Office of Research and Evaluation - Special Studies
FY 2005
Evaluating the Title XX Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Program: Development of a Data Collection and Analysis System for AFL Program Evaluation
RTI International
Raleigh, NC
Project Director: Olivia Silber Ashley, Dr. P.H.
Project Period: 10/05-3/07
The purpose of this project is to develop a conceptual and operational framework for obtaining and analyzing evaluation data to ascertain the degree of success Title XX Care and Prevention demonstrations achieve-as a whole and over the long term. The project will incorporate and rely upon core evaluation instruments already developed for individual project outcome evaluations. The project has several components. In an early phase, a panel of evaluation experts will be convened to discuss key evaluation issues and give input for a cross-site evaluation design. An assessment of the current capacity of AFL demonstration projects, in terms of data collection and participation in a cross-site evaluation, will be conducted. A prototype for data collection will then be developed and tested. The final phase will bring together findings of the project into recommendations for a cross-site evaluation design and associated data-collection and analysis strategies for the AFL program.
FY 2004
An Assessment of Parent Involvement Strategies in Programs Serving Adolescents
RTI International
Raleigh, NC
Project Director: Olivia Silber Ashley, Dr. P.H.
Project Period: 10/04-4/06
The purpose of this project is to examine outreach and intervention strategies, used by both the Title XX Adolescent Family Life and Title X Family Planning programs, to involve parents and families and achieve improved communication between parents and adolescents about sexuality and other issues important to negotiating a successful transition to adulthood. The overarching goal is to assess which are most viable and an assessment of what determines "best practices" for the Title XX and Title X programs, in particular, and what might be implemented in other program settings.
Evaluation of Strategies to Encourage Couples-Based Service Delivery in Title X
Health Systems Research
Washington, D.C.
Project Director: Jamie Hart, Ph.D.
Project Period: 9/04-9/06
The purpose of this collaborative project is to examine specific strategies that are being used to provide health care services to couples and/or families who access Title X-supported family planning clinics that hold "couples clinics" or family-focused clinics. The purpose of this evaluation is to examine how current couples-based and family-focused interventions that are currently being used in a number of Title X-supported family planning clinics can promote healthy relationships, including marriage, and family formation; encourage interactions to increase communication about protection against STDs (including HIV); enhance contraceptive decision-making and effective contraceptive use; facilitate regular health care visits and screenings; improve general reproductive health; and promote preventive health care behaviors to decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Reports Available: Contact Pankaja Panda in OPA
Youth Development Approaches in AFL Demonstration Projects
Urban Institute
Washington, D.C.
Project Director: Martha Burt, Ph.D.
Project Period: 9/04-9/05
The purpose of this project is to examine the various youth development approaches used in AFL prevention demonstration projects. This includes, but is not limited to: the specific combinations of youth development strategies used; the intensity of the youth development component of the intervention; recruitment and retention of adolescent clients in the youth development component; and project objectives in implementing the youth development approach. A clearer understanding of the extent to which AFL prevention projects employ youth development strategies, and what those strategies are, is a necessary first step in a future evaluation to determine if these strategies make a difference in desired outcomes for adolescents.
Report Available: Contact Allison Roper in OPA
FY 2003
Evaluation of Family and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention in Title X
Battelle Institute
Alexandria, VA
Project Director: Anne Powers, Ph.D.
Project Period: 9/03-9/05
The purpose of this collaborative project is to conduct an assessment of selected clinic-based approaches and interventions to address family and intimate partner violence (FIPV) in Title X supported family planning clinics. The evaluation will assess and describe barriers experienced and lessons learned by Title X supported clinics on the integration of FIPV into their scope of clinical activities. This evaluation is a necessary first step toward policy and program development in the area of FIPV for a key source of publicly-funded healthcare for women. Evaluation of model FIPV programs that have already been implemented can identify acceptable and sustainable strategies for reproductive health service providers that want to implement new or expand existing FIPV services.
Report Available: Contact Pankaja Panda in OPA
Title X Assessment of Current Evaluation Needs
RTI International
Raleigh, NC
Project Director: Christina Fowler, Ph.D.
Project Period: 9/03-2/06
The purpose of this collaborative project is to more completely understand the effects of current administrative processes, financial requirements and/or constraints, staff adequacy (training and availability), and organizational (grantee and clinic) behavior on the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of Title X assisted family planning services. Specific questions also include whether collaborating agency (Office of Minority Health, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy) efforts in community capacity building and technical assistance are available to Title X grantees, delegates and their constituents, and to what extent FP clinics are aware of and utilize the resources available through OMH. The goal of this process is to assure that FP services are achieving the goals stated in statutory language through mechanisms that are most responsive to current client needs and are consistent with the efficient and appropriate use of taxpayer funds.
Reports Available: Contact Pankaja Panda in OPA
Prior Studies
Future Directions for Family Planning Research: A Framework for Title X Family Planning Service Delivery Improvement Research
This report, commissioned by the Office of Population Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reviews research conducted about family planning services between 1985 and 2003. Over 240 reports and articles were identified and examined. With input from 30 expert technical advisors, the authors organize the review around the key issues facing the family planning field today: reaching high-priority populations, strengthening family planning practices and improving the organization and administration of services. The report identifies priority directions for future family planning research and suggestions for enhancing the impact of research investments made by the Office of Family Planning.
Copies of the report are available through the OPA Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 30686
Bethesda, MD 20824-0686
ph: 866-640-PUBS (7827)
fx: 866-592-FAXX (3299)
e-mail: clearinghouse@dhhsopa.net
Examining HIV Prevention Activities in the Title X Family Planning Program
Health Research Systems, Inc. recently completed a study, Examining HIV Prevention Activities in the Title X Family Planning Program, funded by the Office of Population Affairs. The report identifies and assesses the various types of HIV prevention activities Title X programs are providing, identifies gaps or weaknesses in current services, and highlights innovative strategies that address the interrelated issues that the programs and their clients face. The report examines and highlights the issues family planing clinics face and the creative strategies they implement when attempting to integrate HIV prevention activities into family planning services. It also addresses the HIV prevention needs of Title X family planning clients. This information should assist programs to not only to better tailor their services to the local community, but also to build local commitment and capacity.
Executive Summary: [pdf] [txt]
Limited English Proficiency as a Barrier to Family Planning Services
Another report, Limited English Proficiency as a Barrier to Family Planning Services, conducted by COSMOS Corporation for the Office of Population Affairs (OPA), Office of Public Health and Science, reviews and assesses the language assistance services and activities being provided to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals in seven Title X-funded family planning clinics. The study findings present an illustrative sampling of services, activities, and procedures that reflect innovative strategies being used by Title X clinics to meet the growing demand for language assistance in their communities. In addition, the study describes the common challenges faced by clinics as they strive to provide language assistance services to their LEP clients. It also describes the barriers LEP individuals experience in are accessing family planning services. The various clinics and innovative language assistance services profiled in the report have the potential to improve the health care delivery system for underserved and vulnerable populations such as limited English proficient (LEP) individuals.
Executive Summary: [pdf]
