Parsons Consulting has had the privilege to lead or collaborate on research and planning projects that positively impact systems, programs, and people. A sampling of projects are summarized below.
Community
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First 5 Los Angeles Pathway to Progress Report (2020)
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For First 5 Los Angeles, Parsons Consulting led the development of the inaugural report, Pathway to Progress: Indicators of Young Child Well-Being in Los Angeles County. This report marks an important milestone for the agency, providing a critical component of the evaluation framework that will measure progress on the First 5 LA Strategic Plan. In addition to 20 contextual indicators that provide an understanding of the conditions of young children and their families in the region, the report contains findings for 10 "results indicators" which the agency will use to help measure progress on their desired outcomes for children and families. In addition to these indicators, First 5 LA is identifying metrics to measure short- and long-term systems change.
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Orange County Transportation Authority Mobility Indicators Report (2014, 2017, 2020)
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Parsons Consulting collaborated with a team of indicators professionals to develop the inaugural Orange County Transportation Mobility Indicators Report for the Orange County (California) Transportation Authority. An update was produced in 2017 and a 2020 update is forthcoming. We conduct analyses of highway speeds, traffic congestion, walking and biking rate, collisions, and other metrics. A special focus on the impact of Covid-19 on transportation is included in the 2020 report.
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Orange County Community Indicators Report (1999-2020)
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The Orange County Community Indicators Report is an annual measurement tool designed to foster partnerships and support initiatives to address local and regional challenges and improve overall quality of life. Since 1999, Parsons Consulting has provided start-to-finish report development services, including developing indicators pertaining to economics, transportation, health, social well-being, housing, education, environment, public safety, and overall profile demographics.
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Riverside County Community Indicators Project (2011-2015) |
Parsons Consulting and colleagues developed the inaugural Riverside County Community Indicators Report in 2011 and developed the annual updates until the last issue in 2015.
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Audit of Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County (2013-14)
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The Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County is an indicators report focused on the well-being of children. Parsons Consulting worked in partnership with Burke Consulting and Luis Alvarado Design to conduct a full audit of the content and presentation of information in the report. The Parsons/Burke team developed indicator selection criteria and facilitated the application of the criteria with the report sponsor, the Orange County Children's Partnership (OCCP). Our recommendations included indicator selections, specifications, and a sample layout developed by Luis Alvarado Design that conveys the information in a clear and concise format. The recommendations were approved by the OCCP in February 2014 and implemented in full. The revised format can be seen in the latest versions of the report here.
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Healthy Places, Healthy People: Snapshots of Where We Live, Work, and Play (2010-11)
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This effort looks at the social determinants of health in Orange County, California by mapping and analyzing the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health at the local level. Parsons Consulting provided narrative development, editing and research/literature review services.
Applied Research
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Evaluation
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Montana Child Care Business Connect Evaluation (2022-2024)
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Leveraging ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) dollars, Zero to Five Montana established the Montana Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC) program to provide training, consultation, and technical assistance to employers, community leaders, and entrepreneurs to strengthen, grow, and sustain early care and education (ECE) businesses in Montana. Under subcontract to Program and Policy Insight, Parsons Consulting provided strategic planning and evaluation services, including qualitative and quantitative research, analysis and report. Parsons also facilitated a session and presented at each of the MCCBC Summits, which were professional conferences for the child care industry.
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EC-LINC Outcomes & Metrics Initiative (2016-2018; 2021)
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The EC-LINC Outcomes & Metrics Initiative was a three-year effort of the Center for the Study of Social Policy and a consortium of early childhood experts from seven communities across the nation. The key accomplishments of this initiative included, (1) the development of common, cross-national population-level indicators of early childhood well-being, and (2) the Early Childhood System Performance Assessment Toolkit, which provides the field ways to measure the functioning of a regional early childhood system. Parsons Consulting provided project management, facilitation, indicator, and writing services, including managing all aspects of three in-person workshops with the project participants. In 2021, Parsons Consulting facilitated the collaborative development of two new measures and updates to the Advancing Equity and Using Data measures.
Maricopa County Community Action Program Needs Assessment (2020-21)
Parsons Consulting provided research and analysis expertise, as well as extensive writing and data visualization support, to the Valley of the Sun United Way for the development of the 2021 Maricopa County (AZ) Community Action Program Needs Assessment.
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Family Financial Stability Index (2013-2026)
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Parsons Consulting leads a team of professionals to annual develop the Family Financial Stability Index, a multivariate composite index housing, income, and employment data which serves to estimate the financial stability of families with children under 18 at the neighborhood (census tract) level. We first developed the FFSI in 2013 for the Orange County United Way to identify areas in Orange County where there are high concentrations of families experiencing financial instability, enabling the United Way to target resources more strategically. With each annual update since 2013, the United Way is able to track progress in these high-need areas, as well as track progress on their countywide Income 2020 goal, as reported in their Scorecard. Parsons Consulting has the ability to calculate an FFSI for any community in the United States.
