Mathematica Policy Research

Registration Open for Center on Health Care Effectiveness Forum on September 9

Coummunications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:01:27 GMT

Register Now for September 9 Forum/Webinar: "Politics and Policy of Comparative Effectiveness: Looking Back, Looking Ahead."

A Continuing Program for Increasing Insurance Coverage Among Low-Income Families

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:52:17 GMT

This evaluation of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Covering Kids & Families^® (CKF) program examined ways to improve the program and assess CKF’s effects on policy and procedures, as well as the effects of policy and procedures on coverage.

Projected Health Care Spending in Minnesota

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:54:09 GMT

This report projects health care spending in Minnesota from 2008 to 2018, updating Mathematica’s earlier projections completed in 2009. Changes to the input data are documented, as are changes to the methodology to account for the recession’s spending impacts and health care reform.

What Works Clearinghouse: Adolescent Literary Programs

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:55:07 GMT

Programs designed to improve adolescent literacy are the focus of three new What Works Clearinghouse reports. The reports review the research on Reading Mastery, Accelerated Reader™, and Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction.

Food Expenditures and Diet Quality Among Low-Income Households and Individuals

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:56:21 GMT

This report studies the relationship between food expenditures and dietary outcomes for SNAP participants and other low-income individuals and households.

Trends in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates: 2001 to 2008

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:57:10 GMT

This report presents and discusses trends in SNAP eligibility and participation from 2001 to 2008.

Empirical Bayes Shrinkage Estimates of State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates in 2005-2007 for All Eligible People and the Working Poor

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:58:02 GMT

This report presents participation rate estimates that measure the effectiveness of SNAP from 2005 to 2007 and estimates participation rates for the “working poor”—those eligible for SNAP who live in households in which someone earned income from a job. It also provides details about the methods used.

Four Appointed Senior Fellows

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:04:21 GMT

Mathematica Policy Research recently appointed Mary Kay Fox, Brian Gill, Steven Glazerman, and Christopher Trenholm as senior fellows. Fox and Gill are in the firm’s Cambridge, Mass. ofice, Glazerman is located in the firm's Washington, D.C. office, and Trenholm is based in Mathematica's Princeton, N.J. office.

Ponza Named Associate Director of Human Services Research

Communications — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:03:30 GMT

Mathematica Policy Research recently announced the appointment of Michael Ponza as associate director of Human Services Research. Ponza is based in Mathematica’s Oakland, Calif., office.

Center on Health Care Effectiveness Forum September 9

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:04:36 GMT

Interest in comparative effectiveness research (evaluating which health care interventions work best under what circumstances) has surged in recent years. In an era of rising health care spending, policymakers seek tools to moderate the cost of public entitlement programs and to facilitate affordable coverage expansions. Health care reform included a major new initiative on comparative effectiveness research, but a number of important questions were deferred to another time. This forum, to be held in Mathematica's Washington D.C. office, will discuss four ongoing policy challenges relevant to the successful implementation of comparative effectiveness research: funding, appropriate use, direction of the enterprise, and proper scope. Attend in person or via webinar.

Engaging Patients and Families in the Medical Home

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:06:35 GMT

This paper, one of three recent white papers for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on the patient centered medical home (PCMH), offers policymakers and researchers insights into opportunities to engage patients and families in the medical home. It presents a framework for conceptualizing opportunities for engagement, reviews the evidence base for these activities, describes examples of existing efforts, suggests key lessons for future efforts, and discusses implications for policy and research.

Integrating Mental Health Treatment Into the Patient Centered Medical Home

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:08:51 GMT

This paper, one of three recent white papers for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on the patient centered medical home (PCMH), identifies the conceptual similarities in and differences between the PCMH and current strategies used to deliver mental health treatment in primary care. The paper finds that even though adoption of the PCMH has the potential to enhance delivery of mental health treatment in primary care, several programmatic and policy actions are needed to facilitate integration of high quality mental health treatment within a PCMH.

Necessary But Not Sufficient: The HITECH Act and Health Information Technology’s Potential to Build Medical Homes

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:10:06 GMT

This paper, one of three recent white papers for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on the patient centered medical home (PCMH), examines how the HITECH Act could be harnessed to help practices implement technology and support key principles of the PCMH

Therapeutic Alliance in Pediatric Primary Care: Preliminary Evidence for a Relationship with Physician Communication

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:12:16 GMT

This article found it is possible to use a variation of the Vanderbilt Therapeutic Alliance Scale (VTAS) to rate parent-provider interactions in pediatric primary care. Measuring therapeutic alliance may be a useful tool in evaluating interventions to improve the delivery of mental health services in primary care because of its potential specificity as a marker of mental health-related outcomes.

Establishing and Maintaining Medicaid Eligibility Upon Release from Public Institutions

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:13:06 GMT

This report describes an evaluation of Oklahoma’s efforts to develop and implement a model program to ensure that eligible individuals with mental illness were enrolled in Medicaid at discharge from state prisons and institutions for mental diseases.

Student Achievement in New York City Middle Schools Affiliated with Achievement First and Uncommon Schools

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:13:47 GMT

This report presents findings from a nonexperimental analysis estimating the effect on student achievement of a small number of New York City charter middle schools affiliated with two charter management organizations, Achievement First and Uncommon. After three years, impacts are statistically significant and substantively meaningful, translating to an estimated additional 0.9 years of growth in math and 0.7 years in reading.

New Reports from What Works Clearinghouse

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:14:52 GMT

New reports from the What Works Clearinghouse examine the research on the following: Read Naturally is designed to improve reading fluency using a combination of books, audiotapes, and computer software. The WWC review determined that Read Naturally has potentially positive effects on the writing skills of students with learning disabilities, but no discernible effects on reading fluency for these same students. Literacy Express, a preschool literacy curriculum designed for three- to five-year-old children, has positive effects on oral language, print knowledge, and phonological processing, and no discernible effects on cognition and math. Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics, a core curriculum for students at all ability levels in pre-kindergarten through grade 6, has mixed effects on mathematics achievement for elementary school students.

Aging in Place: Do Older Americans Act Title III Services Reach Those Most Likely to Enter Nursing Homes?

Communications — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:02:51 GMT

This issue brief, the first in a series, presents findings from the Administration on Aging’s National Survey of Older Americans Act Program Participants and assesses whether Title III services are reaching adults at higher risk of nursing home entry.

Charter School Effectiveness Webinar Recording Now Available

Communications — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:43:10 GMT

Charter School Effectiveness: Putting It in Perspective, a webinar from the Center for Improving Research Evidence is now available.

Care Coordination and Disease Management

Communications — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:28:47 GMT

This report reviews evidence and opportunities for governors to control health care costs and improve outcomes through quality initiatives, coordinated care, primary care and prevention, and payment reforms.

State-Based Advocacy as a Tool for Expanding Children’s Coverage: Lessons from Site Visits to Six IAC Grantee States

Communications — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:30:26 GMT

This brief summarizes key findings gleaned from site visits to states where the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s Insuring America’s Children: States Leading the Way (IAC) program has made multiyear "Finish Line" grants. These findings describe the importance of persistence, flexibility, creativity, and commitment to conducting effective states-based advocacy as well as building strong, broad-based coalitions including grassroots and state-level stakeholders. While acknowledging that much work remains, the brief cites important gains in children’s coverage since the IAC efforts began, despite the economic downturn.

Strategic Engagement of Policymakers Is Key to Advancing a Children’s Health Care Coverage Policy Agenda

Communications — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:39:30 GMT

This brief examines how policymakers’ positive engagement can benefit children’s health care coverage advocates, as well as the strategies for making this engagement happen. Key strategies include understanding states’ unique political environments; identifying, nurturing, and supporting political champions; creating strategic links between grassroots organizations and policy advocacy groups; creating effective, appealing messages for policymakers; establishing advocacy groups as the “go-to” resource for reliable data and information; and sharing ownership of agendas and successes with champions and key policymakers.

Mathematica Experts Present at Joint Statistical Meetings

Communications — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:17:38 GMT

Mathematica’s statistics experts will present at the 2010 Joint Statistical Meetings, the largest gathering of statisticians held in North America, July 31 to August 5 in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

The Effectiveness of Mandatory-Random Student Drug Testing

Communications — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:41:05 GMT

This report presents findings from an evaluation of the mandatory-random student drug testing (MRSDT) programs in 36 high schools from seven districts that received grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools in 2006. Executive Summary.

What Works Clearinghouse: New Intervention Reports and Quick Reviews

Communications — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:07:13 GMT

Programs designed to improve reading comprehension and fluency are the focus of two new intervention reports. The first looks at the research on Reading Apprenticeship^®, an instructional approach targeted to middle school, high school, and community college students. The second reviews the research on READ 180^®, a reading program designed for students in grades 3–12 whose reading achievement is below the proficient level.

New quick reviews rate a Head Start impact study and look at an evaluation of abstinence-only education programs.

What Works Clearinghouse: Read Naturally® Intervention Report and Two Quick Reviews

Communications — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:37:22 GMT

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has released a new intervention report examining the research on Read Naturally^® for English language learners. Read Naturally^® is a supplemental reading program designed to improve reading fluency. Based on a review of the available research, the WWC found the program to have no discernible effects on reading achievement and English language development for elementary school English language learners.

Two new WWC quick reviews are available. The first examines a study on the aftereffects of closing public schools in Chicago, and the second looks at an evaluation of charter school performance in New York City.

Selecting Policy Indicators and Developing Simulation Models for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs

Communications — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:39:20 GMT

This report describes exploratory work to develop a simulation model to predict the potential effects of changes in policies and practices related to school meals and school food environments. Executive Summary.

Student Characteristics and Outcomes in Alternative and Neighborhood High Schools in Philadelphia

Communications — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:34:18 GMT

This report presents descriptive analyses of the enrollment patterns, background characteristics, test scores, and graduation rates of students enrolled in three types of public high schools in Philadelphia: alternative disciplinary schools; alternative accelerated schools for students who struggled academically in regular public high schools; and regular, neighborhood-zoned high schools.

An Experimental Evaluation of Four Elementary School Math Curricula

Communications — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:35:45 GMT

This article examines the effectiveness of four distinct elementary school math curricula: Investigations in Number, Data, and Space^®; Math Expressions; Saxon Math^™; and Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics (SFAW). An average-performing first-grader's percentile rank in math would be 9 to 12 points higher if the school used Math Expressions or Saxon^™, instead of Investigations^® or SFAW (subscription required).

Low Skilled Immigration and Work-Fertility Tradeoffs Among High Skilled US Natives

Communications — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:42:30 GMT

This article examines the impact of low skilled immigration on the childbearing and labor supply decisions of high-education female natives of the United States. The authors find that an influx of low skilled immigrants to a city attenuates the negative relationship between female labor force participation (LFP) and fertility, leading to an increase in the proportion of women that both work and have a young child in the home. The authors argue that the smaller LFP-fertility tradeoff attributable to immigrant workers arises due to reductions in cost of childrearing. Whereas most immigration research focuses on the reduced employment prospects of natives, this paper considers the potential benefits of immigration to high skilled native women.

The Seeds to Success Modified Field Test: Findings from the Impact and Implementation Studies

Communications — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:43:52 GMT

This report presents findings from an impact evaluation and implementation study of the Seeds to Success Modified Field Test, a child care quality rating and improvement system in Washington State.

What Works Clearinghouse: Reports on Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities

Communications — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:46:03 GMT

Eight new reports review the research on these Orton-Gillingham–based programs for students with learning disabilities: Orton-Gillingham–based Strategies, Alphabetic Phonics, Barton Reading & Spelling System^®, Fundations^®, Dyslexia Training Program, Herman Method™, Wilson Reading System^®, and Project Read^® Phonology. Orton-Gillingham teaching sessions are action-oriented with auditory, visual, and kinesthetic elements reinforcing one another.

Politics and Policy of Comparative Effectiveness: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Communications — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:50:52 GMT

Interest in evaluating which health care interventions work best under what circumstances has surged in recent years as health care spending has risen. This brief, the first from Mathematica’s Center on Health Care Effectiveness, looks at the new comparative effectiveness research (CER) initiative passed as part of health care reform. The authors discuss the status of four ongoing policy challenges relevant to the successful implementation of CER: funding mechanism, how the research gets used, how the CER enterprise is directed, and perhaps most fundamentally, the proper scope of CER. They note important questions remain whose resolution may prove critical to the future role of this research in U.S. health care.

Children’s Food Security and Intakes from School Meals

Communications — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:55:08 GMT

Using 2005 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment survey, this study examines the contribution of school meals to the food and nutrient intake of children in food-secure, marginally secure, and food-insecure households. The study finds that children from food-insecure and marginally secure households receive a larger proportion of their food and nutrient intakes at school than do children from highly secure households.

Implementing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Puerto Rico: A Feasibility Study

Communications — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:55:53 GMT

This study assesses the potential impact of establishing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Puerto Rico, including the administrative burden and costs to both the U.S. government and the government of Puerto Rico. Executive Summary.

Medicare Advantage 2010 Data Spotlight: Plan Enrollment Patterns and Trends

Communications — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:03:28 GMT

This spotlight examines enrollment trends in Medicare Advantage plans, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans. Despite the availability of many private Medicare Advantage plans, enrollment is highly concentrated among a small number of firms.

