Symposium on Measuring Outcomes in the Human Services

Presenters, Facilitators, Resource Experts and Chairs

Select the name by clicking on it

Barbara J. Balaban Rami Benbenishty Barbara Berkman William H. Berman
Betty J. Blythe Brenda Booth Grace H. Christ Steven D. Cohen
Kevin Corcoran Ian Douglass Coulter Margaret Dimond Irwin Epstein
Marianne C. Fahs David Gitelson Penny Goldberg Harry P. Hatry
Kenneth Howard Walter W. Hudson Stephen W. Hurt John Kastan
Ronald W. Manderscheid Jacquelyn McCroskey Brenda G. McGowan Rami Mosseri
Rosemary Moynihan Edward J. Mullen Paula S. Nurius Anne O'Sullivan
Marjorie Rock Peter H. Rossi Kathryn M. Rost Marjorie Royle
Arthur W. Russo Tina L. Rzepnicki Steven P. Segal Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin
David L Shern Matthew Stagner Tom Trabin Betsy Vourlekis
Kathleen Wade John E. Ware Mona Wasow Heather Weiss
Janet B. W. Williams Fred H. Wulczyn James Zabora Felice Zilberfein


































Barbara J. Balaban, A.C.S.W., B.C.D.

Ms. Balaban received her master's degree in social welfare from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and is a graduate of both the Training Program of the Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy and Behavior Therapy Training Program at Cornell Medical School. She is currently Director of the NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program at Adelphi University's School of Social Work in Garden City, New York.

Ms. Balaban was a member of the Centers for Disease Control's panel on "Breast Cancer on Long Island" to investigate the high incidence of breast cancer on Long Island. She was a founder of the breast cancer advocacy movement on Long Island and is a board Member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, serving as National Secretary and New York State grass roots coordinator. She is Chair of the radiation committee of the Etiology Working Group of the National Action Plan to fight breast cancer.

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Rami Benbenishty, Ph.D.

Dr. Benbenishty completed his Ph.D. in psychology and social work at the University of Michigan. He is currency Dean and Professor of Social Work, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Areas of interest include clinical judgment and decision making and expert systems. He is author of two books and approximately 30 peer reviewed articles and chapters on these topics. Dr. Benbenishty has been extensively involved in the development and implementation of clinical and integrated information systems for foster care both in the U.S. and abroad.

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Barbara Berkman, D.S.W.

Dr. Berkman is Director of Social Work Research and Quality Assessment at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, Massachusetts and Associate Director of the Geriatric Education Center at Harvard Medical School. She is also the Director of the Ruth D. and Archie A. Abrams Interdisciplinary Research Program at MGH and Adjunct Professor of Research at Simmons College, School of Social Work. Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Health and Social Work. Dr. Berkman serves on the editorial committees of several other journals. Her professional contribution to the knowledge base of social work in health care is evidenced in her publications which include books, chapters, and over 80 articles. Dr. Berkman has directed 16 federally and foundation supported research projects. She is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and a Distinguished Practitioner of the National Academy of Practice in Social Work.

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William H. Berman, Ph.D.

Dr. Berman is a licensed psychologist with experience as a clinician, researcher and consultant in managed behavioral health care. He has worked at a staff-model HMO, and consulted with HMOs, purchasers, and labor unions regarding managed care delivery and evaluation. He is currency Principal Investigator of the Behavioral Health Outcomes Study, a multi-site outcomes study funded by the Xerox Corporation. He is co-author of 3 books and more than 30 articles on he health services, psychotherapy outcomes, personality disorders, and personality development. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and Society for Personality Assessment and Member of the Associate for Health Services Research. Dr. Berman currently is President of Behavioral Health Outcomes Systems, and is also Associate Professor of Psychology at Fordham University.

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Betty J. Blythe, Ph.D.

Dr. Blythe is Professor of Social Work at Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. She is the author of numerous articles, chapters, and books on evaluating social work practice, conducting practice research in human service agencies, and empirical clinical practice. Dr. Blythe's current area of research is family preservation. She is also involved in-international social welfare policy and practice related to children and families.

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Brenda Booth, Ph.D.

Dr. Booth is Associate Professor and Research Scientist, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, the Center for Health Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, NIMH Center for Rural Mental Health Healthcare Research, and Department of Veteran's Affairs Health Services Research and Development Field Program for Mental Health. She holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biostatistics from the University of Iowa. Her research has examined health care utilization patterns of alcoholics; the relationship between mental health problems and utilization of medical services; appropriateness of medical services; and, statistical methods in health services research. She has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator for numerous funded studies. Dr. Booth serves as reviewer for several journals and has published nearly 50 articles.

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Grace H. Christ, D.S.W.

Dr. Christ is currently an Associate Professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work. She was formerly the Director of Social Work at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1979-1991. In that capacity she developed the first social work research program within a cancer center. This program, which continues to the present, studies a broad range of psychosocial issues and interventions for patients diagnosed with cancer and AIDS. She is also the Founding Editor and now Co-Editor of the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. Her areas of research interest include the impact of chronic illness on patients and families and interventions for problems of grief, loss, and bereavement.

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Steven D. Cohen, M.P.H.

Mr. Cohen is currently Associate Executive Director, Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (JBFCS), New York City. Since 1986 he has held a variety of quality assurance, administrative and strategic planning positions. Previously, he was a senior manager at the New York City Child Welfare If are Administration and Department of Juvenile Justice. Mr. Cohen has been appointed to several commissions and task forces on child welfare policies and problems. In addition, he is an Adjunct Lecturer in Urban Affairs, -at Hunter College, City University of New York He received his Masters in Public Affairs from The Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University, and his Bachelor or Arts from Cornell University.

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Kevin Corcoran, Ph.D., J.D.

Dr. Corcoran is Professor of Social Work, Portland State University. He holds a M.A. in counseling from the University of Colorado, a M.S.W. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a J.D. from the University of Houston. He publishes in the areas of professional issues, practice and evaluation and measurement, including the two volume set Measures for Clinical Practice (co-authored with Joel Fischer).

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Ian Douglass Coulter, Ph.D.

Dr. Coulter holds both B.A. and M.A. degrees in sociology from the University Canterbury and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics & Political Science. He immigrated to Canada in 1969 and was a Professor at Laurentian University until 1976. From 1976 to 1979 he was Research Associate in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. In 1981 he became the Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost of Health Sciences, University Toronto (later changed to Assistant Vice Provost) with continuing appointment in the Department of Behavioral Science in the Faculty of Medicine. In 1981 he was appointed Executive Vice President of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, interim President 1983, and President 1984 to 1991. In 1991 he was a Pew Fellow at the RAND/University of California Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Study. Currently, Dr. Coulter is Health Consultant at the RAND Corporation, Adjunct Professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry and Director, UCLA/Drew University Minority Oral Health Research Center.

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Margaret Dimond, A.C.S.W., M.P.A

Ms. Dimond holds a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's College, a master's degree of social work from Boston College and a master's degree of public administration from the University of Michigan. Currently she is Assistant Administrator in the Bone and Joint Center at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. Her responsibilities include oversight of the Department of Orthopedics, Athletic Medicine, Rheumatology, Bone and Mineral, and Bone and Joint Research. Her previous positions have included Assistant Administrator of the Emergency Department at Henry Ford Hospital, and Director of Social Work and Discharge Planning.

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Irwin Epstein, Ph.D.

Dr. Epstein is currently the Helen Rehr Professor of Applied Social Work Research in Health Care at Hunter College School of Social Work and Director of Research Development. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Community Medicine at Mr. Sinai Medical School and Director of the Hunter College/Mt. Sinai Practice Based Research Center. The number of organizations with whom he has consulted are numerous. He has co-authored 9 books and many articles concerning practice-based research In recent years, he has presented workshops for educators ant practitioners in the United States, Australia, Canada and Israel, on practice-based research, research utilization and program evaluation, with particular emphasis on child welfare services and . social work in health care. Dr. Epstein received his bachelor's degree in sociology from New York University, and his master's degree in social work and Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University.

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Marianne C. Fahs, Ph.D. M.P.H.

Dr. Fahs received her B.A. from Sweet Briar College and her M.P.H. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She is the Director, Division of Health Economics and Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Fahs holds joint appointments in the International Leadership Center for Longevity and Society (US), Department of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; and the Doctoral Program in Economics, Graduate Center, City University of New York. The author of numerous articles on cost effectiveness analysis and prevention services, she has served on several national advisory committees, including the National Advisory Panel on Payment for Preventive Health Services for the Elderly under Medicare for the Office of Technology Assessment, United States Congress; the United States Preventive Services Task Force Subcommittee on Cost Effectiveness Analysis; the Services Research Subcommittee, Epidemiologic and Services Research Review Committee, National Institute of Mental Health; and the National Steering Committee, Strategies of Improving Quality Health Care in the Community for Youth and the Elderly, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Dr. Fahs also chairs the Community Health Policy Research Group, established under Health of the Public funding.

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David Gitelson, D.S.W.

Dr. Gitelson received his doctorate in social work from the Hunter College School of Social Work, and a masters degree in social work from the Columbia University School of Social Work. He is Chief, Social Work Service at the FDR Veterans Administration Hospital in Montrose, New York, and chairs the Department of Veterans Affairs Social Work Program Assessment and Research Committee. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Work at the Adelphi University School of Social Work and previously served in the same capacity at Columbia University. Dr. Gitelson is particularly interested in community psychiatry and in the development of hospital based programs which assist patients to return to the community.

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Penny Goldberg, M.S.

Ms. Goldberg has had over 25 years of experience in health care social work in New York City. Her main areas of interest have been child and maternal health, developmental disabilities, orthopedics, oncology, and quality indicators and measurements. She is currently Assistant Director of Social Work for Operations and Quality Assessment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Cent r. Ms. Goldberg has been a Director of Social Work at two other hospitals, as well as Manager of utilization management, quality assurance, discharge planning, community education, child life, and patient representatives. Ms. Goldberg has been an active member of The National Society for Social Work Administrators in Health Care, and was President of the local chapter in 1986.

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Harry P. Hatry

Mr. Hatry is Principal Research Associate and Director of the Public Management Program at The Urban Institute. He has had extensive experience in performance measurement and evaluation for human service agencies and has worked with federal, state and local human services agencies in the public and private sectors. Mr. Hatry is currently providing assistance on performance measurement to the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice's Justice Management Division. He is Co-chair, National Academy of Public Administration's Panel on Improving Government Performance. Mr. Hatry is the recipient of numerous national awards and has served as a member of numerous editorial boards, including Evaluation Review and National Civic Review.

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Kenneth Howard, Ph.D.

Dr. Howard received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Chicago. He has been a Professor in the Department of Psychology and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University since 1967. His major research focus is on the utilization and effectiveness of psychotherapy. He has given over 250 scientific presentations, published over 150 professional articles and chapters and is the co-author of three books. He has received several distinguished career awards, and currently holds a Senior Research Scientist Award from the National Institute of Mental Health. He is currently directing the largest systematic, naturalistic study of psychotherapy to date.

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Walter W. Hudson, Ph.D.

Dr. Hudson is Professor of Social Work at Arizona State University. He has developed and validated more than 25 different outcome measures for use in the human services and has conducted research in this area since the late 1960s. His first book on the topic was "The Clinical Measurement Package: A Field Manual" (The Dorsey Press, 1982) which is now being updated. He has recently completed work on a comprehensive automated quality assurance management system known as "The Clinical Measurement Package" (or CMP) which is now available for professional use. His most recent work is the development of a conceptual foundation and theory which includes a mathematical model of empirical human service practice.

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Stephen W. Hurt, Ph.D.

Dr. Hurt is a licensed psychologist and nationally known researcher in the fields of psychopathology and psychological assessment. His research interests involve the assessment of psychopathology and change in a wide range of patient populations, including adolescent suicide, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder. He has published over 60 articles and several book chapters in these areas. He is Co-Investigator of the Behavioral Health Outcomes Study, a multi-site outcomes study funded by the Xerox Corporation. He is a Member of the American Psychological Association, the American Statistical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Hurt is Executive Vice President of Behavioral Health Outcomes Systems, and Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College.

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John Kastan, Ph.D.

