The CDM Group, Inc. Bringing Knowledge to Practice

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1 The CDM Group, Inc. Bringing Knowledge to Practice Resource Development and Dissemination Policy Research Program Development and Support Services Research and Evaluation Services Information Systems 7500 Old Georgetown Road Suite 900 Bethesda, MD

2 7500 Old Georgetown Road 9 th Floor Bethesda, MD T F

3 Introducing The CDM Group, Inc. The CDM Group, Inc. (CDM) is a small, minorityowned management consulting firm that focuses on national, State, community, and individual health and well-being. Founded in 1987, CDM offers a strong concentration of skills in the health, mental health, and education fields, as well as in program and resource development, U.S. legislative policy and analysis, research and evaluation, knowledge dissemination, and information technology. CDM has built its national reputation by putting knowledge to work; bringing science-based practices to healthcare, mental health care, education, and human services. Our clients rely on our responsiveness, our sensitivity to political realities and constituent issues, our exacting standards, our application of the latest research findings, and our use of advanced and cost-effective technology. CDM s vision for improving the health and wellbeing of the Nation is achieved through: Working in partnership with our clients Linking scientific research to practical applications Providing the expertise needed to enhance existing knowledge Integrating organizational components into functional systems Using information technology to span gaps in knowledge Supporting local activities within the context of national priorities Supporting national priorities using existing State and local networks CDM s senior staff represents the fields of developmental, behavioral, and clinical psychology, biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, education, health services research, and information technology, as well as health, civil, and business law and legal research. This expertise is supplemented by a database of nearly 5,000 experts and consultants in all disciplines, enabling our management team to quickly assemble and mobilize the necessary and appropriate talent for any task. Our experience includes a wide range of work in areas such as: Adolescent health and development Children and families Substance abuse prevention and treatment Mental health services Health law and health policy Behavioral health Early childhood education Social marketing Special populations Health communication Drug-free workplaces Patient-centered outcomes research Areas of Expertise RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION SERVICES. The key to progress in any field is the effective communication of new scientific research findings to general and specific audiences. CDM s marketing and communications expertise allows us to develop and disseminate information on a wide range of health topics and issues by translating technical information into understandable, readable, and appealing formats for our clients. We begin by analyzing the information needs of the target audience and developing a communication strategy. Informational materials are then produced and disseminated via print, electronic, and/or audiovisual formats the appropriate combination to reach the widest possible audience. We follow through on this process by presenting our clients with an assessment of the outcomes and impacts of their information programs. In addition, CDM s award-winning communications professionals specialize in technical writing, editing, and graphics and Web design, working collaboratively to develop attractive products for professional and lay audiences. Bringing Knowledge to Practice 1