Early Learning Initiative

Communications — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:01:12 GMT

In 2006, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Early Learning Initiative to improve the school readiness of Washington State’s children. Two communities, East Yakima and White Center, have implemented strategies to meet the initiative’s goals. Mathematica conducted a formative evaluation of one component of the initiative, home-based early learning services, to learn how home-visiting programs have been implemented within the two communities as well as the quality and content of the home visits. A new series of briefs describe the study’s findings and provide recommendations for developing and evaluating home-visiting programs.

"Better Beginnings: Developing Home-Based Early Learning Systems in East Yakima and White Center." Kristin Hallgren, Diane Paulsell, and Patricia Del Grosso, May 2010. This brief summarizes the experiences of two communities in developing home-based early learning services.

"Better Beginnings: Partnering with Families for Early Learning Home Visit Observations." Kristin Hallgren, Kimberly Boller, and Diane Paulsell, May 2010. This brief provides an overview of the observation instruments and describes the content and quality of the observed home visits.

How Temporary Insurance for High-Risk Individuals May Play Out Under Health Reform

Communications — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:05:41 GMT

This article from Health Affairs identifies continuing issues and barriers for many consumers seeking health coverage in high-risk insurance pools under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The article notes how the new federal program is intended to serve only the currently uninsured—leaving in place until 2014 the states’ existing high-risk pools for many denied private coverage.

The Evaluation of Charter School Impacts

Communications — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:57:05 GMT

This report provides findings from the largest charter school study of its kind to date to use an experimental design. On average, charter middle schools that hold lotteries are neither more nor less successful than traditional public schools in improving student achievement, behavior, and school progress; however, impacts varied widely across schools. Charter school impacts were most positive among schools in large urban areas and among those serving the most disadvantaged students.

New Center Focuses on Health Care Effectiveness

Communications — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:40:55 GMT

Mathematica has launched the Center on Health Care Effectiveness, a resource for policymakers, the public, and other stakeholders, offering broad-based expertise to provide objective evidence to inform today’s difficult health care decisions.

Staff to Present at Annual AcademyHealth Conference

Cheryl Pedersen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:49:33 GMT

Mathematica’s health experts, including many affiliated with our new Center on Health Care Effectiveness, will be presenting nearly three dozen papers and posters at AcademyHealth’s 26th annual research meeting in Boston from June 26 to 29. Topics include health care reform, Medicare cost performance, racial and ethnic disparities in health care, insurance coverage expansion, Medicaid spending efficiency, care coordination, health information technology, mental health, and more. Read more.

The Starting Point: The Balance of State Long-Term Care Systems Before the Implementation of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration

Communications — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:47:20 GMT

The fourth report of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration provides an early assessment of the balance of home and community-based care services (HCBS) and institutional long-term care systems in states before MFP was implemented. By looking at the status of these long-term systems state-by-state, the assessment helps to develop a baseline to measure the program’s impacts on long-term care systems.

Student Characteristics and Achievement in 22 KIPP Middle Schools

Communications — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:48:19 GMT

This report presents the first findings from a multi-year evaluation of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), a network of charter schools for disadvantaged students. Using a matched comparison group design, results show that for the vast majority of KIPP schools in the evaluation, impacts on students’ state assessment scores in math and reading are positive, statistically significant, and educationally substantial.

What Works Clearinghouse: New Report and Quick Review

Communications — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:50:39 GMT

A new report reviews the research on Project CRISS^® (Creating Independence through Student-owned Strategies), a professional development program for teachers that aims to improve reading, writing, and learning for third- through twelfth-grade students. Project CRISS^® had potentially positive effects on comprehension for adolescent learners.

A new quick review looks at an evaluation of the Ready to Learn Initiative. The study examined the effects of using media-rich literacy and science curriculums to improve the literacy of preschoolers. The study design is consistent with WWC evidence standards.

Watch Health Affairs Briefing on Health Reform

Communications — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:53:29 GMT

Senior fellow Deborah Chollet spoke about high-risk insurance pools at Moving Forward on Health Reform, a Health Affairs briefing on June 8. She joined a distinguished panel of policy experts who presented on insurance regulations, market reform, and Medicaid expansion.

New What Works Clearinghouse Report on Read Well®

Communications — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:35:31 GMT

A new report looks at the effectiveness of Read Well^® in improving English language literacy. A reading curriculum for kindergarten and first-grade students, Read Well^® provides instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. Based on a review of the research, the WWC found Read Well^® to have no discernible effects on reading achievement and potentially positive effects on English language development.

Evidence Scan of Work Experience Programs

Communications — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:32:42 GMT

This report presents evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that include work experience as a strategy to improve employment outcomes for people with barriers to employment. The report reviews 26 years of rigorous research gathering information from 27 evaluations. The author distinguishes between interventions targeting adults versus youth, paid versus unpaid work, and length of work opportunity.

College Experiences Survey: Methodological Summary

Communications — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:33:47 GMT

This report summarizes the College Experiences Survey data collection procedures and results. The survey was part of the College Student Attrition Project conducted by the Survey Research Center at Princeton University, an evaluation to better understand the factors associated with college persistence and attrition.

Institute of Education Sciences Research Conference

Communications — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:31:15 GMT

Mathematica's education researchers will present at the annual Institute of Education Sciences Research Conference, Connecting Research, Policy, and Practice, in National Harbor, MD, from June 28 to 30.

Center for Improving Research Evidence Launches Website

Communications — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:27:24 GMT

For policymakers, philanthropies, practitioners, and others concerned with evidence-based decision making, Mathematica’s Center for Improving Research Evidence (CIRE) provides training and assistance in designing, conducting, assessing, and using a range of scientific policy research and evaluations in worldwide settings.

An Evaluation of the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) in Chicago: Year Two Impact Report

Communications — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:44:42 GMT

This report details second-year results from Mathematica’s study on Chicago Public Schools’ Teacher Advancement Program (TAP), a Teacher Incentive Fund grantee. The TAP model offers teachers performance pay, professional development, and advancement opportunities based in part on their students’ achievement growth.

Medical Homes: Will They Improve Primary Care?

Communications — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:47:03 GMT

The sixth brief in a new series on reforming health care looks at federal and state efforts to establish medical homes and notes considerations for policymakers seeking to improve access to services and the quality of care. Access all the briefs.

Compendium of Student, Teacher, and Classroom Measures Used in NCEE Evaluations of Educational Interventions, Volumes I and II

Communications — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:48:37 GMT

Two new reports contain resources to help researchers and policymakers review measures used in the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE) evaluations of educational interventions for preschool through grade 12. They discuss criteria and their importance in selecting measures for assessing intervention impacts on student, teacher, and classroom outcomes, and present profiles or table summaries about these measures.

Holcomb Joins DC Staff

Communications — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:00:21 GMT

Pamela Holcomb joined Mathematica’s Washington, DC, office as a senior researcher in family support and labor/workforce development.

Tenth Annual Head Start National Research Conference

Communications — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:42:04 GMT

Mathematica’s early childhood experts will present at the Administration for Children and Families Tenth Annual Head Start National Research Conference, June 21 through 23, in Washington, D.C.

Low-Income Household Spending Patterns and Measures of Poverty

Communications — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:57:58 GMT

This report looks at spending patterns for food, housing, health care, and other categories of low-income households in 2005. It compares allocations of consumption across spending categories for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households, eligible nonparticipating households, and ineligible low income households. It also analyzes how SNAP eligibility might change under an expenditure-based poverty threshold and explores savings and credit for these three groups.

National Symposium on the Patient-Centered Medical Home

Communications — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:01:04 GMT

A national symposium on the patient-centered medical home brought together experts in primary care, health services and implementation research, health systems and insurance, as well as policymakers to develop a research agenda. The commissioned papers, reflecting discussions at the conference, are in the June issue (subscription required) of the Journal of General Internal Medicine:

"Using Evidence to Inform Policy: Developing a Policy-Relevant Research Agenda for the Patient-Centered Medical Home." This paper summarizes the symposium.

"U.S. Approaches to Physician Payment: The Deconstruction of Primary Care." This paper addresses why the three dominant alternatives to compensating physicians (fee-for-service, capitation, and salary) fall short of what is needed to support enhanced primary care in the patient-centered medical home and the relevance of payment reforms, such as pay-for-performance and episodes/bundling.

New Webinar from the Department of Education and Mathematica

Communications — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:04:43 GMT

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) will award Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grants in 2010. TIF supports projects that develop and implement performance-based compensation systems for teachers and principals, and potentially other personnel, to increase educator effectiveness and student achievement in high-need schools. The Notice of Final Priorities includes two competitions for grants to be awarded in 2010: the main TIF competition, and the TIF evaluation competition. Awards under the evaluation competition will include $1 million, and up to $2 million, in additional funds.

Mathematica will be conducting the national impact evaluation of TIF and will be providing in-depth technical assistance to help evaluation grantees implement the performance-based compensation systems they propose.

Questions about how to apply for TIF grants under the evaluation competition? Learn more about the benefits of the evaluation competition, how to apply, and submit your questions. For applicant information, such as Federal Register Notices, timelines, and frequently asked questions, click here.

Join us for this webinar that will provide details about the evaluation competition and a question and answer session.
Date: Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Time: 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. EDT
How to Register: www.mathematica-mpr.com/education/tifgrantee.asp

New Quick Review from What Works Clearinghouse

Communications — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:59:34 GMT

The latest What Works Clearinghouse quick review looks at the H&R Block Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) experiment. This study examined whether assistance in filling out the FAFSA increases college enrollment and financial aid receipt.

Successfully Implementing SOAR: Lessons Learned from Six States

Communications — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:06:58 GMT

This brief details factors that help states and communities successfully implement the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) initiative, a program to improve access to disability benefits for people who are homeless.

Mathematica TANF Experts Present at ACF Conference

Communications — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:45:49 GMT

Mathematica’s experts in TANF policy, building strong families, at-risk youth and the workforce, employment strategies for the hard-to-serve, and the food assistance safety net are presenting at the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Policy Research and Evaluation Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference in Washington, DC, June 2 to 4. View presenters and topics.

Toward Closing the Evaluation Gap: Lessons Learned from Three Recent Impact Evaluations of Social Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean

Communications — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:12:45 GMT

This journal article identifies how impact evaluations are encouraged and resisted in Latin America and the Caribbean. Drawing on case studies from work in El Salvador, Jamaica, and Mexico, the authors outline best practices for successfully designing and implementing a high quality impact evaluation.

Meaning in the Method: Pretesting Methods for a Diverse Population

Communications — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:13:40 GMT

This issue brief presents findings from the Universal Preschool Child Outcomes Study, which examined a diverse group of Los Angeles preschoolers. The study integrated three strategies—card sorts, focus groups, and cognitive interviewing—to measure how parents rate their children’s social-emotional behavior. The brief examines the implications of using these measures, which were developed by and for clinicians, with diverse populations.

Building Strong Families Project Short Term Impact Reports

Communications — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:34:30 GMT

These reports for the Building Strong Families (BSF) project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, provide short-term impact results and review the study design and implementation.

"Strengthening Unmarried Parents’ Relationships: The Early Impacts of Building Strong Families.” This report provides impacts on couples about 15 months after they applied for the program. Executive Summary.

"Implementation of Eight Programs to Strengthen Unmarried Parent Families." This report documents the design and implementation of the eight BSF programs, reports on program services, analyzes characteristics of couples and programs, and describes experiences of couples in the program.

"Strengthening Unmarried Parents’ Relationships: The Early Impacts of Building Strong Families: Technical Supplement." This technical supplement provides add

Phone or Face-to-Face? Comparing Data from Surveys of People with Disabilities

Communications — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:14:38 GMT

This issue brief compares the quality of data collected for the National Beneficiary Survey (NBS), a survey of people with mental and physical impairments, via computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) and computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI).

An Experimental Assessment of the Effects of Reading Software Products on Reading Test Scores

Communications — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:33:19 GMT

This study evaluated the effectiveness of nine reading instructional software applications—five for first graders and four for fourth graders. Using standardized tests, classroom observation, and other school records data, findings indicated the software altered instructional activities but did not significantly impact test scores. An additional year of followup yielded mixed results, with measured effects being lower in the first grade and higher in the fourth grade.

Relationship Education for Unmarried Couples with Children: Parental Responses to the Building Strong Families Project

Communications — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:35:07 GMT

An implementation study of the Building Strong Families (BSF) programs indicates that many unmarried couples are interested in services to strengthen their relationships around the time of their child’s birth. More than 5,000 couples volunteered for the BSF study across eight states. Although couples report learning from and valuing the program, they also have many life challenges, and practitioners must be proactive in supporting ongoing participation.

Prospects for Rebuilding Primary Care Using the Patient-Centered Medical Home

Communications — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:36:08 GMT

This article analyzes potential barriers in the U.S. to the patient-centered medical home model, which is considered policy shorthand for the reinvention of primary care. Barriers include developing new payment models, personnel and infrastructure funding, and methods to facilitate transforming existing practices to functioning medical homes.

What Works Clearinghouse: New Topic Area on Disabilities, New Math Report

Communications — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:46:49 GMT

A new topic area from the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the research on improving learning for children with disabilities. This area will identify what interventions help prepare these children for kindergarten and elementary school. The first report looks at the research on dialogic reading, an interactive reading practice designed to enhance language and literacy skills.

A new math report summarizes research on Saxon Math, a textbook series covering mathematical concepts for grades K–12.

Reaching Staff, Parents, and Community Partners to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Head Start, 2008

Communications — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:49:37 GMT

This report details how Head Start—the largest federally funded early childhood education program in the U.S. that reaches one million children—uses a multilevel approach to prevent childhood obesity that involves staff, parents, and community partners.

