2024 Year in Review

Learn about Policy Research’s 2024 accomplishments, work, and culture with our Year in Review! It offers glimpses into the following topics:

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Big News in 2024

Launched the Systems Mapping and Training Center. The Systems Mapping and Training Center is a one-stop-shop for all Policy Research’s mapping and training services, including Sequential Intercept Model Mapping Workshops, How Being Trauma Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses, and Crisis Intercept Mapping for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families, among many others.
Published research supporting the impact of our trainings, mappings, and tools, including How Being Trauma Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses (view the research), the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen (read the research), and Crisis Intercept Mapping for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (see the research).
Designed and implemented a corporate philanthropy plan, which allows Policy Research to develop deeper, relational non-profit partnerships with organizations that are aligned with PRA’s values and guiding principles and annual strategic goals. Staff-led Giving Circles donated $100,000 to mission and values-aligned non-profit organizations on behalf of Policy Research as part of this plan.
Amplified the impact of our research with supplementary products, including podcasts, infographic videos, YouTube shorts, research briefs, and graphic notes. These supplemental materials present research in an accessible and digestible format, reaching a wider audience.
Expanded our Conversations on Leadership podcast series to highlight Policy Research’s leaders and progress toward strategic goals. Recent episodes have included discussions on our approach to research and evaluation and life-work integration.

Word of the Year

What Does Strategic Slowness Mean to Policy Research?

“Strategic slowness acknowledges that the meaningful change we aim to create often unfolds more slowly than we might wish. Our work creates space for reflection, fosters stronger connections, and drives the kind of progress that endures.”

—President and CEO Sarah L. Desmarais, PhD

Top Accomplishments

Criminal Legal System

Facilitated community plans to address the opioid crisis by conducting eight Rural Opioid Intervention Court Sequential Intercept Model Mapping Workshops, sponsored by the New York State Office of Court Administration.
Trained law enforcement officers across the nation on crisis intervention response by developing and delivering a 3-day train-the-trainer event for the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Crisis Response Intervention Training program, training over 30 law enforcement officers and others from 11 jurisdictions across the United States.
Established consistent, cross-systems terminology by developing reports from two International Association of Chiefs of Police conference roundtables and a Style Guide for Using the Sequential Intercept Model: Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Considerations.
Delivered systems change technical assistance across the nation by hosting 11 Sequential Intercept Model Mapping Workshops, 15 How Being Trauma Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses train-the-trainer events, 4 learning collaboratives, 2 policy academies, and an expert panel meeting via SAMHSA’s GAINS Center.
Provided practice change technical assistance across the nation by delivering technical assistance to 25 Cooperative Agreements for Innovative Community Crisis Response Partnerships grantees and 10 state policy academy teams.

Housing and Income Supports

Delivered technical assistance on improving disability benefit applications by facilitating 439 virtual events for 18,260 participants who are engaged in the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) initiative. SOAR staff reviewed 3,161 practice case application packets from Adult and Child Curricula and created 26 products.
Expanded understanding of best practices in homelessness response by hosting 21 webinars with 16,953 participants and releasing 4 issue briefs and toolkits via the Homeless and Housing Resource Center (HHRC). HHRC’s 8 online courses had 8,432 completions, and HHRC supported the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness’s ALL INside communities and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Special Notice of Funding Opportunity grantees.
Brought data to life by launching the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Reports website for public access to provider, state, regional, and national reports via the PATH Data Exchange project. PATH data is now available with modern, easy-to-access data visualization features.
Began facilitating homelessness response system transformation in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, through Policy Research’s first in-person Homeless Response Systems Mapping, which is planned for February 2025.

Research and Evaluation

Shared research with both academics and practitioners by presenting findings at the American Psychology and Law Society, All Rise, Society for Research on Adolescence, and the American Society of Criminology annual conferences.
Outlined how communities can implement court navigator programs with the publication of A Resource Guide on Court Navigator Programs: Providing Connections and Support Across the Legal and Behavioral Health Systems and hosted a supplementary webinar with over 140 attendees nationwide.
Dove deeper into published research with the public through the release of Data Points podcasts on risk assessments, election stress, and court navigator programs.
Advanced research and evaluation projects by analyzing data from over 130,000 interviews, surveys, and administrative data sources across our research and evaluation projects.

