, (2) defining the public health problem, (3) determining and implementing the public health action, (4) establishing evaluation goals and objectives, (5) developing outcome measures as indicators of success, (6) collecting and analyzing data, and (7) using feedback to improve public health actions. The report concludes that (1) ATSDR's community-focused evaluation framework provides a comprehensive, flexible, and timely approach to assess the short- and long-term effects of ATSDR's site-specific activities; (2) community-focused evaluation must be viewed as effective and taken seriously as a central part of responsible public health practice, and not merely as an activity to conduct if sufficient funds are left when the program is completed; (3) the collaborative and educational functions of evaluation create promising prospects for facilitating change because of their inherent emphasis on the interactive relationship between ATSDR and the community; and (4) ATSDR's community-focused evaluation program provides the Agency with the opportunity to communicate the value of its products and services to key stakeholders, while allowing for critical feedback to management and staff. See also PIC ID No. 6853.1. (Final report: 16 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Division of Health Education
FEDERAL CONTACT: Maureen Lichtveld
PHONE NUMBER: (404) 639-6204
PIC ID: 6853
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA
REPORT TITLE: Site-Specific Outcome Measurement Guidelines for ATSDR Cooperative Agreement States
ABSTRACT: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) developed this report to help State cooperative agreement personnel evaluate their efforts in the protection of public health. A number of States collaborated with ATSDR to develop guidelines for assessing the impacts and outcomes of site-specific health education activities. This report was prepared by a group of Federal and State ATSDR Cooperative Agreement staff and was intended for an audience of State and territorial personnel working under ATSDR Cooperative Agreement 607 auspices. The document deals with measurement of community members' response to the Agency's Superfund activities and includes a short section that evaluates the Agency's effect/influence on other agencies with each State. The community member section is divided into five possible areas of evaluation, which include measurements of knowledge, opinion, behavior, exposure, and health. The agency section has only one area of measurement, which is the opinion area. This area was selected in an attempt to measure the influence of ATSDR on environmental decision making and the subsequent protection of public health. This report is part of a set of tools that will allow cooperative agreement participants to assess the overall improvement in public health as a result of site-specific health education activities and to demonstrate the cooperative agreement program's effectiveness.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Division of Health Education
FEDERAL CONTACT: Maureen Lichtveld
PHONE NUMBER: (404) 639-6204
PIC ID: 6853.1
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Contents
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention in the United States: Integrated Evaluation of Public and Private Sector Disease Reporting and Service Delivery
Evaluation of ICD-10 for Morbidity Reporting in the United States
Suicide Intervention and Prevention: Evaluation of Community-Based Programs in Three American Indian Communities
Evaluation of the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program: Phase II Final Report
Assessment of the National Laboratory Training Network
Race Reporting on Birth Records by Multiracial Women: An Evaluation of Question Format Alternatives
Management and Operational Impacts of HIV Prevention Community Planning: Lessons Learned at Mid-Course and Implications for Future Activities
CDC's Early Implementation of GPRA: A Case Study-- July 1995 to November 1996
Collaborating with Managed Care Organizations for Mammography Screening and Rescreening: Guidance for NBCCEDP Grantees
Reaching Women for Mammography Screening: Successful Strategies of National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) Grantees
Evaluation Design for the Business Responds to AIDS (BRTA) Program
Case Studies of the Prevention Marketing Initiatives (PMI) Local Demonstration Site Projects: Experiences During Planning and Transition Phases
Evaluability Assessment of CDC-Funded Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Programs
Community Context Study: Minors' Access to Tobacco
Directions for Research on the National Immunization Survey: Final Report
In Her Own Words: A Focus Group Study of Risk and Protective Factors in Intimate Partner Violence
Linking Research and Public Health Practice: A Review of CDC's Program of Centers for Research and Demonstration of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Syphilis in the South: A Case Study Assessment in Eight Southern Communities
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of CDC Surveillance for Drug-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (Baltimore, MD)
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of CDC Surveillance for Drug-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (San Antonio, TX)
Assessment of the Programmatic Impact of One-Percent Evaluation Studies
Directory of Evaluations Administered by the CDC Office of Program Planning and Evaluation 1990-1995
TITLE: Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention in the United States: Integrated Evaluation of Public and Private Sector Disease Reporting and Service Delivery
