Rodney is responsible for coordinating multiple state- and federally-funded program evaluations related to subject areas such as youth development, youth employment, youth violence and adult drug courts. Rodney also provides technical assistance on evaluation and research issues to community agencies.
Prior to his work at the Begun Center, Rodney was a Senior Research and Grants Coordinator for National Health Promotion Associates Inc. where he was responsible for the management and execution of multiple health and prevention related, federally-funded programs. In addition, Rodney also has worked as a Senior Research Associate with Westchester County Department of Health.
Previously, he served as Director of Research and Evaluation for the Food Bank for New York City, responsible for all research, evaluation and grants activities, as well as any report generation, dissemination, and presentation of results to the media, funders, agencies and Food Bank staff. One of the research projects he completed was an examination of the demand for emergency food assistance after the World Trade Center terrorist attacked on September 11th.
Rodney has also provided research, evaluation, and grant writing consultancy services to The Consultation Center at Yale University, the Danbury (CT) Hospital Department of Pediatrics, Western Connecticut State University Department of Nursing, and National Health Promotion Associates. Examples of activities include facilitating focus groups, observing programs, administering surveys, analyzing data, and writing grant applications.
Q: Why is your work at the Begun Center important to you, to our community, and to the world? I have always tried to use my evaluation and research skills to help improvement programs and services for those agencies that directly serve youth and vulnerable populations. I provide technical assistance on data collection and help agencies learn how to use their data.
Q: What is a cause about which you are particularly passionate? Use of data by our clients and not just doing research for research’s sake.
Presentations
Selected Presentations
“Characteristics and Outcomes of an Innovative Ohio Juvenile Offender Reentry Program.” Cleveland, OH at Center for Evidence-Based Practice Fall Conference
“Out of School Time Evaluation Findings.” FCFC Full Council Starting Point
“FCFC Evaluation Services.” Monthly Presentations to FCFC Staff
“Juvenile Reentry Within the Context of Ohio’s Deincarceration Efforts.” Tampa, FL at the 29th Annual Research Conference Proceedings: Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference