New & Noteworthy
Welcome to the Team: Dr. Kristen Cunningham
We’re excited to welcome Dr. Kristen Cunningham to the EVALCORP team! As a Research Associate I, Kristen leads and supports data collection, analysis, and reporting across evaluation, needs assessment, and strategic planning projects. She brings over five years of research experience in early childhood, education, and behavioral health—applying both quantitative and qualitative methods to design…
EVALCORP’s 2025 Spring Offsite Celebration Hits the Mark
Each spring, our team travels from across the country to reconnect, recharge, and have some well-earned fun together. This year’s Team Connection Event took us to an axe-throwing venue in Southern California, where colleagues from New York, Nevada, Nebraska, and all throughout California gathered for EVALCORP’s 2025 Spring Offsite. The day was filled with spirited…
Double the Joy: Celebrating Our Soon-to-Be EVALCORP Parents
Our team recently came together—both in person at our Laguna Woods office and virtually—to celebrate not one, but two new additions to the EVALCORP family. We hosted a sweet and joyful double baby shower in honor of Dr. Luis Vila-Henninger and his wife, who live in California, and Dr. Gabrielle Walker and her husband, who…
Welcome to the Team: Dr. Taylor Kidd!
We’re thrilled to introduce Dr. Taylor Kidd, the newest member of our EVALCORP team! As a Research Associate, Taylor contributes to a range of evaluation, needs assessment, and strategic planning projects. She brings nearly a decade of experience in conducting evaluation studies and applied research, with expertise in project design, implementation, analysis, and translating data…
Evaluation Methods Quarterly: Randomization is Underused in Program Evaluation
Welcome to Evaluation Methods Quarterly, a blog series by Dr. Anthony Clairmont, EVALCORP’s Lead Methodologist. Each quarter, Dr. Clairmont explores key methodological concepts, challenges, and innovations in evaluation, offering insights to strengthen practice and advance the field. One of my observations over my years of working with many nonprofits and government agencies is that randomization…
Recent Changes to the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA): What They Mean…
California has long been a leader in addressing mental health and housing challenges through innovative funding mechanisms. Since its passage in 2004, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) has been a cornerstone of California’s behavioral health strategy. Funded by a 1% tax on incomes exceeding $1 million, the MHSA has provided billions in funding to…
Pinellas County First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Initiatives: Real-Time Feedback through Program Evaluation
Currently, EVALCORP is partnering with Pinellas County, Florida to conduct a program evaluation for initiatives funded through the First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Grants (FR-CARA) program. This project addresses the County’s goals of reducing opioid-related deaths and connecting individuals to effective treatment. Evaluating Overdose Response Programming In our work for this project, we are…
Housing Needs Assessments in California: What You Need to Know
Housing affordability and availability have become critical challenges for communities across California. Comprehensive housing needs assessments have become essential for municipalities, counties, and housing authorities as the housing shortage continues. These assessments provide crucial data and insights for housing policies, development priorities, and funding allocations. A housing needs assessment is a systematic evaluation that: With…
Creating Sustainable Social Impact with Strategic Planning
Organizations across sectors are prioritizing sustainability and long-term impact more and more each day. Achieving meaningful and lasting change requires more than just good intentions—it demands strategic planning that aligns with mission-driven objectives, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed decision-making. Without a well-structured strategy, social impact initiatives risk inefficiency, short-term gains, or missed opportunities for systemic change.…