ABSTRACT: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention provides financial and technical assistance to State and local agencies to support a range of prevention, research, policy development, and surveillance activities. Two parallel STD surveillance systems are currently operated by CDC, both of which rely upon regular, voluntary reporting of STD incidence by State and local agencies. Both systems are thought to suffer from less-than-complete reporting of STDs by diagnosing practitioners. Estimates of this underreporting range from 25 to 90 percent. The focus of this project, therefore, was to design and pilot test a methodology for validating the STD data routinely collected, analyzed, and published by the Division. The study's main objective was to test the feasibility of using a provider-based survey (1) to quantitatively validate CDC's data on STD diagnoses, and (2) to assess the extent to which clinicians follow CDC's treatment guidelines for STDs. The study was designed to generate estimates of STD incidence through a survey of a random sample of STD data providers in four States, and to compare these estimates with State-reported STD incidence for the same time period. The report finds that (1) the four pilot States differ in terms of their STD data-gathering policies and practices, including which diseases are reported, how cases are defined for reporting purposes, how laboratory reporting is utilized, and which date information is recorded for each case; (2) syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are reportable diseases in all four States, and in two States many additional diseases are reportable; (3) in two States, physicians must report diseases for them to be recorded, while in two others laboratory reports are sufficient; (4) STDs are considerably underreported by providers; and (5) most STD cases are seen by individual private practitioners. (Final report: 82 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention
FEDERAL CONTACT: John Moran
PHONE NUMBER: (404) 639-8272
PIC ID: 5348
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Abt Associates, Incorporated, Boston, MA
TITLE: Evaluation of ICD-10 for Morbidity Reporting in the United States
ABSTRACT: This report evaluates (1) whether the International Classification of Disease (ICD)-10 is a significant improvement over the ICD-9; (2) whether these improvements warrant its implementation in the United States; (3) the modifications needed to improve its use for morbidity applications; and (4) whether there are any codes or concepts in ICD-9, but not in ICD-10, that should be considered for inclusion. The Technical Advisory Panel and project staff conclude that there are many strengths in ICD-10 in comparison with ICD-9. Many of the chapters contain a wealth of useful expansion in detail for which diagnostic information is typically available and which represent important clinical distinctions. These expansions will facilitate future specificity in statistical tabulations of diseases and conditions, provide some additional means for severity coding, and provide for enhanced applicability of the classification to primary care reporting. The logic and detail of ICD-10 will also contribute to progress toward the computerization of medical records. Although a number of limitations in ICD-10 are identified, the recommended modifications will overcome most of them. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the National Center for Health Statistics implement a revised version as soon as possible.
AGENCY SPONSOR: National Center for Health Statistics
FEDERAL CONTACT: Amy Blum
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 436-7050
PIC ID: 5503
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Center for Health Policy Studies, Columbia, MD
TITLE: Suicide Intervention and Prevention: Evaluation of Community-Based Programs in Three American Indian Communities
ABSTRACT: Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Native Americans aged 15 to 24. American Indian/Alaska Native young people are more likely to attempt suicide; to choose a highly lethal method, such as firearms or hanging; and to be successful at committing suicide. This report evaluates the local community-based suicide intervention and prevention programs of three geographically diverse American Indian tribes (the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, the Western Athabaskan Tribe, and the Northern Woodlands Tribe). In two tribes, suicide intervention efforts had been in place since 1989 and 1990, respectively; in the third, a suicide crisis in late 1992 precipitated community response. The report finds that (1) the local nature of the evaluation process opened itself to problems of diffuse authority and lack of focus on the evaluation process; (2) suicide prevention issues, tribal identity issues, and staffing issues took precedent over the actual evaluation activities; (3) a major recommendation arising from this study was to have process evaluation activities conducted by an external (non-community member) evaluator not supervised by local staff; (4) the Jicarilla Apache program represents a suicide prevention program in a very small, cohesive, and well-coordinated community response, which depends upon a staff model; (5) at the Western Athabaskan reservation, the prevention program used several special initiatives loosely coordinated with an existing Behavioral Health Services program using a staff model; (6) using a volunteer network, the Northern Woodlands tribe produced an excellent manual describing a grassroots community approach to suicide prevention; and (7) in all three tribes, attempted and successful suicide rates were reduced. The report concludes that the staff models used in the two small and centralized reservation communities were more successful than the diffuse, volunteer effort. (Final report: 120 pages.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
FEDERAL CONTACT: Lloyd Potter
PHONE NUMBER: (770) 488-1557
PIC ID: 5504
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Indian Health Service, Rockville, MD
TITLE: Evaluation of the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program: Phase II Final Report
ABSTRACT: The Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health seeks to prevent workplace fatalities by identifying and investigating fatal occupational injuries and disseminating prevention strategies to those who can intervene in similar situations. Publications based on information from fatality investigations identify occupational hazards and prevention measures, and are disseminated to persons who can influence work conditions and information availability in related occupations and work settings.