Dr. Kastan received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the City University of New York and an M.A. in Anthropology from the New School for Social Research. He has been Executive Director, New York Continuum, Continuum Behavioral Healthcare Corp. since August 1995. Prior to joining Continuum to establish an integrated, provider-driven managed behavioral healthcare system in the New York Metro area, he was the Corporate Administrator for Psychiatry, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. He also has been active in the Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies (serving on its Executive Committee and Board of Directors, as well as chairing the Government Relations Committee), the Greater New York Hospital Association, and the Healthcare Association of New York State. From 1985-89, he was the Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Project Management, New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services. Dr. Kastan is an Assistant Professor (adjunct) at the Columbia University School of Public Health, as well as a Faculty Member of The Center for the Study of Issues in Public Mental Health. He also has taught at NYU and Columbia schools of social work. He has presented and published in the areas of policy, planning and program development in behavioral healthcare.

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Ronald W. Manderscheid, Ph.D.

Dr. Manderscheid is Policy Advisor on National Health Care Reform in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U. S. De Department of Health and Human Services, and Chief of the Survey and Analysis Branch, Division of State and Community Systems Development, Center for Mental Health Services. Previously, Dr. Manderscheid was at the National Institute of Mental Health as Chief of the Statistical Research Branch, where he provided strong leadership in implementing the National Reporting System (NRP) and the Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program (MHSIP). He is noted for his publications on service delivery to persons with serious mental illness and the organization of the mental health service system and serves as Editor of Mental Health in the United States. Most recently, he served as the Chairperson of the Sociological Practice Section of the American Sociological Association, President of the Washington Academy of Sciences, and the District of Columbia Sociological Society, and member of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Work Group of the President's Task Force on Health Care Reform.

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Jacquelyn McCroskey, D.S.W.

Dr. McCroskey is Associate Professor at the University of Southern California of Social Work. She has been involved in the de development of outcome measures at multiple levels. At the agency level, she worked with Children's Bureau of Southern California to develop the Family Assessment Form (FAF), which is currency used in many different kinds of programs to assess family functioning before and after service. At the policy level, she worked with the United Way in Los Angeles to develop performance standards for United Way agencies. As a member of the Los Angeles Children's Planning Council, she oversaw development of the first LA County Children's Scorecard. She organized (with Sid Gardner) the first California conference on outcome measurement for family and children's services. Dr. McCroskey has served as consultant to non-profit agencies on program evaluation and information systems, and is co-author of Evaluating Family Based Services (1995, Aldine de Gruyter She makes regular presentations on data, evaluation and outcomes and is the author of numerous publications on services for children, youth and families.

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Brenda G. McGowan, D.S.W.

Dr. McGowan is Professor of Social Work at Columbia University where she currently serves as Chair of the practice area. She is the author or co-author of a number of articles and monographs as well as four books related to the delivery of family and children's services. She is currently co-directing a three-year evaluation of the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and directing a series of studies at the Hunter College Liberty Partnership Program, a school-based youth development program in East Harlem. Active in a number of community child welfare advisory committees and advocacy groups, Dr. McGowan has served as a consultant to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Manhattan for the past six years. She has also held a number of offices in the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, was given the Chapter's Community Service Award in 1994, and is currently a member of NASW's National Committee on Inquiry. A graduate of Wellesley College, she received her master's degree from the Boston School of Social Work and her D.S.W. from Columbia University School of Social Work.

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Rami Mosseri, Ph.D.

Dr. Mosseri received his Ph.D. from the School of Social Work at New York University. Currently, he is the Director of Residential Treatment Facilities at the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services facilities in New York. Dr. Mosseri has taught family therapy and borderline pathology at both Columbia University and the NYU School of Social Work. His research interests have included the effect of family dynamics on borderline pathology. He has also specialized in the treatment of adolescents in hospitals of residential treatment facilities.

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Rosemary Moynihan, S.C., M.S.W.

Sr. Moynihan received ha M.S. degree in social work from the Columbia University School of Social Work. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Social Work at New York University. Presently, she is Coordinator of the Mental Health Program of the Comprehensive Care Center for HIV at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Paterson, New Jersey. Sr. Moynihan has 26 years of experience working with adults, children, and families facing issues of chronic fatal illness such as cancer and HIV, and with people who are multiply-diagnosed with emotional disturbance, chemical addiction and catastrophic illness. Her research interests include childhood bereavement and HIV - infected woman's use of mental health services.

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Edward J. Mullen, D.S.W.