Service Members, Veterans, and their Families

Provided nationwide support to communities aligning supports for service members, Veterans, and their families (SMVF) by providing technical assistance to all 50 states and 5 territories through the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among SMVF via 1 implementation academy, over 40 in-person and virtual site visits, monthly Team Leader sessions and Communities of Practice, and over 30 subject-matter expert consultations.
Facilitated analysis of local crisis intervention services for Veterans by delivering 16 Phase 1 Crisis Intercept Mapping for SMVF workshops to 99 communities across the United States.
Guided the expansion of suicide mortality review teams across the country by engaging 14 Suicide Mortality Review teams via 2 academies and 28 site visits.
Facilitated inter-state collaboration and ideation on suicide prevention for Veterans by holding the third annual Governor’s Challenge Innovations Conference with 209 participants, including members of 55 Governor’s Challenge and 9 Mayor’s Challenge teams.
Expanded efforts to support culturally aligned suicide prevention strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native SMVF via listening sessions and a convening meeting.

Selected New Awards

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Awards SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance Center Contract

In September 2024, SAMHSA awarded a 5-year contract for the SOAR Technical Assistance (TA) Center to Policy Research. This award continues the work that the SOAR TA Team at Policy Research has been carrying out since 2009, working with all 50 states to develop and refine action plans for implementing and expanding SOAR programs in communities nationwide.

MacArthur Foundation Renews Safety and Justice Challenge

In October, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded Policy Research renewal funding to continue providing training and TA to jurisdictions involved in the Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge. Since 2016, Policy Research has worked with Safety and Justice Challenge cities and counties to help them safely and equitably reduce the incarceration of individuals with behavioral health disorders and other complex needs in their local jails.

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Awards 5-Year Research Grant

In June, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities awarded the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Policy Research a 5-year research grant. The project, “Our Voices Matter: Racial Justice Activism Intervention to Address Structural Racism and Prevent Depression in Black and Latinx Youth,” will study the potential behavioral and physical health benefits of racial justice activism in teenage youth.

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In-Person Activity

In 2024, Policy Research staff members traveled to 48 states, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia over the course of 182 trips!

Map of pins with PRA activity. Spans 48 states and 5 territories.

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Publications & Products

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Gloucester Police Department

Gloucester Police Department Hosts Trauma Training to Help First Responders Be Trauma Informed

Center for Justice Innovation

“What Can I Do to Keep You Free?” Perspectives on Clinical Practice in the Criminal Legal System

KSN16

Jasper County Initiative Aims to Enhance Legal System for Defendants With Mental Health Challenges

ABC News

The National Issue of Criminalizing Our Mentally Ill

FOX23

Cumberland County Officials Meet to Address Substance Use

KTVB7

Idaho Joins Nationwide Challenge for Veteran Suicide Prevention

American Counseling Association

Rethinking Masculinity

Social Security Matters

SOAR Programs and Social Security

Charleston City Paper

Settlement Funds Impacting Opioid Crisis in Charleston County

Staff Demographics

2024 was the first year that Policy Research staff had more remote employees than employees local to the Capital Region! New hires include full-time, part-time, and internship staff members. Our staff live across the country, representing our national expertise.

Staff Map

2024 Interns

Our interns represent a wide variety of academic interests and programs! View Policy Research’s internship and career opportunities to join us!

Staff Events

Teach Ins, Social Hours, IPH Shelter Breakfasts, Summer and Winter all-staff gathings, Steadman Seminars, Wellness Challenges, Lunch-and-Learns, Affinity Group Meetings, Giving Circles

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Corporate Philanthropy

Summer Morning of Service

As part of our Summer Gathering, Policy Research staff came together to support local organizations through volunteer efforts.

Together we packed lunches for Joseph’s House, filled backpacks with school supplies for the Boys and Girls Club, and wrote letters to individuals who are incarcerated in partnership with the Mental Health Association of Nebraska.

2024 Giving Circles

Through Policy Research’s Corporate Philanthropy Plan, staff members formed Giving Circles in each program area. Each Giving Circle was directed to determine how best to allocate funds to non-profit organizations that aligned with the area’s work and Policy Research’s values and guiding principles.