The RWJF Center for Health Policy strives to provide methodologically rigorous research that can help inform public policy making and program improvement. Our approach to conducting applied policy research is grounded in the desire to utilize appropriate methodologies while maintaining a high level of cultural competence and grounding our research in dynamic social contexts. We build collaborative research teams comprised of appropriate UNM Faculty (RWJF Center Senior Fellows and other affiliated faculty) and RWJF Center Graduate Fellows with expertise in the research area.

We take a community-based approach with our work that strives to create partnerships that build community capacity to conduct, interpret and use research. Here is a list of recent Center-affiliated publications and research.

Program Evaluation

We can help evaluate existing programs, and develop evaluation tools or frameworks to inform your future work

• FY 2015 - New Mexico Home Visting Outcomes Report (2016)
• New Mexico Home Visiting Annual Outcomes Report (2015)
• Early Childhood Programs in New Mexico (2015)
• NM Children Youth and Families Department Annual Outcomes Report (2013)
• Landscape of Behavioral Health in Albuquerque (2014)

Surveys and Polling

We can help design and implement surveys, as well as interpret and analyze survey data

• Language bias and self-rated health status among the Latino population: evidence of the influence of translation in a wording experiment (2015)
• Responses to P4P Community Engagement Survey (2015)
• City of Albuquerque Survey (2010)
• Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Latino Access to Health Insurance (2015)
• National Latino Health and Immigration Survey (2015)
• Health Care in the Shadows (2015) - In this analysis, we examine Latino populations in the U.S. who avoid public life due to their citizenship status

Economic Analysis – Cost Studies/Cost Benefit Analyses

We do economic/cost analyses to inform policy interventions and/or to evaluate program implementation

• The Economic Impact of Early Care and Education in South Carolina (2015)
• Financing Early Care and Education: Options for South Carolina (2015)
• The Economic Impact of Early Care and Education in North Carolina (2015)
• Tax Reform, Revenue Adequacy, and Early Childhood Education in North Carolina (2015)
• Early Childhood Comprehensive Needs and Cost Analysis - Executive Summary (2016)
• Early Childhood Comprehensive Needs and Cost Analysis (2016) 
• The Impact of Federal Healthcare Reform on Indigent Health Care in Bernalillo County: Bernalillo County Community Health Council (2011)
• Cost of Health Care Remains a Major Issue Among Hispanics in New Mexico (2015)
• The Economic Impact of Early Care and Education in South Carolina (2015)
• Financing Early Care and Education Options for South Carolina (2015)
• The Tax Revenue Benefits of Health Care Reform in New Mexico: New Mexico Voices for Children (2011)
• Cost Analysis of New Mexico’s Early Childhood Programs: A Five Year Strategy for Increasing Investment, New Mexico Early Childhood Development Partnership (2012)
• Everyone Wins: Maximizing the Economic Impact of Health Care Delivery in New Mexico, Con Alma Foundation (2013)
• The Economic Impact of Intensive Case Management on Costly Uninsured Patients in Emergency Departments: An Evaluation of New Mexico’s Care One Program (2014)
• The Economic Costs Associated With the Removal of Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants in New Mexico (2016)

Interviews and Focus Groups

We design and implement interviews and focus groups in English and Spanish for both applied and academic research, as well as assist in interpreting qualitative data.

• NM Behavioral Health Expert Panel White Paper (2011), from a series of large focus groups on the future of mental health in New Mexico

Literature/Policy Reviews

We can help you understand the landscape of any particular social policy issue area that includes, but is not limited to, academic literature, best practices from applied policy research, and regional, national or international policy comparisons

• Meeting the Public Policy Challenge of Diversity and Equity in Early Learning (2015)
• Why we need two separate questions on race and ethnicity in the 2020 census and beyond (2013)
• The Importance of Fortifying Corn Masa With Folic Acid to Reduce Health Disparities in Birth Outcomes Among Hispanic Women (2014)
• Considerations For The Development Of A System To Distribute Tax Revenues Earmarked For Behavioral Health In Bernalillo County (2015)

Data Collection and Statistical Analysis

We can help design and collect both qualitative and quantitative data, as well as conduct statistical analysis for both types of data. Please see our Current Research

Electoral Analysis

We design and conduct electoral analysis for federal, state, and local elections

• Evidence-based Voter Registration Reforms: Policy Options to Help Increase Turnout in New Mexico (2015)

General Consultation on Academic and Applied Research Projects

We have the capacity to provide general research design consultation for both academic and non-academic researchers doing work in both health and social policy

• Women's Health Inequalities in New Mexico: Challenges and Policy Options (2008)
• Partnership for Community Action for Parents (2012)
• Partnership for Community Action for Providers (2012)
• New Mexico Women.org Indicator Report: A Statistical Resource Guide to Women and Girls in New Mexico (2013)
• Santa Fe County Community Health Profile (2013)
• Invitation to a Dialogue: Establishing a New Mexico Statewide Race, Gender, Class Data Policy Consortium (2014)

Data Visualizations & Presentations

We can take existing and/or collected data and make them understandable through data-informed narratives and data visualization platforms including Arc GIS, Tableau and other tools

• Youth Risk and Resiliency (2013)
• Albuquerque Mental Health Services Gaps Project (2014)