Dr. Mullen is the Willma and Albert Musher Professor and former Associate Dean, Columbia University, School of Social Work. He is also Director, Center for the Study of Social Work Practice; Director, NIMH Mental Health Services Research and HIV/AIDS Doctoral Program; and Director of the Musher Program for Science and Technology. Dr. Mullen has previously been a Professor at the University of Chicago, and Fordham University. At the University of Chicago he served as Chairman of the Doctoral Program and was Director of the NIMH funded Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Program in Mental Health Services Research. He has also been Chairman of the Doctoral Program at the School of Applied Social Sciences of Case Western Reserve University and Director, Institute of Welfare Research, Community Service Society of New York. His current research examines the use of computer technology for professional decision making in the social services. He is Principal Investigator for the Center for the Study of Social Work Practice's subcontract of a NIMH funded multisite experiment examining the use of computer diagnosis for children and adolescents with mental health problems. His publications have examined social intervention theory and research; social intervention research and development; professional practice knowledge development and utilization; and social work education. Dr. Mullen received a masters degree in social work from Catholic University of America, and a doctoral degree in social welfare from Columbia University.

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Paula S. Nurius, Ph.D.

Dr. Nurius received her Ph.D. in psychology and social work from the University of Michigan and her M.S.W. from the University of Hawaii. She is Professor and Director of the Doctoral Program at the University of Washington School of Social Work. Her current research focuses on the role of cognitive appraisal in stress and coping, particularly with respect to violence against women, self-concept change, and critical thinking in practice judgment. She is co-author of four books including Human Services Practice. Evaluation. and Computers and consults in the area of research and computer tools as decision supports for direct practice.

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Anne O'Sullivan, M P.H.

Ms. O'Sullivan is currently Assistant Director Elder Psychological Services, a professional group practice which provides psychotherapy services in adult homes, and other long term care settings. Previously she held positions for 10 years as Director of Quality Assurance at two NYS psychiatric facilities and as Deputy Commissioner of Quality Assurance in the New York State Office of Mental Health central office. She has an extensive background as a consultant in the quality assurance, health, and mental health fields and is under contract with the Rockland County Of Office for Aging to do a study of countywide housing and services for the elderly. Ms. O'Sullivan has an MPH from the Columbia University School of Public Health and is a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Social Welfare at Fordham University. Her area of concentration is Social Gerontology. Ms. O'Sullivan is also an adjunct faculty member at Fordham University's School of Social Work.

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Marjorie Rock, Dr. P.H., M.S.W.

Dr. Rock received her doctorate in Public Health from the Columbia University School of Public Health and her M.S.W. from the Adelphi University School of Social Work. She currency is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Social Policy Sequence at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Dr. Rock is also affiliated with the New York University School of Social Work and has held adjunct positions with the Columbia University School of Public Health, the Columbia University School of Social Work, and the Adelphi University School of Social Work. Prior to becoming full-time faculty at Wurzweiler, for eight years she held positions with the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, including Coordinator of Research and Training and Special Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner for Program Services. While at the Department, Dr. Rock was involved with citywide issues in the planning, delivery and monitoring of mental health services. She has done extensive research on the State and City's Intensive Case Management Program and has a special interest in the mentally ill in the criminal justice system.

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Peter H. Rossi, Ph.D.

Dr. Rossi is presently S. A. Rice Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Director Emeritus, Social and Demographic Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Director, Evaluation Design and Analysis University of Massachusetts at Amherst; and Faculty Research Associate, Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago. Previously he taught at Harvard University, the University of Chicago, Columbia University, University of Massachusetts and Johns Hopkins. Dr. Rossi has served as past president and secretary for the American Sociological Association and as Editor of the American Journal of Sociology and Social Science Research. He has received many awards over the years including Common Wealth Award for contributions to Sociology, the Myrdal Award of the Evaluation Research Society for Technical contributions to Evaluation Research, and the Lazersfeld Award of the American Sociological Association for contributions to social research methodology. A Pellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, his publications include 38 books and monographs and over 200 articles.

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Kathryn M. Rost, Ph.D.

Dr. Rost is Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Services, Little Rock, Arkansas, the Center for Health Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, NIMH Center for Rural Mental Health Healthcare Research, and Department of Veteran's Affairs Health Services Research and Development Field Program for Mental Health. She has collaborated with other scientists for the past five years in the development and testing of modules to evaluate the outcomes of routinely provided care for depression, alcohol and drug disorders, and panic disorder. She is currently funded to use the Depression Outcomes Module in a controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of the ACHPR Treatment Guidelines for the Treatment of Depression in Primary Care Settings on the outcomes and costs of care. Dr. Rost's other research interests include screening for psychiatric disorders in primary care settings and developing interventions to increase primary care patients' receptivity to psychiatric intervention. She has particular interest in the applicability of screening and educational interventions to rural primal care settings.

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Marjorie Royle, Ph.D.

Dr. Royle received her Ph.D. in applied social psychology from Claremont Graduate School. She is the Research and Evaluation Coordinator for the Department of Psychiatry at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. Dr. Royle has conducted evaluation research for the U.S. Navy and the United Church of Christ. In addition to studying the impact of integrated mental health care for people with HIV, she is part of a team developing an outcome instrument for use in mental health outpatient facilities in the State of New Jersey.

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Arthur W. Russo, M. S.

Mr. Russo received his M.S. degree in social work from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace University. He is the Program Director of the Mental Health Initiative, an Intensive Psychiatric Community Care (IPCC) program of the Department of Veterans Affairs at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hospital Montrose, NY. The cost effectiveness and improved quality of life indicators of this IPCC, and similar programs, have resulted in nationwide recognition and the implementation of 40 IPCC programs in V.A. Medical Centers throughout the U.S. In 1992, the Montrose IPCC Program was awarded the Service Director's Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, in recognition of its achievements in enhancing clinical care for veterans. Before joining the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Russo served in the NYS Westchester County Court System and was involved in research programs concerning Juvenile Drug Abuse as well as youth diversion programs with the Westchester Children's Association. He has been guest lecturer on the subjects of Juvenile Drug Abuse, Family Court Matters, Custody Right, and Mental Illness.

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Tina L. Rzepnicki, Ph.D.

Dr. Rzepnicki is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and a Faculty Associate at the Chapin Hall Center for Children. She most recently served as Co-Principal Investigator of the Family First evaluations of statewide family preservation and reunification services. Other research for which she has had major responsibility involve the development and testing of decision making criteria for public child welfare workers, the development and testing of an adaptation of the task-centered approach for family reunification, and the development and testing of a parent education program using beef behavioral interventions. Her research agenda includes continuing work in the development and testing of practice innovations for families involved or at risk of involvement with the public child welfare system. Among her publications are four books (the most recent is Putting Families First: An Experiment in Family Preservation co-authored with John R. Schuerman and Julia H. Littell, Aldine de Gruyter, 1994) and numerous articles, most which address issues in serving children and their families.

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Steven P. Segal, Ph.D.

Dr. Segal is currently Professor and Director of the Mental Health and Social Welfare Research Group, School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley. He is Co-Director of the NIMH Pre-and Post-Doctoral Program on the Organization and Financing of Mental Health Services at the Berkeley Schools of Social Welfare and Public Health. His research on the needs of the seriously mentally ill began more than 20 years ago. He has studied the development and operation of the residential board and care system in California; quality of psychiatric emergency care in general hospitals; the self help movement and its advocates; and the interaction of the homeless mentally disabled and the mental health and social services systems. Dr. Segal integrates a social welfare and public health perspective, and a strong background in measurement and methodology, to evaluate and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the mental health services system.

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Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin, Ph.D.

Dr. Sheinfeld Gorin received her masters degree from The University of Michigan and her doctoral degree from a joint program of The University of Pennsylvania and Bryn Mawr College. She has published and presented 150 refereed papers and one new book in the general areas of mental health and health policy and organizational processes, research methodology, and preventive health interventions, including topics such as the adoption and use of innovations in community mental health, evaluations of interventions for youths with conduct disorders; and the assessment of policies and preventive programs in tobacco control. Her most recent research and publications have concerned the development and evaluation of interventions for women at high risk for breast cancer. Dr. Sheinfeld Gorin has been recognized for her contributions to science by the American Evaluation Research Society, the National Institute of Mental Health and the University of Michigan and has received federal, state and foundation research grants in each of her areas of interests. In addition to her varied faculty posts, she has headed the research department of a 10,000 employee insurance company, as well as the evaluation units of two community mental health centers. She maintains an active international consulting practice, including a scientist post with The World Health Organization in Lyons, France.

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David L Shern, Ph.D.