4 POLICY RESEARCH. CDM established our Policy Research division in Since then, we have hired a number of attorneys and social scientists with expertise in all aspects of the substance abuse and mental health fields. Our staff are experienced in gathering, analyzing, and developing an understanding of Federal, State, and local policies. They know how to access the information they need, and how to develop conceptual structures and definitions and perform comprehensive legal analysis of statutes and regulations. CDM s knowledge and skills in interpreting statutes and regulations, combined with its policy expertise, are critical components of this practice area. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES. CDM has operated national technical assistance and training systems serving Federal agencies, States, and communities since Our staff experts and our nationwide network of consultants have traveled to every State and several U.S. Territories to provide training, technical assistance, and professional services for all phases of program development and support. We know the people, community, cultures, political and social environments, and resources in many of America s health and human service delivery systems. Our commitment to a cost efficient, science-based approach, coupled with our understanding of the local community environments, strengthens the capacity of the groups we work with and enables them to achieve positive program outcomes. CDM provides client-centered support in all formats from offsite materials assistance and telephone responses, to State team-building and national training workshops, to one-on-one onsite visits and one-on-one online assistance. Systems developed to facilitate all consulting services include Web sites, electronic communication networks, and online databases of resources. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION SERVICES. CDM s Research and Evaluation team prepares study designs and collects and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data across the social, legal, policy, health, education, and organizational spectrums. Applying a broad range of methodologies, we identify trends, assess needs, and analyze outcomes of interventions and policy changes, and assess their impact on diverse populations. Our efforts have ranged from large national studies to local evaluation efforts. With our help, clients are able to develop and implement new initiatives, revise program designs, prepare or change legislation, identify unmet needs, and perform many other strategic planning and policy development functions. Our resources include a large field staff and a telephone interview center. INFORMATION SYSTEMS. CDM uses, creates, develops, and maintains a variety of public and private databases and Web sites for our Government clients in accordance with applicable Federal standards and guidelines. We provide professional services to design, develop, test, support, administer, update, and implement changes required to streamline, improve, maintain, and operate client Web sites. We adhere to all the security requirements imposed on contractors through NIH regulations (e.g., human subject privacy), SAMHSA guidelines, and others. We also generate detailed administrative reports; create summary reports, maintenance manuals, and user guides; administer and provide user support; ensure compliance with applicable Federal standards and guidelines; perform security and risk assessments; convert systems to a state-of-the-art systems; evaluate and assess the efficiency and effectiveness of systems and subsystems; create comprehensive documentation for all systems where needed (document codes, formulas, fields, tables, reports, queries, modules and macros involved); and recommend system enhancements, modifications, or replacement. Examples of Web site and databases we have either created and maintained or use include: Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) ( alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/); Division of Workplace Programs (DWP) Annual Survey Report (ARS) ( dwpasr.cdmgroup.com/). Sample Subject Matter & Policy Projects Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) APIS provides user-searchable Web access to authoritative, detailed, and comparable information on alcohol-related policies in the United States, at both State and Federal levels ( niaaa.nih.gov/). In consultation with NIAAA, APIS staff select the policies to be included on the APIS Web site and develop the analyses to be conducted and posted. Each policy posted on the APIS Web site constitutes an in-depth policy analysis including: a list of definitions (if necessary); a summary of relevant Federal law (if any); tables comparing policies on that topic across jurisdictions (as of a particular date and/or over a period 2 The CDM Group, Inc.

5 of time specified by the user); a brief explanation of variables used in creating these tables; notes explaining the limitations of the information provided; charts and maps; relevant statutory and regulatory citations; and references to selected Federal publications. All tables may be downloaded in a format suitable for many spreadsheet and statistical programs. Although primarily intended to support grant-related research, APIS staff have used APIS policy data to conduct and prepare research reports on policy analyses related to alcohol and pregnancy, minimum drinking ages, and State alcohol distribution systems. They have also prepared papers on the use of alcohol taxation data in econometric modeling. At the request of NIAAA, APIS staff prepared an extensive analysis of the role of enforcement and compliance in policy implementation and conducted a study of databases for measuring enforcement and compliance. Three scholarly papers and the results of the database analysis (posted on the APIS Web site) informed NIAAA of possible initiatives in this area. Health Behaviors in School-age Children (HBSC), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) CDM led the data collection for the and the Health Behaviors in School-age Children (HBSC) U.S. surveys, which were designed to contribute to a scientific understanding of risk factors and the multilevel determinants of health and health-related behavior for the early- to mid-adolescent age group. HBSC focused on selected health attitudes and behaviors that account for the majority of immediate and long-term sources of mortality, morbidity, and social problems among youth. The survey gathered information about nutrition and dietary practices; physical activity; injuries; violence; alcohol and tobacco use; drug use; relationships with family and friends; perceptions of school as a supportive environment, and the communities in which the students lived. Part of a larger international health behavior survey, HBSC provided data from a nationally representative sample of 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 year-old U.S. students, as well as from school administrators. More than 9,000 students from 230 schools across the U.S. were surveyed between January and May of 2006 and 12,000 students from 315 schools across the U.S. were surveyed between October, 2009 and February, For these large, national data collections, relevant tasks included sampling of school districts and schools, recruitment of schools and students, data collection with students and school administrators, data management, data analysis, and report preparation. CDM collaborated with NICHD to complete individualized reports for all participating schools and districts and prepared manuscripts for submission for peer-reviewed reviewed publications. The NEXT Generation Health Study (NEXT), a continuation of the HBSC contract, is a nationallyrepresentative, four year longitudinal study examining the health behaviors (obesity, physical activity, and sedentary behavior; substance use; driving behavior, and intimate partner violence) of 10th grade students through one year post high school. The study includes an online survey, anthropometric measurements, and collection of genetic material from 2,700 students as well as surveys from 81 school administrators. In addition, dietary recalls, physical activity accelerometer and sleep watch monitoring, physical activity recalls, and biomedical data collection are collected in a subsample of 560 students (280 overweight; 280 normal weight). CDM recruited 60 school districts, 81 schools, and 2,700 students and their families and is collecting the data with a national field staff of 20 individuals. CDM is also responsible for data management, data analysis, and dissemination activities including writing and distributing annual reports for school personnel, technical reports and briefings for Federal staff, and submitting manuscripts for peerreviewed publications. Evaluation of HHS Delivery System Reform Efforts and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Provisions, HHS/ PSC/SAS/DAM/Office of the Secretary Under the guidance of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the research team (consisting of staff from CDM and its subcontractor), conducted an Evaluation of HHS Delivery System Reform Efforts and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Provisions. This evaluation provided HHS with recommendations on a coordinated evaluation plan to tie results from the numerous Medicare, Medicaid, and Dual Eligible delivery system reform initiatives and ACA provisions into an overall model of health system change. The project s research team combined strong technical evaluation credentials with deep experience evaluating health care markets, and worked closely with delivery Bringing Knowledge to Practice 3