An Approach for Addressing the Multiple Testing Problem in Social Policy Impact Evaluations

Communications — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:52:59 GMT

In social policy evaluations, the multiple testing problem occurs due to the many hypothesis tests typically conducted across multiple outcomes and subgroups, which can lead to spurious impact findings. This article discusses a framework that balances Types I and II errors for addressing this problem.

Does Prefilling Questions in a Longitudinal Survey Encourage Participation?

Communications — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:53:53 GMT

This article discusses an experiment embedded in the 2008 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services that tested whether prefilling some fields in the annual questionnaire would encourage continued facility participation. The option, offered to facilities that completed a web questionnaire, resulted in a statistically significant increase in the number of web completes in the treatment group, suggesting that the option affected survey mode choice, which also minimized paper questionnaire editing and data processing costs.

Racial Disparities in Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care—Sensitive Conditions

Communications — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:43:30 GMT

This study identified differences in hospitalization rates for elderly African Americans and whites in Maryland for eight ambulatory care-sensitive conditions and estimated excess costs associated with these disparities. The study found that African Americans had significantly higher hospitalization rates for five of eight conditions, indicating that race may be a key predictor of preventable hospitalizations. Improving care for minorities may reduce differences in care and lower hospital costs.

First 5 Contra Costa Report on Parent Involvement

Communications — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:44:59 GMT

This report provides insight into parent opinions of and involvement with child care programs participating in Preschool Makes a Difference. It also offers First 5 Contra Costa new accounts of how programs support the diverse needs of Contra Costa parents.

Providing Health Benefits and Work-Related Services to Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries: Six-Month Results from the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration

Communications — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:20:56 GMT

This brief, the second in a series, evaluates the impacts of the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration, which provides earlier access to health coverage and related services to uninsured beneficiaries. Early findings indicate that the demonstration increased the use of health care services and reduced reported unmet health care needs for these individuals during the first six months following random assignment.

Roads to Success: Estimated Impacts of an Education and Career Planning Program During Middle School

Communications — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:23:22 GMT

This report assesses the impact of two years of exposure to the school and career planning program, Roads to Success, on eighth graders from high-poverty rural schools. The main findings are that the program had no measurable effect on desire to learn job skills or study/learning habits. However, exploratory analyses suggest positive impacts on talking to school staff about career/school plans and on gaining confidence in two areas: choosing careers and understanding what is required for career success. Estimated impacts on student behaviors were mixed.

Pre-Design Study for the Evaluation of Recovery Act Green Jobs, Health Care, and Other High Growth Competitive Grants

Communications — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:25:01 GMT

This white paper provides guidance to the U.S. Department of Labor on different methodologies for evaluating grant programs established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grants provide funding for workers to be trained for jobs in health care, green technology, and other high-growth employment sectors.

Promising Antipoverty Strategies for Families

Communications — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:29:11 GMT

This paper reviews family structure, its relationship to employment, and the recession’s impact on poor families. To reduce poverty, the report proposes policies that help parents balance work and caretaking, and support their children.

Mathematica Experts to Present at 65th Annual AAPOR Conference

Communications — Wed, 05 May 2010 08:34:31 GMT

Mathematica’s survey experts will be well represented at the 65th American Association for Public Opinion Research Annual Conference, Opportunity through Diversity, in May. The conference brings together the country’s leading survey research scientists to discuss and analyze the latest findings on public opinion and survey methodology, theory, and results. If you're attending the conference, please stop by our booth #103 in the exhibit hall to pick up new issue briefs on survey topics.

Analysis of Transition Events in Health Insurance Coverage

Communications — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:24:21 GMT

This report analyzes factors that contribute to people losing or gaining health care coverage, prioritizes future research areas, and offers findings to inform future health care reform policy.

What Do We Know About the Link Between Marriage and Health?

Communications — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:25:59 GMT

This special journal issue presents nine new studies on the relationship between marriage and health among African Americans. It discusses health disparities between African Americans and other racial and ethnic groups, offers an overview of African American marriage rates, and presents evidence for the marriage-health link in this population.

Teachers Incentive Fund Grants Webinar

Communications — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:30:25 GMT

Watch the webinar on the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) evaluation competition. TIF grants support innovative approaches to reforming teacher pay and performance-based compensation to help attract top talent to high-needs schools.

March Center for Studying Disability Policy Forum Recording Available

Communications — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:31:51 GMT

Did you miss the March disability forum on an overview of the Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment? Access the presentation.

Provider Payment: Trends and Methods in the Massachusetts Health Care System

communications — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:18:50 GMT

This report investigates provider payment methods in Massachusetts. Payments include fee-for-service, the predominant model; global payments, which pay providers a single fee for all or most required services during a contract period; and pay-for-performance models, which layer quality incentives onto payments.

System of Care Approaches in Residential Treatment Facilities Serving Children with Serious Behavioral Health Needs

Communications — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:22:31 GMT

This issue brief describes findings from a national survey of residential treatment facilities (RTFs) serving children and adolescents with serious behavioral health challenges. The survey explored how system of care principles are reflected in RTFs’ policies and practices as well as how RTFs are providing home- and community-based services and supports in addition to traditional offerings.

Yes, We Can Make a Dent in Medicare Costs

Communications — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:03:26 GMT

This article suggests that strong evidence exists on how Medicare costs can be reduced and quality of care improved for patients with chronic illnesses through enhanced attention to patients around the time they are released from the hospital. Two models of transitional care, both relying on advance practice nurses but in different ways and for differing lengths of time, have been shown to significantly reduce hospital readmission rates and costs for patients with congestive heart failure and a range of other chronic conditions.

New Vice President Named

Communications — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:10:30 GMT

Deborah Reed was appointed vice president in Mathematica’s California office.

Mathematica to Evaluate Teacher Residency Program

Communications — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:20:20 GMT

New teachers tend to be less effective than experienced educators and more likely to leave the profession, particularly in high-needs schools. The Teacher Residency Program, an alternative approach to teacher training, supports and retains new teachers by combining limited coursework with a one-year supervised “residency” similar to the student teaching practicum. Mathematica is evaluating the program.

Quality’s New Frontier: Reducing Hospitalizations and Improving Transitions in Long-Term Care

Communications — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:00:49 GMT

Hospitals and post-acute care providers have developed quality measures to evaluate their effectiveness in preventing readmissions, but these measures are lacking in long-term care. This issue brief discusses the need for similar measures to assess the quality of long-term care for people in nursing homes and other home- and community-based service settings. It also identifies evidence-based care models and interventions for reducing potentially avoidable hospitalizations and highlights the need to develop financial incentives for providers to measure and improve performance.

Coordinating and Improving Care for Dual Eligibles in Nursing Facilities: Current Obstacles and Pathways to Improvement

Communications — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:02:15 GMT

More than half of all nursing facility residents are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, enmeshing them in a system of care and coverage that is complex, fragmented, uncoordinated, and inefficient. This policy brief suggests that coordination of care for these dual eligibles could be improved by shifting responsibility for long-term nursing facility services from Medicaid to Medicare. Some incremental steps could also increase accountability for prescription drug use, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, cut costs, and improve overall care. It is important to ensure that Medicaid home- and community-based service programs and nursing facility care remain coordinated for those who can be cared for in the community.

Barriers to Obesity Prevention in Head Start

Communications — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:37:57 GMT

Obesity begins early in life and is more common and difficult to address for low-income children. This study suggests ways for Head Start to make a difference. With one-third of U.S. children overweight or obese, even programs such as Head Start face difficulties addressing the issue. This study suggests that Head Start could use additional federal resources to provide healthy meals and snacks; increase training and technical assistance to help teachers learn how to encourage children’s healthy eating and physical activity; and develop staff wellness programs to support teachers in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The Social Security Administration’s Youth Transition Demonstration Projects: Implementation Lessons from the Original Projects

Communcations — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:49:41 GMT

The Youth Transition Demonstration is developing and evaluating promising strategies to help youth with disabilities become as economically self-sufficient as possible as they transition from school to work. This report offers six implementation lessons to help policymakers and administrators develop, fund, and provide interventions for youth with disabilities.

What Works Clearinghouse - New Focus on Learning Disabilities

Communications — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:52:21 GMT

The What Works Clearinghouse launched a new topic area on improving academic performance for students with learning disabilities. It also released a Middle School Math report and two new quick reviews. The new topic area reviews research related to improving academic performance for students with learning disabilities. The first reports in this area look at Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing^® (LiPS^®) and Voyager reading programs.

Other new releases include a Middle School Math report on software-based mathematics curriculum PLATO^® Achieve Now.

The latest quick reviews rate the quality of the research in two recently released widely publicized studies: Privatized School Management and For-Profit Versus Nonprofit Management.

What Works Clearinghouse Quick Reviews Available

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:12:06 GMT

The WWC released three new quick reviews. These reviews give timely guidance about whether education research in the news meets WWC evidence standards.

Are High-Quality Schools Enough to Close the Achievement Gap? Evidence from a Social Experiment in Harlem. A study that examined whether offering students enrollment in Promise Academy, a charter middle school sponsored by the Harlem Children’s Zone^®, improved their academic achievement.

Culture and the Interaction of Student Ethnicity with Reward Structure in Group Learning. A study that examined the effects of different reward systems used in group learning situations on the math skills of African American and white students.

Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software Products: Findings for Two Student Cohorts. A study that looked at the effects of 10 reading and mathematics software products on student achievement by comparing standardized test scores.

Reinvesting in America’s Youth: Lessons from the 2009 Recovery Act Summer Youth Employment Initiative

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:07:52 GMT

This report examines implementation of the 2009 summer youth employment initiative, which placed more than 314,000 youth in summer jobs. As part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), states received $1.2 billion to fund employment and training targeted to disadvantaged youth, a group particularly hard hit by the recession. The report also details the national context for implementation, describes the experiences of 20 selected local areas, and presents lessons for future summer youth employment efforts.

New Website and Reports on Evidence-Based Home Visiting

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:09:43 GMT

Mathematica is evaluating Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV) programs funded by the Children’s Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A new website features publications and other EBHV resources. Reports include:

A brief summary of the cross-site evaluation design.
A summary of the final design for the cross-site evaluation, including detailed information about data collection and analysis plans.
A report that grounds the cross-site systems domain evaluation approach in the system literature. It focuses on three aspects: (1) the system-based evaluation approach and theory of change, (2) core infrastructure concepts, and (3) system-based evaluation methods.
A report that summarizes key activities conducted during the initial planning year and provides reflections on experiences and lessons learned using a participatory approach to evaluation planning.

Fostering Effective Grassroots Partnerships: Lessons from Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:14:53 GMT

A new issue brief highlights themes and recommendations from recent Mathematica studies of faith-based and community initiatives. The Faith-Based and Community Initiative established in 2001 and the Charitable Choice provisions of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act brought new attention and controversy to the role of faith-based organizations in providing social services to Americans. The brief explores how social service organizations and faith-based and secular groups might work together moving forward.

Estimated Effects on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of Eliminating California’s SSI Cash-Out Policy

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:16:52 GMT

This report evaluates how eliminating Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash-out would affect SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp Program) eligibility and benefits for Californians receiving SSI and for nonelderly, nondisabled family members living with them. In 1974, California opted to “cash out” recipients SSI benefits from SNAP. In lieu of SNAP eligibility for low-income seniors and people with disabilities receiving SSI, the state increased the State Supplementary Payments by $10.

Publishing Nutrition Research: Validity, Reliability, and Diagnostic Test Assessment in Nutrition-Related Research

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:19:18 GMT

This article, the sixth in a series of monographs for the journal on research design and analysis, discusses statistical concepts related to the measurement of nutrition-related characteristics and outcomes, including validity, reliability, and diagnostic tests. The paper is designed to help nutrition researchers both use high-quality measures of nutrition concepts in their research and recognize these measures in research completed by others.

New What Works Clearinghouse Webinar on Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:49:00 GMT

Watch the March 3 WWC webinar on a new practice guide, "Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom." Authors detailed how educators and administrators can develop and implement effective strategies that promote positive student behavior

Center for Studying Disability Policy May Forum: Employment of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:54:16 GMT

The Center for Studying Disability Policy's next forum, on May 19, focuses on "A Dynamic Perspective on the Employment of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries."

State Variation in Out-of-Home Medicaid Mental Health Services for Children and Youth: An Examination of Residential Treatment and Inpatient Hospital Services

Communications — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:34:46 GMT

Using Medicaid data from 2003, this article describes the demographics and diagnoses of youth under 22 receiving mental health services in general and psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and other residential treatment settings. The research found that treatment stays and costs in these facilities varied considerably from state to state, findings which may call for more research on state service systems and Medicaid policies.

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Quick Reviews Available

Communications — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:34:46 GMT

What Works Clearinghouse quick reviews rate the quality of research in recently released, widely publicized studies. Get the latest here:

Use of Within-Primary-Sample-Unit Variances to Assess the Stability of a Standard Design-Based Variance Estimator

Communications — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:48:38 GMT

This article on survey methodology addresses the problem of estimating degrees of freedom values from stratified multistage designs when a small number of primary sampling units (PSUs) are selected per stratum. Due to the small number of PSUs selected, the traditional Satterthwaite-based degrees of freedom can be a severe underestimate. This paper proposes an alternative way to estimate the degrees of freedom that uses the within-PSU variances to provide additional information on the relative magnitudes of the overall stratum-level variances.

Temporal Trends in Anti-Diabetes Drug Use in TRICARE Following Safety Warnings in 2007 About Rosiglitazone

Communications — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:43:30 GMT

In 2007, highly publicized warnings suggested rosiglitazone, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack and cardiovascular-related death. This article details the response to these warnings by analyzing anti-diabetes drug use before and after the 2007 warnings in the military health system. We found that the total number of prescriptions for all anti-diabetes medications remained constant before and after the warnings, although prescriptions of rosiglitazone declined by more than 50 percent after the warnings.

Tools for Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating State Policy

Communications — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:45:29 GMT

The Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds heart disease and stroke prevention programs to help states develop, implement, track, and promote public policy that addresses cardiovascular disease. In this article, learn how Mathematica conducted the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Policy Project for the CDC and developed an online database of cardiovascular disease prevention policies and a mapping application for participating states. We discuss the methods for developing these tools, lessons learned, and how these tools can help states develop and implement heart disease and stroke prevention policies and programs.

Using Professionally Trained Interpreters to Increase Patient/Provider Satisfaction: Does It Work?

Communications — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:47:23 GMT

Communication between patients and providers is critical in hospital emergency departments, but most interpretive services for non-English speakers—often provided via telephone or ad hoc by untrained bilingual staff or family member(s)—vary in quality. This issue brief identifies how professional interpreters improve communication and, consequently, patient and provider satisfaction in the emergency department.

Closures Are the Tip of the Iceberg: Exploring the Variation in State Vocational Rehabilitation Program Exits After Service Receipt

Communications — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:31:39 GMT

State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide important employment services for people with disabilities. Yet little is known about the characteristics of individuals who have received VR services compared to the general population of people with disabilities. Using 2007 data, we found that 1.3 of every 100 working-age adults with a disability received services from a VR agency, with some states’ rates ranging from 0.6 percent in Washington and Puerto Rico to 4.0 percent in Vermont. We also found large differences in some states across demographic, educational, and disability subgroups. Further research could answer questions about why some groups are more likely to use VR services than others and whether VR agencies should target more resources to certain groups.

The SOAR Initiative: Can It Help End Homelessness?

Communications — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:56:54 GMT

Although social security disability benefits can provide critical income support as well as job assistance and access to medical services for individuals who are homeless, the benefit application process can be challenging. Many homeless people have no consistent source of medical care, lack a stable address, have fragile social support networks, and have mental health and substance abuse disorders limiting their physical and cognitive functioning. This study found that the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) initiative can help homeless people access benefits more successfully by encouraging states to bring together social service providers and other agencies to devise strategies on improving the application process. When implemented effectively, SOAR can help prevent chronic homelessness and reduce state and local spending on other assistance programs and health services.

What Works Clearinghouse Events Available on Video and Audio

Communications — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:10:09 GMT

Did you miss a What Works Clearinghouse webinar or other event? Access recordings and transcripts here.

WWC Webinar: Using Data to Improve Student Achievement

WWC Webinar: Helping Students Navigate the Path to College

Response to Intervention (RtI) in Early Reading and Mathematics

Education Research: Moving Evidence on What Works into Practice

Medical Malpractice and Obstetrics: Journal Article Looks at Costs and Consequences

Communications — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:18:21 GMT

Medical malpractice in obstetrics continues to attract scrutiny. This paper examines the impact of physicians’ malpractice claims on Caesarian section rates and physician delivery volume in Florida between 1992 and 2000. The author found that malpractice claims led to a small reduction in physician delivery volume but did not significantly impact C-section rates. Physicians performed six fewer inpatient deliveries three years after a malpractice claim closed, while those with malpractice awards of $250,000 or more performed, on average, 14 fewer deliveries, about 10 percent of a physician’s annual delivery volume. While patient access to obstetrical care in Florida does not appear to be compromised by malpractice claims, this finding suggests that tort reforms with damage caps of $250,000 may limit reduction in average delivery volume.

What Works Clearinghouse: Quick Review on Computer-Aided Instruction

Communications — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:12:17 GMT

This study examined whether the I CAN Learn^® computer-based curriculum is more effective than traditional classroom instruction at teaching pre-algebra and algebra concepts to middle- and high-school students. The study used an experimental design and included about 1,600 students in 15 high schools and two middle schools in three large urban school districts. Reviewers found that at the end of the school year, students in classrooms using I CAN Learn^® scored higher on the assessment of pre-algebra and algebra skills than students in traditional math classrooms.

Ticket to Work: New Reports Highlight Participation, Beneficiary Expectations, and Methodology

Communications — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:54:42 GMT

The latest reports from Mathematica’s evaluation of the Ticket to Work (TTW) program, a major initiative of the Social Security Administration to increase disability beneficiaries’ employment and reduce their dependence on benefits, highlight participation, beneficiary expectations, and methodology.

Record Number Seek Emergency Food Assistance

Communications — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:20:40 GMT

Hunger in America 2010, conducted for Feeding America, is the largest, most comprehensive study to date on domestic hunger. Using data collected at food pantries, soup kitchens, and other programs nationwide, we found that:

More than 37 million low-income people received emergency food assistance through Feeding America’s network in 2009, an increase of 46 percent since 2005.
Recipients represented a broad cross-section of America, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Approximately 40 percent were white, 34 percent were African American, and 20 percent were Hispanic.
Thirty-six percent of recipient households had at least one adult who was working.
Ten percent of all recipients were homeless.
Seventy-five percent of Feeding America's clients were food insecure.

Read the release.

Work-Oriented Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: Characteristics and Employment-Related Activities

Communications — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:48:09 GMT

This brief discusses the characteristics of working-age individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits and describes their employment success. The findings suggest that beneficiaries fall into three broad groups based on work-related efforts and expectations. For 60 percent, gainful employment seems to be neither a plan nor an option. Of the 40 percent who are interested in working, about 20 percent are actively pursuing and achieving this goal.

Survey of Outcomes Measurement in Research on Character Education Programs

Communications — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:50:18 GMT

Through the Partnerships in Character Education Program, the federal government distributes about $25 million annually to state and local education agencies for character education programs. This report documents the constructs measured in studies of 36 randomly selected programs. It also includes a framework for systematically describing and assessing measures of character education outcomes and provides a resource for evaluators to help identify and select measures of outcomes for character education programs. Among student level outcomes, those most often measured were: academic content (measured for 14 programs), prosocial dispositions and interpersonal strengths (each measured for 11 programs), discipline issues and interpersonal competencies (each measured for 13 programs), and substance use and intrapersonal competencies (each measured for 11 programs).

Episode-Based Payments: Charting a Course for Health Care Payment Reform

Communications — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:51:46 GMT

A new policy analysis funded by the National Institute for Health Care Reform examines the appeal of episode-based payments as an alternative to the current fee-for-service model. The method bundles payment for some or all services for a specific health condition or event over a certain period of time. Success depends upon defining what constitutes an episode of care; establishing episode-based payment rates and identifying providers to receive these payments; ensuring compatibility with other proposed payment reforms; and implementing pilot projects using a narrow set of health conditions, patients, and providers.

Project SEARCH: Opening Doors to Employment for Young People with Disabilities

Communications — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:44:29 GMT

Project SEARCH, a school-to-work program for developmentally and physically disabled high school students transitioning to employment, is reviewed in this new brief. The program requires collaboration between a sponsoring employer, school system, community rehabilitation provider, and state vocational rehabilitation agency and/or state or local developmental disabilities agency. Each site enrolls 10 to 12 students per year, who spend the entire school day at the workplace. During the second month, students are assigned to individualized worksite rotations or internships for 10 weeks that simulate real-world employment. While this school-to-work model has been implemented in 140 additional sites in the United States and the United Kingdom, a national evaluation has not been conducted. A cost/benefit analysis should be implemented to determine if the program's high costs—$233,280 for each site serving approximately 10 to 12 students per year—merit wider program implementation.

Accountable Care Organizations: Will They Deliver?

Communications — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:53:19 GMT

This brief examines accountable care organizations—groupings of diverse health care providers that care for a group of people and aim to create a cohesive framework, encourage accountability, and create incentives and rewards to providers that focus on the overall scope of patient care. It examines ACOs’ role in improving, integrating, and coordinating care delivered by multiple providers. It also places ACOs in the historical context of health care reform in the United States to draw lessons from history on the challenges to be encountered and potential strategies for making ACOs more successful.

Employer-Sponsored Insurance, Health Care Cost Growth, and the Economic Performance of U.S. Industries

Communications — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:54:16 GMT

This article quantifies in dollars, jobs, and economic value lost how excess growth in health care costs is adversely affecting economic performance of U.S. industries. Researchers analyzed data from 38 U.S. industries from 1987 to 2005 and determined that faster growth in health care costs had greater adverse effects on economic outcomes for industries with larger percentages of workers who receive employer-sponsored health insurance. For example, a 10 percent increase in excess growth in health care costs would have meant 120,803 fewer jobs, $28,022 million in lost gross output, and $14,082 million in lost value added in 2005.

What Works Clearinghouse Year in Review

Communications — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:05:48 GMT

The What Works Clearinghouse invites you to review its 2009 body of work:

Five practice guides, in addition to a new, enhanced search feature
New intervention reports on adolescent literacy, beginning reading, dropout prevention, elementary school math, middle school math, English language learners, and early childhood education
12 quick reviews to provide timely and objective assessments of the quality of research evidence from recently released papers and reports
A website guided tour

Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Announces January Forum Date

Communications — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:37:46 GMT

The Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Policy Research announces the eighth forum in a bimonthly lunchtime seminar series aimed at providing policymakers and others with an opportunity to hear about the latest disability policy research findings. “Is a Makeover Needed for Federal Funding of Vocational Rehabilitation Services?” is scheduled for Wednesday, January 20, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at Mathematica’s office at 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. Speakers will be Todd Honeycutt, researcher, Mathematica; Yunsian Tai, senior analyst, Government Accountability Office; and Carl Suter, executive director, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. Read more.

New Brief Reviews Interventions for Workers with Disabilities, Provides Ideas for Health Reform

Communications — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:23:43 GMT

Individuals with potentially disabling conditions who are employed have distinct health care needs that, if neglected, can lead to the onset of a disability, loss of work, and subsequent dependence on federal disability benefits. In addition, many of these individuals are at risk of being underinsured because of their complex health care needs. A new issue brief from Mathematica Policy Research describes how four states are helping workers with disabilities to stay employed by providing them with expanded access to medical services and employment supports. The state initiatives are part of the Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment (DMIE), authorized by Congress and administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the purpose of decreasing enrollment into federal disability programs by supporting the continued employment of workers with potentially disabling conditions. Mathematica is conducting a national evaluation of the DMIE. Read more.

Alternative Certification Topic of Testimony

Communications — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:43:31 GMT

On Thursday, December 10, Jill Constantine, associate director of Human Services Research and Education area leader, is giving testimony on our alternative certification research to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The presentation begins at 9:00 am PST (12:00 p.m. EST). Listen to the live webcast. Learn more about our study.

Plan Availability and Premiums: Medicare Advantage 2010 Data Spotlight

Communications — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:06:20 GMT

This summary provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage (MA) marketplace and highlights key changes between 2009 and 2010. On average, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to choose from more than 30 MA plans in 2010—in addition to the traditional Medicare program. Beneficiaries who decide to remain in their same MA plan can expect premium increases of 32 percent, on average. The total number of plans declined from 2009 to 2010 as a result of efforts by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to simplify the marketplace and strategic decisions by insurance companies.

Early Implementation Experiences of State MFP Programs: National Evaluation of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Grant Program

Communications — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:08:00 GMT

The Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration is the most ambitious program to date aimed at helping Medicaid enrollees transition from long-term care institutions to the community. This report, the third in a series presenting findings from Mathematica’s evaluation of the MFP program, describes states’ early implementation experiences and state transition activity as of December 2008. It also discusses the challenges that states have encountered in trying to launch the program, and implications for making fundamental changes in the long-term care system.

Pediatric Primary Care as a Component of Systems of Care

Communications — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:09:49 GMT

Systems of care for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances have historically not included linkages with primary care. As part of a special issue of Evaluation and Program Planning focused on redefining systems of care, this article proposes that the inclusion of primary care as part of the systems of care framework has the potential to support the delivery of mental health services in primary care while also increasing the capacity of mental health specialists to address physical health problems. Although there are similarities in the core components of primary care and systems of care, a revised definition of systems of care that incorporates the goal of prevention and takes into account the broad primary care population would provide communities and policymakers with a definition that can be used to further the work of integrating the primary care and specialty mental health service sectors.

Practical Lessons for Health Care Reform from the Military Health System: New Issue Brief Notes that Universal Coverage Alone Will Not Address Health Care Disparities

Communications — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:25:32 GMT

Many current health reform proposals focus on universal coverage, insurance reform, and cost control. A new issue brief from Mathematica Policy Research presents findings from its study of the military health system (MHS) that have timely implications for health care reform. The findings suggest that universal coverage alone is unlikely to solve many of the problems in our current system without other changes. While universal coverage represents a critical step to improving health care in the United States, the research suggests that other actions, such as strengthening primary care and public health initiatives, will also be necessary to solve these problems. Read more.

