CIRE Forum: Transforming Technical Assistance: Using Evidence to Enrich the Experience

Each year, the federal government makes a sizeable investment in technical assistance (TA) to improve program quality, yet standards and expectations for high quality TA are not well-defined. To be effective, TA must be relevant, engaging, and fact-based to help policymakers, program administrators, and direct services staff enhance their programs.

On Thursday, January 22, 2015, Mathematica’s Center for Improving Research Evidence (CIRE) hosted a research forum and webinar to explore the standards for effective TA. Evidence-based TA draws upon proven research techniques and products, which inform (1) the TA content, (2) the process of providing TA (based on adult learning principles), and (3) the measurement of the policy or program improvement (using, for example, implementation science methods or rapid-cycle evaluation).

An experienced panel of experts and practitioners led the discussion and conducted an interactive learning session, modeling adult learning principles:

• Ann Person, Mathematica
• Michelle Derr, Mathematica
• Len Finocchio, Mathematica
• LaDonna Pavetti, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Val Uccellani, Global Learning Partners

For more information, please contact CIRE@mathematica-mpr.com.