James Bell Associates was awarded a major contract with AHRQ to evaluate findings and provide technical assistance for the federal Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) program. The program’s goal is to improve overall health care through evidence-based practices that enhance medical decisions and treatments made by patients and their providers. As prime contractor JBA will assess the program grantees abilities to accelerate the implementation and dissemination of CER findings and other practices.

James Bell Associates is developing the national cross-site evaluation plan and providing technical assistance for the new federal Permanency Innovations Initiative (PII). PII supports projects to enhance permanency outcomes for children experiencing long term stays in foster care. In this effort, JBA will be working with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within HHS, to help improve permanency outcomes for children and youth at high risk for long term foster care nationwide.

James Bell Associates won a major contract with HHS and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to conduct large-scale evaluation of the groundbreaking Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstration Program (PSMLRD). JBA will carry out a 5-year longitudinal evaluation of PSMLRD grants, monitor their progress in accomplishing the program’s intent and objectives, and assess the overall contribution of the PSMLRD program to national healthcare reform.

James Bell Associates has a key role in developing evaluation designs for the federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which responds directly to the needs of children and families in communities at risk, and is critical to the national effort to build quality, comprehensive statewide early childhood service systems. Working with HHS, OPRE and MDRC, JBA will provide evaluation technical assistance to the grantees.

The Children’s Bureau has contracted with JBA to conduct a major cross-site evaluation of Child Welfare Technical Assistance Implementation Centers (IC) and National Child Welfare Resource Centers (NCWRC). During an intensive five-year study JBA will design a new dynamic T/TA tracking system, implement a longitudinal study to assess the effectiveness of T/TA provided by ICs and NCWRCs, and identify effective practices associated with coordinated T/TA delivery to states and tribes.