Dr. Shern is the Director of the Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida. Prior to moving to Florida this year, he was the Director of the National Center for the Study of Issues in Public Mental Health, (an NIMH funded services research center located in the New York Office of Mental Health), and Director of the Evaluation and Services Research Bureau in the New York State Office of Mental Health. Dr. Shern has held academic positions at the State University of New York at Albany, New York University and the University of Colorado. He currently serves on the advisory board for one international and five national organizations devoted to mental health services research and development. He has served as chair of the Mental Health Section of the American Public Health Association and recently was elected to the governing board of the APHA, which honored him with its Mental Health Section Award in 1995.

Dr. Shern has been the principal and co-principal investigator on 13 research projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. His work has spanned a variety of mental health services research topics including epidemiological studies of the need for community services; the effects of differing organizational financing and service delivery strategies on continuity of care and client outcome; and the use of alternative service delivery strategies such as peer counseling and self help on the outcomes of care. Along with his colleagues, he recently completed a longitudinal, clinical trial of the efficacy of psychiatric rehabilitation techniques for engaging and serving street dwelling individuals with severe mental illness. His current interests focus on the needs of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness and the role of state and local services systems in meeting these needs He is particularly interested in the impacts of current system reform efforts on the process of recovery from severe mental illness and how research can be better integrated with policy and practice.

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Matthew Stagner, Ph.D.

Dr. Stagner is a Senior Policy Analyst in the Division of Children and Youth Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. He designs research and evaluation projects and advises the Assistant Secretary on children's issues. His areas of special interest include child welfare services, family preservation, and indicators of child well-being. Before joining the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Stagner served as the Staff Director for the Roundtable on Effective Services for Children at the National Research Council. He has also served as the Director of the National Child Welfare Research Center at the Center for the Study of Social Policy in Washington and as Assistant Director of the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago. He received his masters in Public Policy from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in Public Policy Studies from the University of Chicago.

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Tom Trabin, Ph.D., M.S.M.

Dr. Trabin is Vice President for Informatics and Outcomes Initiatives for CentraLink. In that capacity he organizes and is the Chair of major conferences in the behavioral health care field, Associate Editor of the Behavioral Healthcare Tomorrow journal, and Leader of the National Leadership Council's Performance Indicator Project sponsored by the Institute for Behavioral Healthcare. He has authored many articles and several books, consults with a wide range of behavioral health care organizations on strategic planning and operations issues, and also maintains a small clinical practice. Dr. Trabin was the Director of Managed Care at U.S. Behavioral Health from 1988-1992, and served in management and strategic planning positions at Abbott Northwestern Hospital from 19811988. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and his M S. in Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

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Betsy Vourlekis, Ph.D.

Dr. Vourlekis is Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She has worked extensively with the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and with a variety of social work practice groups (NASW, Society for Healthcare Social Work Directors, National Council of Nephrology Social Workers) to develop performance measures, including outcome measures, of psychosocial care in a variety of health and mental health settings.

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Kathleen Wade, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., C.S.W.

Ms. Wade is currently Assistant Director of Social Work Services at Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. She is responsible for staff management of adult and pediatric inpatient and ambulatory care services, staff recruitment and development, and coordination for the medical student elective. She is a member of the hospital-wide Length of Stay Committee and Child Protection Committee and Critical Pathways. Ms. Wade is also an Adjunct Teaching Assistant, Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a lecturer in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and the School of Dental and Oral Surgery. Previously, she worked at the Mount Sinai Medical Center as a Social Work Supervisor and Coordinator for Social Work Services in the AIDS Center. She has published articles and has presented at national conferences on the topics of AIDS, oncology, death and dying, and case management. Ms. Wade received her masters degree in social work from New York University and is currently a doctoral student in Social Welfare at the City University of New York.

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John E. Ware, Jr., Ph.D.

Dr. Ware is Senior Scientist in The Health Institute at New England Medical Center, Research Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health at Harvard University. Since 1984 he has served as Principal Investigator for the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS), a study of variations in practice style and outcomes for patients treated in different systems of care. He co-authored the papers from MOS which received the Association for Health Services Research (AHSR) "Article of the Year" Award for 1993 and in 1994 received ASHR's "Distinguished Investigator" Award. Since 1991 he has served as Principal Investigator of the International Quality of Life Assessment Project, which is translating and validating the SF-36 Health Survey for use in 25 other countries. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Health Services Research and also co-directs the Outcomes Studies Group at Health Technology Associates in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining The Health Institute in 1988, he was Senior Research Psychologist for 14 years at The RAND Corporation, where he studied health policy issues and developed health status and patient satisfaction measures used in the Health Insurance Experiment.

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Mona Wasow, Ph.D.

Dr. Wasow is a Professor in the School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin - Madison. In 1980 she developed the first concentration for social work students to major in the area of severe mental illness (SMI). In 1988 The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) awarded the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Social Work their "Exemplary Program Award." Dr. Wasow has published many articles and three books in the area of SML the latest of which is, The Skipping Stone: Ripple Effects of Mental Illness on the Family. She wears the dual hats of family member and educator/researcher in the area of SMI. Her main areas of interest are in family stress and curriculum design.

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Heather Weiss, Ed.D.

Dr. Weiss is the Founder and Director of the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The Project's mission is to conduct and disseminate research that contributes to the development of comprehensive family support programs, service systems, and policies. She and her colleagues track and examine state and local family support initiatives, design strategies to evaluate such initiatives, and conduct research on the role of family support in education, welfare, child care, social service and health care reform. Dr. Weiss and her colleagues are currently investigating state efforts to introduce outcome-based accountability as part of child and family service reforms. To build broader evaluation capacity and productive dialogue about innovative and useful evaluation strategies, HFRP has launched a new quarterly newsletter, The Evaluation Exchange, and an evaluation working paper series.

Dr. Weiss publishes, speaks, and advises on child and family policy, family support programs and systems, and on innovative evaluation strategies. She serves on the editorial boards of The Future of Children, Children and Youth Services Review, and Applied Developmental Science. She received her doctorate in Education and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Janet B. W. Williams, D.S.W.

Dr. Williams is Professor of Clinical Psychiatric Social Work, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. Her research has focused on the development of instruments to measure psychopathology and psychiatric classifications, and is well-known for her development of interview guides for the Hamilton Rating Scales. She is also known for her contributions to the development of DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and DSM-IV, and the DSM-IV-PC, a version of DSM for use in primary care. Most recently she worked with Dr. Robert Spitzer and a team of primary care physicians to develop and test the PRIME-MD, an interview guide designed to help primary care physicians determine mental disorder diagnoses. Dr. Williams is the author of many rating instruments and interview guides, and over 180 scholarly publications.

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Fred H. Wulczyn, Ph.D.

Dr. Wulczyn is Assistant Professor of Social Work at Columbia University. He also holds the position of Policy Analyst, New York State Department of Social Services, in which he participated in the development and design of the Child Assistance Program, New York's Child Support Assurance Program. More recently he directed the Department's child welfare managed care initiative and developed HomeRebuilders, a program that tests the feasibility of using capitated reimbursements to finance family reunification services. He also holds principal responsibility for the Department's Title IV-E waiver proposal. Dr. Wulczyn's research interests focus primarily on the uses of administrative data for the purposes of policy analysis, program development and program evaluation. In collaboration with colleagues at the Chapin Hall Center for Children, he has participated in pioneering the application of longitudinal statistical models and geographic analysis using administrative data As part of this work he co-directs the Multistate Foster Care Data Archive, a longitudinal database that tracks the placement histories of more than 700,000 children in 8 states.

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James Zabora, M.S.W.

Mr. Zabora is the Director of Patient & Family Services at The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, a Faculty Research Associate at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Sociology at Loyola College. He is the Co-Editor of the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, former President of the Association of Oncology Social Work, and the 1994 recipient of the Association's National Leadership Award. Mr. Zabora is the author of numerous chapters and articles related to the psychosocial care of cancer patients and their families.

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Felice Zilberfein, Ph.D., C.S.W.

Dr. Zilberfein received her doctorate from New York University School of Social Work and is a New York State Certified Social Worker. She has co-authored and authored several publications on clinical issues with Holocaust survivors and their children, and on medical social work. In addition, she has held several hospital and academic appointments. Dr. Zilberfein is currency a Preceptor, Cardiology and Transplant Programs, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, and Director, Holocaust Survivors and Children of Survivors Project, Faculty Practice Associates, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York

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