Kittitas County (WA) Early Childhood Education Needs Assessment (2021)
Parsons Consulting supported colleagues at Bloom Consulting to conduct primary and secondary research pertaining to the supply and demand for child care in Kittitas County in Washington State. Our findings and recommendations provided the community with the information they needed to identify priority strategies and actions in the subsequent strategic planning phase.
Evaluation of GRO (Growing Rural Oregon) Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Initiative (2021)
Parsons Consulting is supporting colleagues at Program and Policy Insight to implement an evaluation of GRO, a new Ford Family Foundation program to support the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems in four rural communities in Oregon. In this role we are leading the theory of change development process and overseeing all aspects of the program evaluation, including the development and implementation of a comprehensive evaluation plan.
GEAR UP Texting Demonstration Evaluation (2015-2018)
In this quasi-experimental evaluation, college-intending recent GEAR UP graduates received series of semi-customized texts in the summer after high school graduation and through their first year year of college. The texts include reminders of important college-related milestones, as well as messages aimed at fostering a growth mindset. The evaluation is designed to measure the impact of the intervention on college-going and persistence among GEAR UP students. Parsons Consulting worked under Program and Policy Insight and Abt Associates to support implementation at several Southern California sites.
Oregon Talent Assessment (2018)
Parsons Consulting provided stakeholder engagement, analysis, and reporting services to support the Oregon Talent Assessment for the Oregon Office of Workforce Investment and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. This effort to measure Oregon's talent pipeline, gaps, and needs was led by EcoNorthwest and Program and Policy Insight, both based in Portland, Oregon.
Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation/Oregon Commission for the Blind Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (2017)
Under subcontract to Program and Policy Insight, Parsons Consulting supported the implementation and analysis of employment needs and barriers for Oregonians experiencing disability. Parsons Consulting conducted several focus groups and key stakeholder interviews, as well as extant and caseload data analysis to support the findings and recommendations.
Yamhill County Needs Assessment (2016)
Working in partnership with Program and Policy Insight and Bloom Consulting, Parsons Consulting supported a needs assessment for Yamhill County on behalf of the Oregon Community Foundation. The findings were used by OCF to inform the best use for philanthropic dollars in the county. Parsons Consulting conducted several stakeholder interviews and synthesized survey and qualitative data for the final report.
Strategic Planning, Facilitation, and Change Management
Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Eligibility Partnership Transition (2023-2024)
Parsons Consulting provided communications and change management support to Alvarez & Marsal and Program and Policy Insight in the implementation of a transformative organizational change for the Oregon Department of Human Services. The work entailed standing up the new Oregon Eligibility Partnership agency within ODHS, culminating in the movement of all eligibility professionals and related positions from under Social Services and Adults & People with Disabilities.
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First 5 Orange County Strategic Plan (2018-2019)
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Parsons Consulting worked with staff and Commissioners to create mission, vision, goals, objectives, indicators, and implementation plans. The resulting plan reflects First 5 Orange County's commitment to supporting systems change, which is evident in the goals and the framework used to organize the plan.
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Teton County and Town of Jackson Human Services and Resource Allocation Plan (2019-2020)
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The Teton County/Town of Jackson Human Services and Resource Allocation plan involved using mixed methods to identify community human service priorities. In addition to extant data analysis, community survey, and stakeholder interviews, the team facilitated two community forums to affirm the research findings and develop a community-wide human services vision and mission. The plan provides a roadmap for allocating Town and County resources according to the identified priorities, depending on the funding environment, whether increased, reduced, or stable. The plan is an important first step in improving funding transparency and accountability for the region. Parsons Consulting partnered with Program and Policy Insight (the lead contractor) and Bloom Consulting on this project.
Lane County Human Services Commission Human Services Plan (2008-2009)
In partnership with Program and Policy Insight, Parsons Consulting conducted used qualitative and quantitative data collection methods to identify community human service priorities and develop a set of resource scenarios based on identified priorities and varying levels of funding. Primary data collection tasks included a scan of sociodemographic and needs assessment data, best practices literature review, key stakeholder interviews, human service client focus groups, and a community-wide web- and paper-based survey.
Society of North American Goldsmiths Strategic Plan (2006-2007)
Parsons Consulting collaborated with Alice Parman, PhD, to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for this professional organization for jewelers and metalsmiths. Parsons Consulting fielded an online, multiple-cohort survey. Survey results for this audience were provided visually to enable readers to easily discern high priority issues and compare responses among cohorts. Parsons Consulting also contributed extensively to the performance measurement system for this effort, including goals, outcomes, indicators, objectives, strategies, and implementation activities, including action steps, responsible parties, and timeline.