This report (1) describes the dissemination of five recent FACE documents (4 tear-sheet Alerts and one monograph), (2) compiles users' assessments of their usefulness, and (3) identifies examples of prevention efforts and other impacts attributable to the documents. The report finds that (1) publications are generally considered technically accurate and focused on significant occupational hazards by users; (2) workers participating in focus groups see job-related chronic illnesses and nonfatal injuries as more significant than the risk of fatality, and are less convinced of tear sheets' relevance to them; (3) workers consider the tear sheets' recommendations accurate and appropriate, but are concerned by the inclusion of "common sense" recommendations; (4) the tear sheets' terminology and generally high literacy level may limit their usefulness to their target audiences; (5) the publications are generally disseminated by distributing them directly or by modifying them for inclusion in other informational materials; and (6) information from the publications is used to improve worker training, identify existing hazards, and improve safety standards. The report concludes that the FACE publications are a useful source of authoritative occupational safety information. The report includes several recommendations. See also PIC ID No. 5506. (Final report: 30 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
FEDERAL CONTACT: Theodore Pettit
PHONE NUMBER: (304) 285-5972
PIC ID: 5506.1
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC
TITLE: Assessment of the National Laboratory Training Network
ABSTRACT: The National Laboratory Training Network (NLTN) was established in 1989 to provide training in new methodologies and theoretical concepts for laboratory workers. This report assesses whether the NLTN has had a beneficial impact on public health by improving laboratory practice. Data were gathered through a series of surveys of local health department and physician office laboratory employees who participated in training, as well as comparison groups of those who did not. Other surveys of State training coordinators (STCs), laboratory inspectors, microbiology directors, microbiology program participants, and NLTN co-sponsors were also conducted. The report categorizes its findings in three groups, based upon the responses of (1) STCs, laboratory inspectors, and co-sponsors; (2) microbiologists; and (3) course participants and their comparison groups. The report finds that: (1) STCs felt supported in their jobs and used NLTN resources (88 percent were somewhat or very satisfied with NLTN services, and 90 percent were satisfied with programs); (2) laboratory inspectors often recommended training as a means to correct deficiencies, but only a small percentage used the NLTN as a training source; (3) co-sponsors rate relevance, quality, and currency of course content very highly; (4) microbiology directors rated NLTN fees, convenience, relevance, quality, currency of content, and pertinence of issues addressed favorably; (5) one-third of microbiology course participants instituted a change in practice as a result of training (80 percent rated quality and currency of content highly); and (6) course participants in the third group rated their training highly and most instituted changes or saw positive results subsequent to training. The report includes recommendations for further improving the NLTN. (Final report: 147 pages, appendices bound separately in Volume II.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: Public Health Practice Program Office
FEDERAL CONTACT: Eunice Rosner
PHONE NUMBER: (770) 488-4129
PIC ID: 5507
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Battelle Corporation, Arlington, VA
TITLE: Race Reporting on Birth Records by Multiracial Women: An Evaluation of Question Format Alternatives
ABSTRACT: This report examines the implications of changing the format of the race item on the birth record filled out for every birth in the United States at the location where the birth occurred. Procedures for filling out birth certificates vary from State to State and in some States, from hospital to hospital. To provide uniform information to the vital registration system, the Federal government, in cooperation with the States, developed the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth that collects relevant information about the race and Hispanic origin of the parents, but not of the baby. This study (1) evaluates how women of multiracial and Hispanic backgrounds interpret the race question on the birth certificate; (2) evaluates experimental race questions, such as the use of a multiracial cue and the use of a "mark all that apply" format; and (3) learns more about the response processes that women use when answering questions about race. Nine States and the District of Columbia recruited 763 women to participate in this study. The study tests the effects of different questions on race, both in a mail and a followup telephone survey. The mother's self-reported race is compared with what she reported on the actual birth record. Further, for those residents with two children, the study compared consistency of race reporting between the last two birth records. The report concludes that (1) the number of women reporting more than one race increases when the race questions include a multiracial cue or "mark all that apply" format; (2) women who report more than one race are more likely to enter two specific races rather than a term like multiracial; (3) among the mothers whose parents who were two or more races, self-reports of race on the last two birth records are inconsistent 25 percent of the time; and (4) self-reports of race are different 40 percent of the time between the birth record and the standard version of the mail survey. (Final report: 48 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: National Center for Health Statistics
FEDERAL CONTACT: Susan Schechter-Ryan
PHONE NUMBER: (301) 436-7111
PIC ID: 5918
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Westat, Incorporated, Rockville, MD
TITLE: Management and Operational Impacts of HIV Prevention Community Planning: Lessons Learned at Mid-Course and Implications for Future Activities
ABSTRACT: HIV Prevention Community Planning, implemented in January 1994, represented a major policy change in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding policy. Prior to that time, State, territorial, and local health department grantees with prevention funds were required to spend most of their cooperative agreement funds on counseling and testing services. A new emphasis on planning through HIV Prevention Community Planning requires grantees to set their own HIV prevention priorities locally through a process that emphasizes input from the affected communities and relevant technical experts. This project broadly evaluated the policy impact of this new planning process on grantees' HIV prevention programs as demonstrated by budgetary and operational indicators. This is an issue of national importance, as the HIV prevention community planning process affects over $200 million dollars in HIV prevention funds across the country. This first phase of a two-phase project ascertained how community planning is confirming, enhancing, and changing HIV prevention programs. A methodology for obtaining information on the indicators for a retrospective study was also developed and piloted during this phase of the study. The report finds that (1) a prospective and iterative approach to planning, implementation, and assessment is the most valuable approach; (2) in a prospective approach, the baseline is the set of circumstances extant at the beginning of the process, and site-specific goals and objectives are developed and tracked; and (3) more detailed guidance addressing these issues could help operationalize this kind of approach. Finally, the report finds that the indicators offering the most promise are (1) correspondence between the community plan, proposed activities, and undertaken activities; (2) quality assurance for implementation; and (3) capacity building and infrastructure development. (Final report: 28 pages, plus appendices.)
