Applied Research
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Applied Research

Goal: To conduct applied research and evaluation to advance knowledge that will enhance people's lives and the effectiveness of communities  to support all its citizens.

The generation and organization of applied research forms the basis of policy formulation; program planning by state and local agencies; and community training, demonstration, technical assistance. 

Applied research complements the other core functions and addresses the priority need areas through both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.  Consumers and family members assist in the in the identification, development, implementation, and reporting of applied research efforts. 

Research methodology includes assessments, evaluation, and targeted applied research projects and evaluations of  outcome measures for Institute activities and other agencies.  Dissemination about Institute findings informs a wide audience, including academics, researchers, service providers, policy makers, consumers, and families. 

The following programs are representative of the Institute's research and evaluation activities.  The links following each will take you to a complete profile of that project:

Jackson County Mental Health Needs Assessment
In recent years there has been a decrease in funding for Medicaid psychiatric services.  At the same time, the need for psychiatric services is increasing. Jackson County wanted to understand the mental health needs of the individuals in their county.  The Institute is looking at the usage of mental health services and the trend of the use of these services by both private and public facilities.  The second part of this needs assessment involved the conduct of key informant interviews, surveys, and focus groups.  The data from these reports was summarized into six reports (e.g., homeless and corrections, substance abuse).  go to project profile

Cross-Site Evaluation for the Abandoned Infants Act Demonstration Program
Substance-abusing and HIV-infected mothers and their children are provided a broad range of social, educational and health related services at 22 federally funded sites nationwide. An additional nine sites are funded to provide services to kin caretakers of children if the mother is unavailable, and 4 sites provide therapeutic recreation services to affected these families. IHD is conducting a cross-site evaluation of 35 AIA sites, utilizing archival data as well as current data from each of the three program types, all serving similar families. The aim is to assess the overall impact of the 35 funded projects.  go to project profile

Head Start Innovation & Improvement Planning (Strengthening Families and Fatherhood: Children of Incarcerated Fathers)
The Institute is partnering with the Missouri Department of Social Services Family Support Division to conduct a process evaluation of an interagency planning project aimed to minimize the risks for young children affected by the involvement of their father in the criminal justice system.   A host of statewide systems changes are anticipated, including interagency collaboration at the state and community level, a child support debt waiver program, integrated service coordination for fathers and families, father education programs in prisons and communities, father support groups, father/child play groups, training for personnel, parent mediation and partner training, and more extensive referral services and resources for parents and practitioners. go to project profile

Esperanza Para La Familia
The Kansas City Health Department will conduct a needs assessment and plan for systems-wide changes to address the specific mental health needs of the Latino population.  The Mattie Rhodes Arts and Counseling Center is working with two Kansas City, Missouri schools where the PATH curriculum is conducted in the kindergarten and first grade.  This curriculum focuses on conflict resolution.  Counseling and case management are provided to students and families at the school.  Parenting classes and art counseling groups are also part of the grant. go to project profile

Esperanza Para Los Ninos
This project, under the direction of the Kansas City Health Department, is using a home visitation model to serve first time Latino mothers.  Education is provided on child development as well as case coordination to help the families obtain needed services.  These families are for the most part new immigrants to this country and use Latina case coordinators.   There are also many different types of educational classes (e.g., nutrition, prenatal care, etc).  go to project profile

Mediation Achieving Results for Children (MARCH)
The development of children born to low-income, unmarried parents is more likely to be adversely affected by stresses of single parenting, unresolved parental issues, and marginal employment of parents. This IHD project offers one of several integrated solutions by attempting to provide parents earlier information about parenting, available resources, the option of mediation, and employment or job training opportunities.  go to project profile

No Child Left Behind
Many schools have had difficulty in meeting the standards of No Child Left Behind.  There are a number of schools in Missouri that fit this for students with disabilities.  The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education decided to develop a program so that each school that fell in the bottom 25% of their  achievement scores could develop an Individualized School Plan and work with the Regional Professional Development Corporations.  Assistance with behavioral challenges can be provided by outside consultants.  The Institute was asked to evaluate this statewide program.  go to project profile

Quality Teaching for Quality Outcomes Evaluation
The Institute is evaluating the US Department of Education’s Early Childhood Educators Professional Development Grant, Quality Teaching for Quality Outcomes.  This program is designed to increase access to high quality professional development training, improve knowledge and skills of early childhood educators, apply research-based approaches by early childhood educators in their teaching and assessment of children, and improve child readiness for school.  The evaluation consists of comprehensive pre-/post program assessment, as well as the assessment of attending children during the beginning and end of their pre-kindergarten year.  go to project profile