6 systems on a range of financial and organizational issues. The ultimate objective of the ACA delivery reform initiative was to slow the rate of health spending, improve the value of services delivered, and drive changes in the delivery system that would facilitate ongoing performance improvement, not only for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, but also for the overall system. Knowledge Application Program (KAP), as part of a Joint Venture, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)/Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), HHS Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) are the major set of products of SAMHSA s Knowledge Application Program (KAP) which promotes the dissemination of state-of-the-art evidence-based practices and recommendations designed for implementation by frontline administrators and providers. CDM is nearing completion of a TIP entitled Using Technology-Based Therapeutic Tools for Behavioral Health Settings. This TECH TIP, as we call it, is a consensus-developed document produced with input from leading experts in the field and is designed for a wide audience of mental health and substance abuse professionals, including counselors, physicians, psychologists, social workers, prevention specialists, administrators, stakeholders, and other health professionals (nurses, case managers, health educators, and others). For this TIP (and all TIPs), collateral products are also produced to target the format and communication style to a wide range of audiences (patients, family members, providers, prevention specialists, case managers, health educators, paraprofessionals, etc.). For example, the TECH TIP contains vignettes designed for use in training counselors and supervisors, extensive sections for administrators on issues related to implementation and operation, and an online literature review for researchers, policymakers, and others interested in the state-of-the-art in TECH TIP topics. Other TIPS nearing completion or already published cover the following topics and represent areas of CDM subject matter and policy expertise: co-occurring disorders, suicidality, homelessness, trauma, depression, health and wellness, HIV, pain medications/treatment, detoxification, women s issues, clinical supervision, veteran s reintegration, cultural competency, family therapy, group therapy, and others. All TIPs regularly include coverage of the legal, financial, and policy areas of relevance to the topics of the particular TIP. Contracting Opportunities CDM holds the following vehicles through which government clients may contract for our services. GSA Web Based Marketing Services GSA Editorial, Publishing, and Library Media Services PSC IDIQ SAMHSA IDIQ Through the above contract vehicles, CDM provides the Federal government with: Program assessments Performance measurement Technical assistance and content expertise Training and facilitation Policy analysis and assessment Research and evaluation design, data collection, and analysis CDM is a small business for set-asides under the $14 million and/or 500 employee categories. Partnership Opportunities CDM has a history of successful partnerships with other companies, universities, and nonprofit organizations. We seek opportunities that will complement our capabilities in order to offer our clients the best possible service and support. For more information about partnering opportunities, contact info@cdmgroup.com. 4 The CDM Group, Inc.

7 CDM Past and Present Client List U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Administration on Children and Families National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Mental Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Drug Abuse Food and Drug Administration Health Resources and Services Administration Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Defense (TRICARE) U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Environmental Protection Agency D.C. Child and Family Services Agency 7500 Old Georgetown Road Suite 900 Bethesda, MD

8 7500 Old Georgetown Road Suite 900 Bethesda, MD

Committed to Excellence through Supervision Iowa DHS Child Welfare Supervisor Curriculum

Committed to Excellence through Supervision Iowa DHS Child Welfare Supervisor Curriculum A collaborative product of the University of Iowa School of Social Work and The Iowa Department of Human Services