Rates of Participation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Vary by State: New Publication Looks at State Participation Rates for 2007

Communications — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:28:00 GMT

A new policy brief from Mathematica Policy Research detailing participation rates for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, shows that, overall, 66 percent of all eligible people and 56 percent of the eligible working poor participated in SNAP in 2007. The participation rate—the percentage of the eligible population that participates in the program—is a widely used standard for assessing how well the program reaches its target population. Read more.

Using State Tests in Education Experiments: A Discussion of the Issues

Communications — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:04:11 GMT

Securing data on students’ academic achievement is typically one of the most important and costly aspects of conducting education experiments. As state assessment programs have become practically universal and more uniform in terms of grades and subjects tested, the relative appeal of using state tests as a source of study outcome measures has grown. However, the variation in state assessments—in both content and proficiency standards—complicates decisions about whether a particular state test is suitable for research purposes and poses difficulties when planning to combine results across multiple states or grades. This paper aims to help researchers evaluate and make decisions about whether and how to use state test data in education experiments. It outlines the issues that researchers should consider, including how to evaluate the validity and reliability of state tests relative to study purposes; factors influencing the feasibility of collecting state test data; how to analyze state test scores; and whether to combine results based on different tests. It also highlights best practices to help inform ongoing and future experimental studies. Many of the issues discussed are also relevant for nonexperimental studies.

Mathematica to Evaluate Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches: Eight-Year Study Examines Programs to Reduce Teen Risk Behaviors

Communications — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:24:30 GMT

Adolescent sexual activity and its consequences remain a troubling issue in the United States. After a steady decline since the early 1990s, the teen birth rate has begun to climb since 2006. Mathematica Policy Research has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, to conduct the Evaluation of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches. This eight-year random assignment evaluation is documenting evidence on effective ways to reduce teen nonmarital sexual activity, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Mathematica’s rigorous experimental impact evaluation is testing a range of promising approaches focused primarily on high-school-age youth in up to eight sites and documenting the services they deliver. The study is testing the effectiveness of each program by comparing outcomes with those of a control group in the same site. Mathematica launched a new website to track the evaluation’s progress.
Read the release.

Social Network Analysis: A Useful Tool for Program Evaluation

Communications — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:08:30 GMT

How do physician/nurse interactions affect patient outcomes? Are teachers who have better access to professional advice more effective instructors? Social network analysis (SNA), a methodological approach for measuring and mapping relationships, can be used to answer questions like this that involve social networks. A new issue brief from Mathematica Policy Research introduces the concepts behind SNA, illustrates how to use it in process and outcome evaluations, and explains how it can provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of network relationships. Read the release.

Early Implementation of "Money Follows the Person" Initiative More Challenging than Expected

Communications — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:12:44 GMT

The Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, the largest Medicaid demonstration to date, aims to help long-term residents of institutions relocate back to their home and community-based settings and make broader changes to state long-term care systems. The national demonstration program provides up to $1.7 billion in federal grant funds to 29 states and the District of Columbia to help them offer elderly people and individuals with disabilities more options for choosing where they want to live and receive support services. Fifteen months after the first set of 30 grantees began to implement the program, however, administration and reporting barriers, worsening state budgets, and lack of affordable and accessible housing have hindered early implementation efforts, as detailed in a new report from Mathematica Policy Research. Read the release.

What Works Clearinghouse Webinar on Data-Driven Decision Making

Communications — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:23:53 GMT

On Thursday, December 17, the What Works Clearinghouse, administered by Mathematica for the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, will host a webinar discussing the recommendations from its latest practice guide, "Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making." Authors of the guide, practitioners, and data systems experts will discuss how to effectively use data to monitor students’ academic progress and evaluate instructional practices. Sign up for the event by December 11 (select "Register" right next to "Event Status").

Leadership Team Member Organizations and Coalition Structures

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:15:39 GMT

By their nature, advocacy organizations form partnerships and alliances with others to achieve their public policy goals. Some alliances are longstanding, while others are temporary or opportunistic and may bring together groups to support a particular legislative or administrative approach or proposal, even though their interests and agendas in other areas may diverge or even conflict. To establish alliances that could advance the goals of the Consumer Voices for Coverage initiative and outlive it, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation required applicants to form a leadership team of partner organizations to mobilize the consumer advocacy network within their states. Mathematica designed a survey to collect data about the structure and activities of the teams. Because the teams were intended to function as a collaborative network, social network analysis approaches were included.

Larry Massanari to Head Board of Directors at Mathematica Policy Research

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:22:27 GMT

November 11, 2009—Mathematica Policy Research announced that Larry G. Massanari will become chairman of the board of directors in April 2010. Massanari will succeed Anita A. Summers, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy and Management, University of Pennsylvania, who was named chair in 1992 and will continue to serve on the board. Massanari, who will be the fourth chair in Mathematica’s history, joined the firm’s board in 2007. He spent nearly 40 years in various management and leadership roles with the Social Security Administration (SSA) before retiring from the agency in 2003. Read the release.

Will Health Care Reform Increase the Employment of People with Disabilities?

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:43:15 GMT

Leading health care financing reforms might mitigate, or even eliminate, challenges that the current system creates for people with disabilities who work, or want to work, but there is no guarantee. This brief summarizes the challenges posed by the current system and considers how features of leading reform proposals would, or would not, address these challenges.

Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Access to Care and Quality of Care for U.S. Health Center Patients Compared with Non-Health Center Patients

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:17:59 GMT

This article in the Journal of Ambulatory Care Management compares racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in access to care and quality of care for U.S. health center patients and non-health center patients. Data for the study came from the 2002 Community Health Center User Survey and the 2003 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Results show that health center patients experience fewer racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in access to care and quality of care, compared with non-health center patients nationally.

Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Violent Behavior Among Urban African American Youths from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:06:01 GMT

This article in the American Journal of Public Health examined developmental trajectories of alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youth and the longitudinal relationship between these behaviors from adolescence to emerging adulthood. The sample included 649 African American youth (49 percent male) followed for eight years. Violent behavior peaked in middle to late adolescence and declined thereafter, whereas the frequency of alcohol use increased steadily over time. These trajectories varied according to gender. Among both male and female participants, early violent behavior predicted later alcohol use, and early alcohol use predicted later violent behavior. Moreover, changes in one behavior were associated with changes in the other.

Dental Care Coverage Transitions

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:08:02 GMT

Dental insurance is an important factor in the decision to seek dental care. Yet, no dental coverage is provided by Medicare, which provides medical insurance for almost all Americans 65 years and older. This loss of coverage could lead to distortions in the timing of when to seek care, ultimately leading to worse oral and overall health. This article in the American Journal of Managed Care used data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) for individuals 51 years and older to assess transitions in dental coverage between 2004 and 2006 in the context of changing employment and retirement status. Older adults are likely to lose their dental coverage on entering retirement compared with those who remain in the labor force between waves of the HRS. While more than half of those persons in the youngest group (51 to 64 years) were covered over this entire period, two-thirds of those in the oldest group (over age 75) were without coverage over the same period. A high percentage of older persons flowed into and out of dental coverage during the study, similar to flows into and out of poverty.

Do Typical RCTs of Education Interventions Have Sufficient Statistical Power for Linking Impacts on Teacher Practice and Student Achievement Outcomes?

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:10:13 GMT

For randomized control trials (RCTs) of education interventions, it is often of interest to estimate associations between student and mediating teacher practice outcomes, to examine the extent to which a study’s conceptual model is supported by data, and to identify mediators most associated with student learning. This paper develops statistical power formulas for such exploratory analyses under clustered school-based RCTs using ordinary least squares (OLS) and instrumental variable (IV) estimators, and uses these formulas to conduct a simulated power analysis. The power analysis finds that for currently available mediators, the OLS approach will yield precise estimates of associations between teacher practice measures and student test score gains only if the sample contains about 150 to 200 study schools. The IV approach, which can adjust for potential omitted variable and simultaneity biases, has very little statistical power for mediator analyses. For typical RCT evaluations, these results may have design implications for the scope of the data collection effort for obtaining costly teacher practice mediators.

Making Connections: Using Social Network Analysis for Program Evaluation

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:13:18 GMT

Social network analysis, a methodological approach to measuring and mapping relationships, can be used to study whole networks, all of the ties within a defined group, or connections that individuals have in their personal communities. This brief introduces the concepts behind SNA and illustrates how to use this method in process and outcome evaluations.

Analysis of Medical Expenditures and Service Use of Medicaid Buy-In Participants, 2002-2005

Communications — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:09:59 GMT

When workers with disabilities “buy into” Medicaid by paying monthly premiums, states can offer them Medicaid coverage when their income and assets would otherwise make them ineligible. Using MAX data and Medicare claims files, this report provides the most comprehensive information to date on patterns of Medicaid and Medicare spending and service use among Medicaid Buy-In participants. Researchers found that combined inflation-adjusted Medicaid and Medicare expenditures for Buy-In participants more than doubled from $887 million to $1.9 billion between 2002 and 2005, as did program enrollment. However, they also found that, when compared with other working-age disabled Medicaid enrollees, Buy-In participants in 2005 incurred lower annual Medicaid expenditures. This difference suggests that Buy-In participants who are working may require fewer services or a less expensive mix of services than other adult disabled Medicaid enrollees. Executive Summary

More Than a Dozen of Mathematica’s Experts Set to Share Their Findings at AEA Conference

Communications — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:32:10 GMT

From November 11 to 14, more than a dozen of Mathematica’s experts will be presenting at the American Evaluation Association conference in Orlando on strategies for conducting research on evaluation, systems thinking and logic models, impacts of infrastructure projects, mixed methods in advocacy evaluation, and more. View the list of presenters.

Connection Between Disability and Poverty to be Focus of December 3 Forum

Communications — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:14:45 GMT

The Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica has scheduled the seventh forum in a bimonthly lunchtime seminar series aimed at providing policymakers and others with an opportunity to hear about the latest disability policy research findings. “Disability and Poverty: What Is the Connection and What Should We Do About It?” is scheduled for Thursday, December 3, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at Mathematica’s office at 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. Speakers will be Gina Livermore, senior researcher, Mathematica; Shawn Fremstad, director, Bridging the Gaps at the Center for Economic and Policy Research; and Pamela J. Loprest, senior fellow, the Urban Institute.

The forums can be attended in person or via webinar. Go to www.disabilitypolicyresearch.org/researchforums.asp to register to attend or request any necessary accommodations. Lunch will be provided.

The Center for Studying Disability Policy’s mission is to inform disability policy formation with rigorous, objective research and data collected from the people disability policy aims to serve. The center was formed in 2007 to coalesce and further strengthen Mathematica’s extensive disability policy research and data collection efforts, and to ensure that the results of Mathematica’s work are accessible to the disability policy community.

Abstinence Study to Receive AEA 2009 Outstanding Evaluation Award

Communications — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:10:57 GMT

Mathematica's abstinence study team, led by senior economist Christopher Trenholm and senior vice president Barbara Devaney, will receive the 2009 Outstanding Evaluation Award from the American Evaluation Association (AEA) at its annual conference in Orlando on November 13. The AEA cited the congressionally mandated, comprehensive nine-year evaluation of abstinence education programs for its rigor, balance, and impact, which led to major changes in federal policy and funding. The study was downloaded more than 100,000 times and was widely cited in the national and international media. Read the release.

Pathways to the Use of Health Services Research in Policy

Communications — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:02:06 GMT

This article in Health Services Research reviews ways to enhance the use of health services research. The article builds on a literature review and the author's observations to identify important social science concepts relevant to using research in policy and organizational decisionmaking. The author integrates and expands on existing frameworks to differentiate and analyze 10 pathways that can increase policymakers’ use of health services research. The analysis suggests that successful uptake is more likely when findings are converted into messages meaningful to policymakers. Intermediaries play an important role in creating effective pathways, and users also can influence them. The paper points out ways researchers, policymakers, and those mediating between the two can enhance use of findings.

WIC Eligibles and Coverage, 1994-2007: Estimates of the Population of Women, Infants, and Children Eligible for WIC Benefits

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:21:21 GMT

WIC provides food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health care and social service referrals to nutritionally at-risk low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children through age 4. This report updates estimates of those meeting the criteria for WIC benefits from 1994 through 2007. In 2007, 14.2 million individuals were eligible for WIC benefits in an average month, slightly less than the amount in 2006. The program served 8.4 million, or 59 percent, in 2007.

Publishing Nutrition Research: A Review of Epidemiologic Methods

Communications — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:13:48 GMT

The use of epidemiologic research designs and analytical methods is common in nutrition research, as researchers seek to understand dietary and other factors associated with health status and illness. This monograph in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (subscription required) presents the basic observational study designs most commonly used in epidemiology, and provides an overview of the univariate and bivariate statistical methods on which these epidemiologic designs are based.

Strategies for Reining in Medicare Spending Through Delivery System Reforms: Assessing the Evidence and Opportunities

Communications at Mathematica — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:25:30 GMT

This paper reviews proposed reforms to strengthen Medicare’s long-term fiscal outlook. Looking beyond provider payment reductions, the author assesses leading strategies to improve quality of care and efficiency within Medicare as well as the overall health care system. The paper argues that many of the most prominent proposed reforms are not likely to achieve savings for Medicare in the next 10 years, but identifies approaches that hold real promise for generating savings by either reducing chronically ill beneficiaries’ need for expensive services or changing providers’ practices in ways that decrease unnecessary procedures and inefficiencies. A companion paper synthesizes evidence on cost-effective interventions, identifies issues to resolve for ongoing research, and recommends care coordination policies supported by available evidence. Read more about Mathematica's evaluation of the Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration.

