Accomplishments 2023: Research, Evaluation, and Analytic Services

Research, Evaluation, and Analytic Services

Service Areas

Comparative analyses
Data visualization
Focus groups
Interviews
Data Science
Multi-level modeling
Outcome evaluations
Qualitative data analyses
Random sampling

New Editions brings a cadre of doctoral-prepared social scientists with decades of experience conducting research, evaluation, and analytic services to inform federal, state, and local policy, program development and operations, and to contribute to the resources and research literature on federally-funded and community-based programs. In recent work, New Editions drafted journal articles to communicate findings from completed multi-site, multimethod data collections using surveys, interviews, and focus groups to professional audiences. We consulted with technical experts and program leaders to inform research questions and study designs, identify partners, and enhance recruitment of study participants. Our services focused on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to Older Americans Act (OAA) services and service recipients, adult protective services (APS), home-and community-based services, equity in procurement for the small business association (SBA), accessibility of data-derived products, and education for children with disabilities. We also undertook several projects focused on data analytics and multilevel modeling approaches to large-scale data.

Prepared a range of reports on issues to inform Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policy and guidance. New Editions prepared seven reports including reports related to how states responded to COVID and prepared for unwinding from the pandemic, state summaries and milestones reports presenting states’ progress coming into compliance with the HCBS Settings rule, and other reports as requested.
Awarded a contract to support evaluation services for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). This contract focuses on engaging people with disabilities and their family members and providing critical feedback and insights that will help NIDILRR continue to make meaningful and innovative contributions in rehabilitation medicine, engineering, psychosocial rehabilitation, integration, vocational outcomes, and the virtual and built environments.
Prepared draft manuscripts for journal articles to communicate findings to professional audiences following the September 2022 completion of data collection and reporting for the APS client outcomes study, the first such study of APS client outcomes in more than fifty years. Manuscripts will be submitted only upon ACL approval. Focus of articles drafted to date includes multilevel modeling of APS client survey data, predictors of client outcomes using NAMRS data.
Forged a new collaboration with Prealize, an IT firm primarily serving commercial markets, to apply innovative data capture and mobilization methods to foster novel analytic approaches to ACL programs. Collaborated with Prealize and ACL Office of Performance and Evaluation (OPE) to consider and define potential correlates/risk factors for inclusion. Following delivery of data product, New Editions will provide analytic support as needed to facilitate examination of applicability/value of this approach.
Conducted literature review on equity in federal procurement to inform SBA efforts to promote equity in federal contracting. For this project, New Editions mobilized a team of social scientists, together with subject matter experts in equity and in federal procurement, to refine research questions, design and conduct a literature review, conduct a narrative analysis, and develop three memoranda and a final report to summarize the findings. The team also used the findings to develop and obtain agency feedback and approval for a definition of equity in federal procurement and a logic model to inform future equity evaluation efforts.
Provided analytic and writing support to the Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs to develop and publish the 44th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a 340-page report on our nation’s progress in (1) providing a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities, (2) providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, (3) ensuring that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected, (4) assisting States and localities in providing IDEA services to all children with disabilities, and (5) assessing the effectiveness of efforts to provide IDEA services to children with disabilities.
Performed random sampling of state applications for CMS home and community-based settings programs using a modifiable statistical program authored and managed by New Editions. The statistical program is regularly updated to import state application information that CMS receives on a rolling basis and randomly samples for CMS compliance review of Statewide Transition Plan (STP) Heightened Scrutiny information.