Jeff Kretschmar is a research associate professor and managing director of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education.
He is active in a wide array of evaluation research studies. He serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) on the statewide evaluation of the Behavioral Health/Juvenile Justice Initiative, a diversion program for juvenile justice-involved youth with mental and behavioral health issues. He is the PI for the evaluation of Cuyahoga County’s Defending Childhood Initiative, a Department of Justice-funded program designed to reduce and eliminate childhood exposure to violence and the associated traumatic consequences. And he serves as the PI for Cuyahoga County’s Domestic Violence Homicide Reduction Program, sponsored by the Office on Violence Against Women.
Kretschmar is also the lead evaluator of the Montgomery County Juvenile Drug Court expansion and enhancement project, a SAMHSA-funded initiative designed to provide more effective treatment options to youth and families participating in Drug Court.
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Why I Chose This Profession
I was drawn to program evaluation because I am passionate about using data to improve outcomes for communities and systems. This work provides a way to understand what works, why it works, and how to make improvements that can better serve clients. I am able to use my skills and experience to help programs meet their goals while informing policy and practice decisions, ensuring resources are used in the most impactful way to create positive change.