Experts to Share Findings at APPAM Conference in November

Communications at Mathematica — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:28:37 GMT

From November 5 to 7, Mathematica's experts will share their findings during more than 30 sessions at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Research Conference, “Evidence-Based Policy Making in the Post-Bush/Clinton Era.” Topics include the What Works Clearinghouse, trends in food stamp participation rates among the elderly, effects of teacher certification and induction programs, efforts to help individuals with disabilities return to work, school meals and the diets of children from food insecure families, and more. To see who is presenting in Washington, DC, click here.

New Releases on Preparing Students for College, Medicaid Buy-In, and More

Communications — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:38:30 GMT

News from Mathematica

October 2, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Helping Students Navigate the Path to College: What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Webinar on October 8
WWC Releases New Publications on Using Data to Monitor Student Progress and Early Literacy Skills
Methods Update: Reports Look at Estimating Average Treatment Effects and Regression Discontinuity Designs
Journal Article Explores Whether Sanctions Induce Failing Schools to Raise Student Achievement
What Happens to Medicaid Buy-In Participants After They Leave the Program?
Circulation Article Looks at Public Reporting of Health Care Quality Data and Patterns of Hospital Performance
Family Structure, Childbearing, and Parental Employment: Book Chapter Focuses on Implications for Poverty
Head Start Data: Study Design and Data Tables for FACES 2006 Baseline Report
Irvin Quoted in New York Times Article on Money Follows the Person

New Releases on Teacher Induction, Medicaid Primary Care Case Management, and More

Communications — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:33:35 GMT

News from Mathematica

September 14, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

National Study of Teacher Induction: No Improvement in Test Scores After Two Years
Alternative Certification: Florida Program Shows No Results in Reading, Negative Results in Math
Teacher Pay Incentives: Missouri Career Ladder Effects Range from Small to None in Reading and Math
New Education Web Page Highlights Value-Added Growth Models
Enhanced Primary Care Case Management Programs in Medicaid: Options for States
Working with Disability: Report Reviews Evaluation Activities of Programs Promoting Employment
Sanctions and Time Limits in California’s Welfare Program
Home Visiting Approach Shows Promise for High-Risk TANF Clients, According to New Brief

New Releases on No Child Left Behind, Medicaid Redesign, and More

Communications — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:30:36 GMT

September 2, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

No Child Left Behind: Methods for Analyzing Adequate Yearly Progress
What Works Clearinghouse Releases New Early Childhood, Beginning Reading, and Elementary Math Reports
Inquiry Article Looks at Health Reform and Contributions from Economic Research Initiative on the Uninsured
Rethinking Medicaid: West Virginia’s Mountain Health Choices and Medical Homes
International Perspectives: Burkina Faso Education Program has Positive Impacts for Boys and Girls
Children and Youth Programme in Ireland and Northern Ireland: Investing in Evidence-Based Initiatives
Paradox: Growing Food Stamp Caseloads During Economic Expansion
Methods Update: Journal Article Looks at Better Measurement of Neighborhood Social Processes
Upcoming Event: Disability Forum on the Money Follows the Person Demonstration

Special Journal Issue Takes In-Depth Look at Challenges Faced by Youth with Severe Disabilities

Communications — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:26:43 GMT

August 25, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

"A Life-Cycle Perspective on the Transition to Adulthood Among Children Receiving Supplemental Security Income Payments."
"Family Caregiving and Employment Among Parents of Children with Disabilities on SSI."
"Unmet Health Care Needs and Medical Out-of-Pocket Expenses of SSI Children."
"Changing Circumstances: Experiences of Child SSI Recipients Before and After Their Age-18 Redetermination for Adult Benefits."
"The Social Security Administration's Youth Transition Demonstration Projects."
"Providing Supports to Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood: Case Descriptions from the Youth Transition Demonstration."

New Releases on School Meals and Children’s Dietary Habits, Medicare Advantage, and More

communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:33:16 GMT

July 28, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Changing How Patients Pay for Health Care: Massachusetts Leads the Way
Strategies for Simplifying the Medicare Advantage Market
Best Practices for Enrolling Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries into Prescription Drug Programs
Money Follows the Person: Program Varies Across 30 States
Journal Article Reviews How Many Nursing Home Residents Live with a Mental Illness
Philanthropy: Maximizing Public and Private Partnerships
What Works Clearinghouse Releases Practice Guide on Student Achievement and Out-of-School Time
Does Eating School Meals Influence Children’s Dietary Habits?

New Releases on Telemedicine, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Presenters at Joint Statistical Meetings, and More

Communications — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:46:36 GMT

July 20, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Participation Rates 2000 to 2007
What Works Releases New Reviews on Reading, Teacher Effectiveness
Congressionally Mandated Study of Telemedicine Indicates No Savings to Medicare
Medicaid Beneficiaries with Heart Failure: Costs Lower for Those Who Adhere to Medication
Fewer Disparities in Military Health Care System than Nation as a Whole
Easing the Medicare Part D Transition for Dual Eligibles
Journal Article Examines Diabetes Treatment Approaches and Medications
Pham Receives New Investigator Award
Out and About: Experts Presenting at Joint Statistical Meetings and Other Staff News

New Releases on School Meal Participation, Medicare Care Management Performance, and More

Communications — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:17:02 GMT

July 6, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Growing America Through Entrepreneurship: Project GATE
What Factors Influence School Meal Participation?
Improving Care for the Chronically Ill: Medicare Care Management Performance Demonstration
Evaluating AHRQ’s Grant-Supported Research on Healthcare Costs and More
Parental Involvement Laws: Journal Article Reports on Minors’ Behavioral Responses
What Works Clearinghouse Releases Quick Review on Student Mentoring Study
Methods Update: Randomized Control Trials and the Complier Average Causal Effect Parameter
Out and About: Experts Presenting at NAWRS; AcademyHealth Presentations Available Online

New Releases on Health Information Exchange, Medicaid Prescription Drug Use and Expenditures, Entrepreneurship, and More

Communications — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:23:10 GMT

June 23, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Geographic Variation in Medicare Per Capita Spending: Policy Concerns
Health Information Exchange: The Role of Safety-Net Providers
Chartbook Provides Data on Medicaid Prescription Drug Use/Expenditures for 2005
Health Insurance Exchange: Lessons from Rhode Island
Fostering Entrepreneurship: Results from the Kauffman Firm Survey
What Works Clearinghouse: New Releases on Literacy, Early Childhood Education, and Teacher Induction
Using Job Corps Data to Explore Effects of Employment on Marriage
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

Mathematica Staff in Spotlight at Annual AcademyHealth Conference

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:33:06 GMT

Mathematica’s health experts will be presenting nearly three dozen papers and posters at AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting in Chicago from June 28 to 30. Topics include health reform, Medicare financing, Medicaid reform, health IT, state health, health data, quality of care, racial and ethnic disparities in health care, prescription drug use and financing, and issues related to the military health care system.

New Releases on Reading Comprehension, Ticket to Work, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:28:10 GMT

May 20, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Reading Comprehension Curricula: No Positive Impacts on Achievement in First Year
Experience Corps Initiative Improves Student Reading Comprehension
Counting Working-Age People with Disabilities: A Look at Current Data
Ticket to Work: Characteristics, Employment, and Sources of Support Among Working-Age SSI and DI Beneficiaries
Ticket to Work: Process Evaluation of the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program
An Analysis of Medicare Options Compare: What’s There and What’s Not?
National Press Coverage Highlights our Expertise

Mathematica to Open New Office in Chicago

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:07:58 GMT

In This Issue:

Mathematica to Open New Office in Chicago
Harrison Greene, Jr., Expert in Large-Scale Data Collection, to Direct Office

Read the full release.

New Releases on Teacher Advancement Program, Children’s Diets, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:10:39 GMT

May 7, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Teacher Advancement Program in Chicago Improves Retention, But No Impact on Test Scores
Zambia: Community-Based Interventions Improving Schooling Outcomes for Vulnerable Orphans and Other Children
Family Support: Enhanced Web Pages Highlight the Breadth of Mathematica’s Work
Are WIC Children’s Diets Comparable to Those of Nonparticipants?
Report Examines Diets of School-Age Children by School Lunch Status
Who Participates in the WIC Program?
Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment: Early Findings Show Programs Can Meet Needs of Target Populations
First 5 LA: Snapshot of Children and Families, Fall 2007
Out and About: Experts Speaking on Elementary Math Curricula and Preparing Disadvantaged Students for College

New Releases on Disability, What Works Clearinghouse, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:56:30 GMT

April 30, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Brief Focuses on Transition Policy for Youth with Disabilities
International Literature on Disability Costs Reviewed
What Works Clearinghouse Releases Include New Practice Guide on Response to Intervention in Math
May Disability Forum Focuses on Data-Driven Policy
Out and About: Expert Speaking on Medicare Advantage at Alliance for Health Reform

New Releases on Head Start, Medicare Advantage, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:30:37 GMT

April 23, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES): A Look at 2006
Transitioning to Retirement: Can a New Program Help Older Workers Continue to Work and Protect Those Who Cannot?
Overcoming Language Barriers in the Health Care Setting: Lessons from Three States
Medicare Advantage: What’s Happened Since Its Launch?
Clinical Therapeutics Article Compares Antidepressants
What Works Clearinghouse Releases New Quick Review and Math Intervention Report
Survey Experts to Present at AAPOR Annual Meeting
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

New Releases on TANF, Telemedicine, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:04:45 GMT

April 9, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Series Highlights Strategies for Increasing TANF Work Participation Rates
State TANF Diversion Programs: An Overview
Using Marriage and Relationship Skills to Help Prisoners Reenter Society
Report to Congress: Home-Based Telemedicine Services for Diabetics—Costly and Not Effective
Medicaid Buy-In: Journal Article Considers Effects of State Policy on Employment
Latest Disability Policy Brief Examines Costs and Benefits of Eliminating the Medicare Waiting Period for SSDI
School Leaders Weigh In on Effective Practice Incentive Community Initiative
What Works Clearinghouse Releases New Quick Reviews

New Releases on TANF, Telemedicine, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:04:45 GMT

April 9, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Releases on Charter Schools, Care Coordination, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:43:08 GMT

March 27, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Charter Schools in Eight States: Possible Long-Term Benefits
Effective Practice Incentive Community Initiative: Reports Look at Evaluation Design and Baseline Statistics
What Works Clearinghouse: Intervention Reports Focus on Dropout Prevention and Math
The Promise of Care Coordination: Models that Improve Outcomes for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Illnesses
Journal Article Discusses Income Security for Disabled Workers
Long-Term Poverty and Disability Among Working-Age Adults: Journal Article Notes Strong Relationship
Out and About: Experts Presenting at American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting

New Releases on Medicare Advantage, Food Stamp Participation Rates, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:13:41 GMT

March 19, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Institute of Medicine Briefs Highlight National Health Issues
Medicare Advantage: Wide Variability Noted in Premiums and Cost Sharing
Medical Ethics: In Clinical Trials What Do Subjects Consider Post-Trial Obligations?
Intimate Partner Violence: How Common Among Women with Disabilities?
Employment Supports for People with Disabilities: Medicaid Infrastructure Grants
What Works Clearinghouse: Intervention Reports Look at Math and Dropout Prevention
Methods Update: Using Income Data from Major Federal Surveys for Policy Analysis
Food Stamps: Report Reviews 2004 to 2006 Participation Rates
Out and About: Experts Presenting at National Health Policy Forum and the Society for Research in Child Development

New Releases on Children’s Nutrition, Health Insurance, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:19:12 GMT

March 12, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Children’s Nutrition: Are Adult-Based Dietary Guidelines Right for Children?
Assessing Dietary Guidelines for Children: What’s in the Literature?
Head Start National Reporting System: Results from Last Round of Data Collection
Limited-Benefit Health Plans: Can They Reduce the Number of Uninsured?
Designing Subsidized Health Coverage Programs to Attract Enrollment
French Journal Article Looks at U.S. Programs to Promote Employment for People with Disabilities
Giving Ex-Offenders a Choice in Life: First Findings from the Beneficiary Choice Demonstration
What Works Clearinghouse: Reports Target Middle School Structure and Math
Out and About: Experts Presenting at Society for Research in Child Development Meeting

New Releases on Educational Technology, Math Curricula, and More

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:21:22 GMT

March 3, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Widely Used Math Curricula Yield Significantly Different Results
Technology in the Classroom: Only One in 10 Software Products Showed Effects
What Works Clearinghouse: New Releases Include Practice Guide on Response to Intervention
March Disability Forum Focuses on Needs of Working-Age People with Disabilities
Youth Transition Demonstration: A Profile of Projects and Design
IOM Committee Report Urges Immediate Action to Solve Health Insurance Crisis
Article in Population Health Management Evaluates Medicaid Value Program
New Series Reviews Transitions from Long-Term Care Institutions to the Community
Report Gives Picture of Chicago’s Early Childhood Programs, Teachers, and Preschoolers

Health Care Reform: New Web Pages Highlight Mathematica’s Contribution to the Debate

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:59:15 GMT

February 26, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

The issue of reforming our nation’s health care system will dominate much of the policy debate in 2009 and beyond. Read about how Mathematica’s research and data on improving quality, efficiency, affordability, equity, and financing of health care will help policymakers make informed decisions

Journal Supplement Highlights Comprehensive National Study of School Lunches and Breakfasts

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:46:56 GMT

February 23, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

A new supplement to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association presents findings from Mathematica’s Third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study (SNDA-III), which examined the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Together these programs provide meals to children in about 95 percent of public schools, and many private schools across the nation. On an average day, 30.5 million kids participate in the NSLP and 10 million in the SBP. Mathematica’s study is the largest, most comprehensive, and up-to-date look at the meals offered to and consumed by children who participate in these programs. The study also assessed the availability and consumption of competitive foods—foods that are sold in schools outside of the reimbursable meals. Read more.

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:45:51 GMT

February 17, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification: Report Notes No Difference in Student Achievement
No Child Left Behind: Low Participation Rates in Public School Choice Option
What Works Clearinghouse: Intervention Report Looks at Earobics^®
Medicare Coordinated Care: Report to Congress Finds Most Programs Do Not Show Benefit
JAMA Article Features Results from Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration
IOM Committee Report Recommends Overhaul of HIPAA Privacy Rule
SCHIP Children: How Long Do They Stay and Where Do They Go?
Focus on Quality: New Brief Looks at Doctor/Patient Communication
Who Picks Up the Tab? Brief Discusses Payment Errors in School Nutrition Programs
Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative: Efforts to Integrate Participants into Jobs and Communities
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:26:16 GMT

February 5, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Cash and Counseling Study Receives HSR Impact Award from AcademyHealth

Mathematica’s cash and counseling team, led by study director Randall Brown, received the AcademyHealth Health Services Research (HSR) Impact Award at the 2009 National Health Policy Conference on February 2. Cash and Counseling is an innovative approach to providing home-based personal assistance to Medicaid beneficiaries who have disabilities.

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:31:08 GMT

January 20, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

For over 40 years, Mathematica has helped decisionmakers access the objective evidence they need to make sound public policy. In 2008, we continued to produce data and research on early childhood development, education, family well-being, nutrition, employment, health care, and disability issues to demonstrate how changes in policies and programs will benefit individuals and families worldwide. View a list of our 10 most-read publications in 2008.

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:18:47 GMT

January 16, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Report Highlights Recent Trends in the Economic Security of American Workers
Estimating Health Insurance Coverage Costs for Reform Models in New Mexico
Journal Article Notes that Discussing Sensitive Health Topics with Youth During Primary Care Visit Can Lead to Positive Outcomes
Oklahoma Marriage Initiative: Strengthening Families and Creating Widespread Social Change
What Works Clearinghouse: New Standards Handbook and Intervention Reports Available
Promoting Employment for People with Disabilities: Lessons from the U.S. for the U.K.

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:06:22 GMT

January 8, 2009: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Health Benefits for the Uninsured: An Overview of the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration
Can Databases Strengthen Long-Term Care Partnerships?
What Do We Know About Women with Disabilities in the Workforce?
Both Sides Now: The Story of School Desegregation
Pediatric Mental Health Counseling: Parents’ Impressions Differ from Physicians
Discussing Maternal Stress: Is the Pediatric Primary Care Visit a Valid Venue?
Does Job Corps Work? Article Discusses Impact Findings
What Works Clearinghouse: New Intervention Reports and Quick Reviews
Bring Them Back, Move Them Forward: Programs for Out-of-School Youths
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:05:35 GMT

December 18, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Are People Who Need Food Stamps Getting Them? State Participation Rates for 2006
Helping Rural TANF Recipients Get and Keep Jobs: Welfare-to-Work Programs in Illinois and Nebraska
What Works Clearinghouse: Two New Quick Reviews Look at Science and Reading Programs
Methods Update: The Late Pretest Problem in Randomized Control Trials of Education Interventions
Making Medical Homes Work: New Policy Perspective Helps Fill Knowledge Gap
Addressing the Needs of TANF Recipients with Disabilities to be Topic at January Disability Forum
Little Gain for Private Medicare Plans: New York Times Mentions Medicare Advantage Study

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:48:21 GMT

December 11, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Fox Testifies Before Senate Agriculture Committee on School Meal Programs
Removing Barriers to Dental Care for Low-Income Kids: The Head Start Oral Health Initiative
How Are Latino Immigrants Faring in New Rural Destinations?
What Works Clearinghouse: Reviews Early Reading and KIPP Schools
Surveying People with Disabilities: Source Guide Examines Methodological Issues
Tackling Childhood Obesity: Implementation of I Am Moving, I Am Learning
Evaluating Elementary Math Curricula: Report Details Study Design

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:28:45 GMT

December 2, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Health Affairs Study Notes Medicare Advantage Increases Costs, Complexity
Policy Brief Explores What is Known About Using Physician Payment to Improve Health System Performance
New Issue Brief: Infusing Academics Into Career and Technical Education
Results from Survey of Older Americans Show Programs Are Improving Quality of Life
Making Health Insurance Affordable: Section 125 Plans Can Help Expand Coverage
National Board of Education Sciences Examines Integrity of the What Works Clearinghouse
Mathematica Administers the 2010 National Mental Health Survey
World's Largest Longitudinal Survey of New Businesses Extended Four Years
Health Policy Expert Hargreaves Joins Staff

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:36:37 GMT

October 28, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

50-State Survey Describes Mental Health Services in Medicaid
Antidepressants: Article in Psychiatric Services Tracks Differences in Black/White Usage
Money Follows the Person: New Report Details Evaluation Design
Coordinating Care in Medicare Fee-for-Service: Too Early for Effects?
Eliminating Health Disparities: Focus on North Carolina and Washington
What Works Clearinghouse Rates Accelerated Reader Intervention
Health Care Advocacy Creates Positive Impacts for Kids in New Jersey
Article in AIDS Care Details Cost Variation in Treatment
Mission and Money: New Book Illuminates University Revenue Sources
Critical Access Hospital Conversions: Are Beneficiaries at Risk?

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:26:39 GMT

October 16, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Oklahoma Charts Course in Using Research to Develop a Statewide Marriage Initiative
Brief Reviews Health Coverage for Married and Single-Parent Families
Who Gets Food Stamps? New Report Notes 26.5 Million Recipients Monthly
Pathways to Work: Innovative U.K. Disability Program May Inform U.S. Efforts
Medicaid Buy-In Participants in Massachusetts with Prior Medicaid Coverage Have More Successful Employment Outcomes
What Works Clearinghouse Releases New Reports on Middle School Math and Preschool Reading Skills
Improving Children’s Health Services: External Quality Review Organizations Can Help
Cash and Counseling to Be Highlighted at November Disability Forum
Out and About: Experts Presenting at APPAM Annual Conference
Spotlight on International Research

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:10:00 GMT

September 29, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Briefs from Gates Foundation's Early Learning Initiative Paint Picture of Communities
Center for Studying Disability Policy: Inaugural Brief Notes 4 Million SSDI Beneficiaries Want to Work
Targeting Healthy Marriage Programs: Guide Offers Marriage Statistics for Every State
Children's Dental Health: Three California Healthy Kids Programs Improve Access
What Works Clearinghouse Releases New Dropout Guide and Beginning Reading Report
Charter Schools: Impacts on Educational Attainment in Chicago and Florida

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:44:35 GMT

September 24, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

Mathematica to Open New Office in Oakland, California
Deborah Reed, Former Director of Research at the Public Policy Institute of California, to Head Effort

Read the announcement.

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:56:14 GMT

September 11, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Putting Marriage on the Agenda: New Report Describes Oklahoma Marriage Initiative
Medicaid Prescription Drug Use:
Issue Brief Details Prescription Drug Use by Dual Eligibles
Chartbook Summarizes Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Use in 2003
Preventing Diabetes: Review Assesses Trends in Reporting Complications
Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy Article Looks at Unclaimed Prescriptions at Military Pharmacies
What Works Clearinghouse Releases New Dropout Guide and Intervention Reports
Journal of Disability Policy Studies Article Describes Medicaid Buy-In Enrollment, Expenditures, and Earnings
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:32:37 GMT

August 20, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

School Reform in Boston: Student Academic Outcomes Are Mixed
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care:
Social Science & Medicine Article Looks at "Glue" in Collaborative Efforts
Report Reviews Risk Factors and Interventions to Reduce Infant Mortality
Child Development Article Notes Family Influences on Cognitive Development
What Works Clearinghouse Releases Six New Reports
Out and About: Czajka Receives Award at Joint Statistical Meetings
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:22:14 GMT

Disability Policy Forums to Debut in September

The Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica is pleased to announce a new bimonthly lunchtime seminar series providing decision makers and others with an opportunity to hear about the latest disability policy research findings and discuss implications for disability policy. Experts from the center will present recently released findings and lead discussions about their policy implications. Visit our website to register.

Forum Number 1: The Employment and Work Aspirations of People with Disabilities
Friday, September 12, 2008 • 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Mathematica Policy Research
5th Floor Main Conference Room (Room 5323)
600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 550
Washington, DC 20024

Speakers: David Wittenburg, Ph.D. and
Gina Livermore, Ph.D.
Discussant: Henry Claypool, Policy Director,
Independence Care Systems and Disability Policy Consultant

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:00:10 GMT

July 31, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Marriage Initiatives Prepare High Schoolers for Family Stability
Methods Update: American Statistician Article Describes Propensity Scoring Risks
Alternative Certification: New Report Details Passport to Teaching Growth
Using Head Start National Reporting System Assessments to Improve Practice
What Works Clearinghouse: Quick Reviews on Teach For America and Math Instruction Released

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:24:02 GMT

July 16, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Report to Congress Details Medicare Disease Management Programs
What Works Clearinghouse Rates Research on Accelerated Middle Schools
Improving Pediatric Mental Health Care: Article Offers Model for Delivery
Unhealthy Foods in High Schools: Pediatrics Article Serves Up New Data
Summer Fellows Join Staff
On the Move: Staff Receive Awards for Publications Excellence
Out and About: Experts Presenting at Joint Statistical Meetings and NAWRS Conference

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:12:47 GMT

June 30, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Report Highlights National Disability Status and Indicators
Latest Trends in Food Stamp Participation Rates Reviewed
The Nation's Report Card: NAEP Mathematics Assessment in Puerto Rico
Methods Update: Guidelines for Multiple Testing in Education Research
Performance Measures and Program Impacts: Results from the Job Corps Evaluation
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:33:25 GMT

June 10, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

What Works Clearinghouse Releases New Type of Evidence Report
Medicare Advantage in 2008: Issue Brief Reviews Trends
Experimenting with Health Insurance Reform in Minnesota
Evaluation Review Article Estimates Effects of Income Documentation in School Meal Programs
Changing Circumstances: Paper Analyzes Transition of Child SSI Recipients to Adult Benefits Status
Teacher Quality: Report Details Mathematica's Evaluation of the Teacher Advancement Program

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:10:46 GMT

May 21, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

What Works Clearinghouse Releases Guide on Turning Around Schools
Health Coverage for Low-Income Children: New Publication Compares California Programs
Report Describes Value-Added Model for Identifying Effective Schools in Memphis
Do Charter Schools Work? Several Mathematica Studies Aim to Provide Answers
Mathematica Celebrates 40 Years of Helping Inform the Policy Debate
Out and About: Fox Named to Institute of Medicine Nutrition Committee

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:10:38 GMT

April 17, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

TANF Recipients with Disabilities: Series of Publications Highlights Promising Practices to Promote Employment
Social Science & Medicine Article Challenges Analyses of Relationship Between Income Inequality and Population Health
Out and About: Bonnie O'Day to Speak at National Disability Council Event

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:57:51 GMT

April 8, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Journal of Policy and Management Article Looks at Impacts of Abstinence Education
Methods Update: Article in Evaluation Review Examines Implications of Undefined Outcomes
What Works Clearinghouse: Two New Dropout Reviews Released
New Report Notes Similar Achievement Gains for Students in Philadelphia Charter and Public Schools
Health Affairs Web Exclusive Reviews SCHIP Eligibility
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:08:45 GMT

March 27, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Mathematica to Lead Two Major Charter School Evaluations:
     KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program)
     Charter School Management Organizations
Building Strong Families: Who Is Participating?
Food Stamp Program:
     Florida's Approach to Modernization: A Model for Other States
     Exploring Reasons Behind Variations in State Participation Rates
Missouri's Career Ladder Teacher Incentive Program: Does It Affect Student Achievement?
Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics Article Discusses Random Assignment in Education Research
After-School Program's Effects on Behavior Reviewed in Economic Inquiry
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:09:37 GMT

March 13, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Social Service Review Article Notes Uneven TANF Progress
Using Medicaid Data to Understand Long-Term Care Service Use and Expenditures
A National and State-by-State Profile of Medicaid-Financed Nursing Home Services Now Available
Preventing Childhood Obesity: An Early Look at Head Start’s "I Am Moving, I Am Learning"
Workforce Collaborations with Faith- and Community-Based Organizations
Journal Article Looks at Academic Achievement of Youth Involved with Juvenile Justice System
Chollet Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Health Access Initiatives

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:31:26 GMT

February 28, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Head Start Oral Health Initiative: Taking a Bite Out of Dental Disease
Do Widely Used Interventions Help Close the Reading Gap?
Article in Equity & Excellence in Education Reviews Home/School Relation
Federal Spending on Diabetes Tops $79.7 Billion in 2005
Company Recognized for Staff Diversity

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:17:05 GMT

February 11, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Social Science Quarterly Article Notes that Teen Mothers Lived With Parents More After Welfare Reform
Latest Working with Disability Brief Reports Low Use of Work Incentive Programs
Inquiry Article Examines Whether Premium Increases Influence Medicaid Buy-In Disenrollment
National Study Looks at Extent of Errors in School Meal Programs
Journal Article Chronicles Trends in Mental Health Care Disparities
Article in Preventive Medicine Links Maternal Smoking and Depression
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:44:12 GMT

January 30, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Report Looks at Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans
New What Works Clearinghouse Dropout Intervention Reports Released
Out and About: State Health Experts to Present at Cyber Seminar on February 1
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:04:58 GMT

January 22, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Social Service Review Article Looks at How Child SSI Recipients Fare as Adults
Brief Makes Case for States to Gain from Process Improvement Collaboratives
Report Summarizes State Data for Tracking Disparities
Book Chapter Looks at School Competition and Student Outcomes
National Early Childhood Task Force Recommends Assessment System
Report Details Measuring Health Resource Use and Quality

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:17:22 GMT

January 2, 2008: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Using Vouchers to Deliver Child Care and Training Services
New Report Examines How Long Families Receive Food Stamps and Under What Circumstances
Social Science Quarterly Article Notes Disability Is a Determinant of Material Hardship
Afterschool Study Reviewed in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis
Special Issue of Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation Focuses on Ticket to Work
Ann Arbor Office Opens Its Doors

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:04:04 GMT

December 13, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Direct Certification Increases Access to Free School Meals
New Report Provides State-by-State Comparisons of Medicaid/Mental Health Funding and Structures
Health Affairs Article Examines Private-Sector Approaches to Disease Management
Leading the Way? Maine's Experience with Health Care Reform

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:11:40 GMT

December 3, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Using Data from the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program
Healthy Kids Evaluations Find Gains in Children's and Parents' Well-Being
New Summary Examines Whether School Meals Meet Dietary Needs
Using Work-Oriented Sanctions to Increase TANF Program Participation
Out and About

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:32:13 GMT

November 26, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Family Well-Being: Connections with Poverty and Family Structure Reviewed
Care for Chronic Illnesses: Medicaid Value Program Tests Interventions
Research Ethics: Authorship and Publication Practices Examined
New Brief Reviews Latest State Food Stamp Participation Rates
Out and About: NCSL Webcast on State Health Reform Available

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:25:09 GMT

November 13, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Children's Eating Habits: American Academy of Pediatrics Book Notes that Problems Start Early
Does Drug Coverage Affect Medical Spending for Elderly People?
Children's Mental Health: What Role Do Primary Care Providers Play in Reducing Disparities?
Community Colleges: Paper Examines Stepping Stones to a Degree for Older and Younger Students

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:04:31 GMT

November 5, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Report to Congress Reviews Ticket to Work Program's Early Impacts
Clinical Pediatrics Article Notes Importance of Communication in Child Mental Health Treatment
Dual Enrollment: High School Students Are Helped by Taking College Courses
Consumer-Directed Health Care: Report Summarizes Five Years of Cash and Counseling Findings

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 29 Oct 2007 11:25:03 GMT

October 29, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Mathematica Dietary Research Recognized by National Institutes of Health
SCHIP at 10: National Evaluation Background Reports Now Available
Staff News and Changes
Experts to Present at APHA and APPAM

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:36:07 GMT

October 9, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Does Where You Live as a Child Influence Where You Reside as an Adult?
Latest Food Stamp Trends Report Details Participant Characteristics in 2006
State Health Policy Publications Assess Reforms in New Mexico and Missouri
On the Move: Staff News and Changes
APPAM and APHA Presenters Announced

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:30:32 GMT

September 24, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Upward Bound Math-Science Report Released
Health Services Research Article Examines Medicare Prescription Drugs
New Issue Brief Reviews a Decade of SCHIP
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:35:02 GMT

September 13, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

Mathematica to Open New Office in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Catherine McLaughlin, Director of Economic Research Initiative on the Uninsured, to Head Effort

News from Mathematica

Communications@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:39:22 GMT

September 6, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Community Health Initiatives: An Important but Often Neglected Part of the Health Care System
New Report Looks at Abstinence Education Program in South Carolina
Latest Working with Disability Brief Focuses on Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment
Journal Article Examines Medicaid Beneficiaries with Congestive Heart Failure, a "New Epidemic"
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:56:45 GMT

August 16, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Covering Kids and Families: Case Study Reports Michigan Trends
Survey of Early Head Start Programs Looks at Communities, Programs, and Families
How Do New Options Under No Child Left Behind Affect Student Achievement?
Rhetoric Versus Reality: What We Know and What We Need to Know About Vouchers and Charter Schools
New What Works Clearinghouse Reports Released
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:51:48 GMT

August 1, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

Mathematica Launches Center for Studying Disability Policy
Center Unites Staff from Mathematica with Researchers from Cornell University Institute for Policy Research

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:58:46 GMT

July 25, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New ECLS Data Resources Available
What Prevents Covering Kids & Families Grantees from Achieving Goals?
Report Examines Medicaid Pay-for-Performance
See Who Is Presenting at JSM and NAWRS

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:09:41 GMT

July 18, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Reference Available on Medicaid Enrollees and Their Experiences in 2002
Article Notes State SCHIP Outreach Efforts Changed Over Time
Prescription Drug Use and Costs for Dual Eligibles Vary Greatly
Working Paper Examines Selection Bias in College Admissions Test Scores
Working with Disability: Latest Brief Compares Buy-In with Other Medicaid Participants
Gill Joins Staff as Senior Researcher

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:33:51 GMT

July 13, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

New Brief Looks at Whether Nutrition Messages Translate into Behavior Changes
Journal Article Provides a Snapshot of Homeschooling
Mathematica Tapped to Expand the What Works Clearinghouse
Check Out Joint Statistical Meetings Presentations

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:38:29 GMT

June 28, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Latest Food Stamp Trends Report Reviews 2005 Participation Rates
Health Affairs Article Reviews Pay-For-Performance in Medicaid Managed Care
New Brief Notes Low-Income Children Benefit from Stable Health Coverage
Visit Our Booth at the Workforce Innovations Conference

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:41:28 GMT

June 20, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Journal Article Supports Replacing Price-Based with Value-Based Drug Formularies
New Study Identifies Federal Leadership Role in Reversing Upward Trend of Diabetes
Working with Disability: Latest Medicaid Buy-In Brief Examines Earnings
Methods Update: Simple Changes Boost Accessibility in Phone Interviews of People with Disabilities
New Medicaid Drug Use and Cost Data Highlight Issues for States After Medicare Part D

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:40:09 GMT

June 11, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Encouraging Entrepreneurship: Report Notes Models Could Be Replicated
Quantum Opportunity Program: No Overall Impacts But Promise for Some Students
Hospital Quality Reporting: Leadership Is Paying Attention
Congressional Report on Early Reading First Notes Mixed Impacts
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 30 May 2007 11:13:05 GMT

May 30, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Journal Article Reports Youth Mental Health Issues Missed in Primary Care
Do Consumers Understand Health Care Quality Measures?
Methods Update Reviews Short Dietary Assessments for Measuring Fat Intake
Disability Benefits: A Developing Crisis as Baby Boomers Age?
Schirm Named ASA Fellow
Check Out ACF Welfare Research and Establishment Surveys Conference Presenters

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 17 May 2007 08:55:08 GMT

May 17, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Personal Health Records: What Do Underserved Consumers Want?
Health Affairs Web Exclusive Looks at Medicare Advantage Growth
Encouraging Entrepreneurship on Campus: A New Initiative
New What Works Clearinghouse Beginning Reading and Dropout Reviews Released
Mathematica Supports Third International Conference on Establishment Surveys

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:22:19 GMT

May 10, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Health Care Quality: Article Reviews Progress in Reporting Medicaid Data
Working with Disability: A Snapshot of the Medicaid Buy-In Program
New Web Page Spotlights Our Work in the International Arena
Working with Us: Contracting Made Simple
AAPOR and AcademyHealth Presentations Announced

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:28:58 GMT

May 10, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:28:58 GMT

May 10, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 07 May 2007 10:06:36 GMT

May 3, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Article Reviews School-Based Options for Dealing with Childhood Obesity
Institute of Medicine Releases Nutrition Standards for Schools
Congressionally Mandated Report on Abstinence Education Released
New Brief Looks at Personal Health Records for Underserved Groups
American Association for Public Opinion Research Conference Presenters Announced

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:18:05 GMT

April 19, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

Latest Quality Care for Special Kids Brief Focuses on ADHD
Report Examines Customer Choices in Individual Training Accounts
NAEP Math Assessment for Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in Puerto Rico
New Report Reviews Food Stamp Participation Rates in 2002-2004
Primer Reviews Use of Vouchers to Deliver Social Services

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 08:49:51 GMT

March 29, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

National Emergency Grants: Do They Increase Workforce Development Capacity?
Jamaica's Safety Net Targets Poorest Households, Boosts School Attendance
New What Works Clearinghouse Reviews Released
Web Page Highlights Prescription Drug Policy and Outcomes Studies
Out and About at AERA

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:04:26 GMT

March 20, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In This Issue:

The Lessons of DirigoChoice for State Health Reform
Annual Report on Maryland Health Care Expenditures Released
Medicare Advantage Update Can Inform Upcoming Debates
New Brief Looks at Impact on Work and Family of Special Care for Special Kids
Working with Disability: New Brief Looks at Top Earners
Check Who Is Presenting at AERA

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:42:55 GMT

March 1, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

SCHIP Congressional Briefing Webcast Now Available
Making Health Care a Reality for Low-Income Kids and Families: New Brief Released
New Citizenship Requirements Cause Confusion for Children's Health Programs
Check the Early Childhood Experts Presenting at SRCD in March

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:08:03 GMT

February 22, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

A special issue of Health Services Research includes articles on the motivation for the Cash and Counseling program, how it was designed and implemented, the evaluation and its findings, and how the findings have changed the way that many states use their Medicaid home care resources.

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:48:33 GMT

February 12, 2007: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

Deriving DRIs and Interpreting Dietary Assessments
New Article Notes Medicaid Managed Care May Reduce Some Disparities
Are Uninsurance Rates Higher for Immigrants?
Employment and Training: Personal Reemployment Accounts Provide Flexibility
New Brief Reviews Care Coordination for Kids with Special Health Care Needs
On the Move: Staff News and Changes

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:15:00 GMT

January 23, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

New Brief Looks at Evolving Strategies for Health Care Quality Reporting
Health and Medical Information on the Internet: Can It Be Trusted?
Commentary Urges Caution When Examining Relationship of Parental Body Size and Child's Weight
Do Flu Shots Lower Medicare Expenditures?

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 10:44:51 GMT

January 9, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

Children's Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Not All Parents Satisfied with Coverage
New Brief Profiles Longest-Running Statewide Marriage Initiative in the U.S.
TANF at 10 Issue Brief Outlines Welfare Reform Choices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
National Hospital Discharge Survey: Article Tracks Trends in Lung Surgery

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:09:40 GMT

December 11, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

New Paper Reviews Medicare Advantage Benefits and Premiums in 2006
Does Medicare Supplemental Coverage Choice Vary by Income?
Obesity Article Looks at Child Feeding and Eating Behaviors
More Pilot Sites Announced to Help Youth With Disabilities Move from School to Work

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 08:28:36 GMT

December 4, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

New Paper Maps High School Graduation Rates onto College Rates by Race and Gender
2004 Food Stamp Participation Rates Released
Commercial Health Insurance: Smart or Simply Lucky?
Journal Article Details Health Care Decision Making by People with Disabilities
RSS Feed of This Newsletter Now Available

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:33:12 GMT

November 15, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In this Issue:

Covering Kids and Families: Four New Case Studies Available
Dietary Effects of the School Breakfast Program Reviewed
Pay for Performance: Are Hospitals Ready and Willing?
How Valuable Is a GED in the Labor Market?

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:14:04 GMT

November 6, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In this Issue:

Youth Smoking Prevention: The Role of Stress and Social Status
Pediatrics Article Examines Preventive Care Goals for Low Birth Weight Infants in Medicaid
Florida Cash and Counseling: Targeting People with Developmental Disabilities and Children
Several Journal Articles Examine Employment Issues for People with Disabilities
Career Opportunities at Mathematica

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 10:47:58 GMT

November 2, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In this Issue:

Early Childhood Development Handbook Released:
—Uses of Preschool Assessments Analyzed
—Head Start Effectiveness Reviewed
New Article Analyzes Latino Parents' Interactions with Their Children
Issue Brief Reviews Medicaid Buy-In and Health Insurance Issues
Read About Our Work for the What Works Clearinghouse

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:18:00 GMT

October 24, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In this Issue:

Improving Care for Dual Eligibles by Integrating Medicare-Medicaid Coverage
Article Examines Youth Intake of Sugary Drinks in School and Fast-Food Settings
Annual Profile of Food Stamp Households Released
Los Angeles Healthy Kids Program Profiled
Check Out Upcoming APPAM and APHA Presentations
Career Opportunities at Mathematica

News from Mathematica

Info@mathematica-mpr.com — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:22:38 GMT

October 10, 2006: A Semimonthly Update on New Publications, Presentations, and Other Developments

In this Issue:

TANF at 10: A Look at Policies in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
Medicare Advantage: Changes in the Market in 2006
Two New Briefs Released on Special Care for Special Kids:
—Profile of Those Enrolled in Commercial Plans
—Prescription Drug Costs for Children in These Plans
Beyond Test Scores: New Brief Looks at Student Competencies
Career Opportunities at Mathematica