AGENCY SPONSOR: National Center for HIV, STD and TB Control
FEDERAL CONTACT: Carol Robinson
PHONE NUMBER: (404) 639-0952
PIC ID: 5927
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Macro International, Incorporated, Atlanta, GA
TITLE: CDC's Early Implementation of GPRA: A Case Study--July 1995 to November 1996
ABSTRACT: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) stresses the importance of government agencies' monitoring their results or outcomes in order to improve their management of associated processes and outputs. GPRA mandates that each agency produce a 5-year strategic plan and a 1-year performance plan by September 1997. This report offers a record of the experience of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its early implementation of GPRA. It documents the process, summarizes key findings, and recommends strategies and approaches for the ongoing implementation of GPRA. The report finds that (1) implementation during the study phase did not proceed at the anticipated rate (instead of a fully developed strategic plan and pilot performance plans, most of the effort has concentrated on a strategic plan that is not yet drafted-little attention has been paid to the performance plans); (2) the role and responsibilities of the GPRA Implementation Team (GIT) evolved over the study period; (3) the GIT suffered from shifting membership, lack of continuity in meeting attendance, and an overall insufficient level of effort; (4) more effective and comprehensive planning and coordination was needed; and (5) despite the large amount of time and effort devoted to GPRA, the levels and types of commitment and resources fell short of what was needed. The report also concludes that insufficient momentum, commitment, and resources were a greater problem than ineffective planning; the process could have benefitted from greater executive staff involvement early on; and the process was often frustrating for participants. The report recommends that (1) organizational change efforts be unified under a high-level champion or team; (2) the Office of Program Planning and Evaluation's charge of implementing GPRA requirements be maintained; (3) the GIT be revamped; and (4) realistic budget be developed, requested, and executed.
AGENCY SPONSOR: Office of the Director
FEDERAL CONTACT: Wilma G. Johnson
PHONE NUMBER: (404) 639-7090
PIC ID: 5928
PERFORMER ORGANIZATION: Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC
TITLE: Collaborating with Managed Care Organizations for Mammography Screening and Rescreening: Guidance for NBCCEDP Grantees
ABSTRACT: Clinical trials show that mammography screening among women aged 50-69 years can reduce mortality from breast cancer by as much as 30 to 40 percent. Thus, more complete mammography screening coverage is needed throughout the Nation. This project was undertaken with a dual purpose: (1) to evaluate strategies used in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) to reach women 50 years and older for the early detection of breast cancer; and (2) to assess potential partnership opportunities between public health and managed care organizations to increase the coverage of mammography screening. Currently, all States, the 5 territories, and 25 American Indian tribes are funded by the NBCCEDP to establish and manage comprehensive breast and cervical cancer screening services for women who are minorities, low-income, and age 50 or older, a population that seeks mammography services less often than other women because of cost, knowledge, and other barriers. The report notes that the increased use of managed care organizations (MCOs) by State Medicaid programs offers new opportunities and incentives to build partnerships between NBCCEDP grantees and MCOs. The report finds that (1) because grantees give priority to women who are low-income, uninsured, racial minorities, or Native American, special attention must be paid to educating and building relationships with MCOs in outreach, case management, and followup; (2) both sectors will benefit from data partnerships and community collaborations; (3) most current MCO efforts in the area of breast and cervical cancer detection are data-driven and office-based; and (4) health plans target providers more than patients to increase their attention to the prevention effort. The report also addresses opportunities for collaboration, barriers to and facilitators of such collaboration, and strategies that programs might use to enhance screening efforts. See also PIC ID No. 6273.1.
AGENCY SPONSOR: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion