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Brian D. Leidy,Ph.D.
Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
Beebe Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
EducationCornellUniversity, Ithaca, NY
1991Ph.D., Human Service Studies
Major Concentrations: Administration & Program Evaluation
1985Marywood University, Scranton, PA. Master of Public Administration
1972Mansfield State University, Mansfield, PA.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
AssociationsMember Pi Alpha Alpha,Honorary Society for Public Affairs and
Administration
Member American Evaluation Association
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Current PositionSenior Extension Associate
Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
7/11-PresentNew York State College of Human Ecology
CornellUniversity, Ithaca, NY
As the Principal Investigatorand Director for the Military Projects in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, I have the overall administrative responsibility for the Military Projects including proposal and grant preparation, fiscal management, hiring and supervising staff, and administrative oversight of all the project work. I continue to provide the primary supervision for all the projects’ program evaluation and research activities which are currently carried out for the family support programsat the Department of Defense and in the Army and Army Reserve. I also provide program evaluation, consultation, and training to a variety of projects and programs within and outside the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research. I speak frequently at conferences and workshops nationally and internationally about program evaluation.
Past Employment
4/09- 7/11Senior Extension Associate,Family Life Development Center
4/95- 4/09Senior Research Associate, Family Life Development Center
Primary responsibilities included the design and implementation of evaluation strategies for Military family support programs including financial management education and counseling, employment support, relocation support services, deployment support, services for exceptional family members, child safety education, child maltreatment prevention and response, intimate violence prevention and response, sexual assault prevention and response,outreach to survivors of fallen soldiers, support for wounded warriors/warriors in transition, and volunteer services.
3/92-PresentSelf EmployedManagerial Consultant
This work consisted of program evaluation services in a variety of child welfare, mental health, educational, and vocational services.
9/89-9/93Senior Extension Associate, Department of Social Services Project
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Training evaluation, curriculum development, and training for adult protective service supervisors and adult home administrators in New York.
8/81-8/86Day Treatment Supervisor, Tioga County (PA) Human Service Agency
Administration ofthe county Title XX Day Care program, two children’s psychiatric partial hospitalization programs, and three children and youth day treatment programs.
9/78-8/81Director:Children's Services of Tioga County (PA)
Administration of public child welfare agency providing child protective services, foster care, residential care, group home placements and adoption.
9/76-9/78CPS Supervisor: Children's Services of Tioga County (PA)
Supervision of the county child protection unit.
5/73-9/76CPS Caseworker: Children's Services of Tioga County (PA)
Carried out child protective investigations and provided on going case management services for children in their own home, foster home, and congregate settings.
Publications
Leidy, B., Haugaard, J., Nunno, M., Kwartner, J. (2006) Review of Restraint Datain a
Residential TreatmentCenter for Adolescent Females,Child andYouth CareForum
(online journal)
Nunno, M. A., Holden, M. J. Leidy, B. D. (2003) Evaluating and
monitoring the impact of acrisis intervention system on a residential child care
facility. Children and Youth Services Review,25 (4). 295-315.
Hamilton, S.F., Leidy, B.D., & Thomas, M.G. (2002). Adding value to youth and family development: The engaged university and professional and academic outreach. In Lerner, R.M., Jacobs, F. & Wertlieb, D. (Eds.) Handbook of Applied Developmental Science,4, 173-190. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Leidy, B. TCI Implementation Project: Case Study, REFOCUS, Cornell University’s Residential Child Care Project Newsletter, Vol. 7, 2002.
Leidy, B. Even Start: An Important Prevention Resource in Child Abuse and NeglectOhioStateUniversity Cooperative Extension, Human Development & Family Life Bulletin, Volume 4 – Issue 3 – Autumn 1998
Nunno, M., Holden, M. & Leidy, B. (1997)Child Maltreatment in Loco Parentis. In Garbarino, J & Eckenrode, J. (eds) Understanding Abusive Families, 131-141. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
Hadley, R. with Leidy, B.(1996) Community social work in a market environment: A British-American exchange of technologies and experience. British Journal of Social Work, 26, 823-842.
TechnicalReports:Resource materials developed for the U.S. Army IMCOM G9 Family and MWR Programs
Army Reserve Family Programs (ARFP)
Needs Assessment Report: This was a summary of needs assessment data collected from Soldiers, Civilian Employees, Family Members, and volunteers across four Commands of the Army Reserve on their need for family support services, where they turn for family support services (ARFP, full service military installation, Veterans Administration, local civilian programs and services), and their assessment of the ARFP services they have used. Responses were analyzed by a variety of demographic and situational characteristics provided by respondents and a report was submitted to Army Reserve Family Programs Headquarters staff in November 2016.
Army Family Advocacy Program (FAP)
Command Support Study: This study summarizes findings from the most recent iteration of the Command Support Study (2015) and compares the latest findings with those from the first two iteration of this study which were completed in 2010 and 2005. Both of the earlier studies strongly validated the Command Support Model which states that if Commanders are briefed by the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Manager, they will be more likely to attend the Case Review Committee (CRC) meeting that is held when an incident of child or domestic abuse occurs involving a Soldier under their command. The program logic further states that if the Commander attends the CRC, he or she is more likely to endorse the offender and victim treatment plans, and if the Commander endorses the treatment plans it is more likely that the offender and victim will complete treatment and that the family will not experience a subsequent incident of abuse. This latest iteration of this study confirmed all of the earlier findings except for the relationship between treatment completion and subsequent incidents of abuse.
FAP Prevention Resources
Army FAP Guide to Prevention Programming Training (2012):This online self-guided tutorial was revised and adapted from former editions (2005, 2007). The training instructs FAP managers on how to implement a local prevention program plan that covers: Armyprevention initiatives and protocols,Army-wide and local demographic trends, a review of risk and protective factors associated with abuse, a review of prevention programs and best practices (e.g., parenting, relationships, fathering, anger management, etc.), strategies for forming partnerships, evaluating programs and services, and updating the prevention plan.
Transitional Compensation (TC) Self-guided Tutorial (2012). This tutorial provides information to FAP service providers on the Army policies and related standards, eligibility requirements, benefits, and the application process for victims of substantiated child abuse or domestic abuse.
Transitional Compensation (TC) Program Tutorial for Commanders/Leaders (2013):This tutorial gives guidance to Army commanders regarding their role in helping victims of substantiated incidents of child abuse and domestic abuse receive TC benefits.
Emergency Placement Care (EPC) Manual (2013): This manual, which was updated from the first Edition (2004), provides EPC managers guidance about the policies and procedures to implement the EPC program specific to pre-placement, ongoing placement, termination of placement, and post-placement of a child identified as needing emergency out-of-home care. It also highlights the current research on this topic.
Army FAP Commander’s Desk Guide (2013): This tutorial serves as a reference tool regarding the important role of commanders/leaders in learning about the prevention of child abuse and domestic abuse in accordance with Army policy and related guidance. Working collaboratively with (FAP), the focus is on strengthening Families as well as victim safety, offender accountability, and prompt intervention for at-risk Families or when incidents have occurred. An important section for commanders is the research-based information on risk factors and well-being approaches to suicide prevention, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse.
New Parent Support Program (NPSP) -Home Visitation
Report of findings from the New Parent Support Program Home Visitor Online Survey (2012): The NPSP HV online survey of home visitors included questions about the home visitor’s background/training for home visiting, the resources and curricula they use, their implementation approaches and challenges, and their use of assessment instruments. The report also compared the practices of different types of home visitors (Social Worker/RN/other) and level of experience in home visitation as well as CONUS and OCONUS differences. The response rate was excellent with 78% of home visitors completing the survey. The full reportincluded a comparison of the survey responses with Army Client Tracking System datathat home visitors enter for each family on their caseload, from the same time period. This report also examined Family demographics, length of engagement with the program, and other patterns and trends. Beyond providing the Army with information about how home visitors do their jobs and how to better support them, findings from this survey and data analysis were used to inform the development of an evaluation protocol for the program.
New Parent Support Program Home Visitation Manual (2013): This revision completed in 2013 was adapted from an earlier 2006 CD manual and serves as a self-guided tutorial for Army home visitors. This revision was based on a review of the home visiting research and the best practices that incorporated feedback from the survey of NPSP home visitors conducted the year before (2012).
Army Victim Advocacy Program (VAP)
Report of findings from theDomestic Abuse Victim Advocacy Program (DAVAP)
Pilot Study Summary (2015). The key objective of this study was to examine the feasibility and utility of collecting data from both the victim advocate and their client-victim so that the paired ratings could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program’s services. Data elements included victim safety information, victim awareness of reporting options and response systems, and the level of engagement with military and civilian resources and informal support networks. Ratings from the advocates indicated large gains for client-victims regarding how well they understand their situation and how the response system works, andare able to identify the resources that are available to assist them and the actions that they can take to improve their safety. Client-victim ratings confirmed more than 70% of the advocate’s assessment, but the response rate from victims who remained married to the offender and continued to live with the offender was very poor. While very encouraging, caution is advised in interpreting findings due the small sample size as well as the lack of representativeness of client-victims who voluntarily participated in the study.
Report of findings from the Victim Advocate Online Survey (2013): The online survey asked victim advocates about their educational background and experience, professional staff development, their current caseload, their use of safety planning and other case activities or services provided, frequency and length of contact during and after the crisis stage, how long cases stay active, reasons for closure, and what support and resources they can rely on. In addition, the survey catalogued their qualitative best practices and the challenges they face in carrying out their work, and how Regional and Headquarters staff can better support them.
Report of findings form the analysis of de-identified Victim Advocacy Domestic Abuse Sexual Assault Tracking System (VADASATS) (2013). VADASATS is the Army data base for clients who seek VAP services due to allegations of domestic abuse. Until recently it has also been used to track sexual assault cases reported in the Army. A report was prepared detailing victim characteristics for restricted and unrestricted reports of domestic abuse. The analysis also examined implementation of the program (e.g., safety planning, engagement patterns, etc.). This report also contained a section detailing the incidents in which one Soldier sexually assaults another and the power dynamic between victim and offender.
Resources developed for the U.S. Army IMCOM G 9 Family and MWR Programs
Ready and Resilient Portfolio Capabilities Assessment (R2 PCA): This project was a review of the Army’s Ready and Resilient Portfolio Capabilities Assessment. It entailed a review of the evaluation plan to assess 120 different Army programs in four portfolios that addressed health promotion and risk reduction for Soldiers, Civilian Employees, and their Family Members. It also included a review of the first four implementations of that plan in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. The final report was submitted to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (OACSIM) in March 2016
Army Community Services Needs Assessment: During the past three years,the Military Projectshave continued to assist Army Community Service (ACS) Centers at the installation levelwith preparation for their tri-annual accreditation process by helping them gain community input for their needs assessment. The needs assessment survey that we developed in 2003 was revised extensively in 2012 and the Military Projects assisted 77 installations with their needs assessmentin 2011, 2012, and 2013. For each installation a sampling plan was developed for surveying their populations both electronically and with paper copies of the survey. The survey was personalized for their installation and additional questions were added to the standardized core survey as needed. When installations completed the data collection process, the paper copy data was scanned and merged with electronic data,analyzed, and the findings were used to prepare a written report for the ACS Director at the installation.
Army Community Services Outcomes Review Summary:We completed work with Program Managers and Division Chiefs within U.S. ArmyIMCOM G9 Family and MWR Programs on program evaluation in 2013. Many of these programs have been successful in identifying outcome metrics for the Soldiers and Family Members they serve, have completed a piloting process to validate these measures, and have either incorporated them into their client tracking system or have under taken periodic studies to assess program performance. Some programs and services have made less progress in establishing outcome metrics, validating them, and incorporating them into their data collection processes. This work culminated in August 2013 with a series of meetings and the draft of an Outcomes Review Summary which detailed a process for piloting and validating outcome metrics that were identified for 11 of the Army Family Programs that either did not have outcome metrics or wished to collect additional outcome data.
Report submitted to Department of Defense Office of Military Community & Family Policy
Exceptional Family Member Program Process and Outcome Metrics (2016): This report summarized data collected at eight location across the Department of Defense, two locations in each of the four Services.The feedback survey used to collect data was the product of an evaluation capacity building initiative in collaboration with the military Exceptional Family Member Program-Family Support (EFMP – FS) leadership from each Service and from the Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs (OSN) at the Department of Defense. This process included the development of logic and pathway models, concept mapping, and the development of evaluation questions and an evaluation plan. The resulting survey was intended to generate feedback on various components of the EFMP – FSnon-clinical case management process which included information and referral, intake and service planning, and ongoing non-clinical case management designed to support families in their efforts to meet the educational, health care, housing, financial, behavioral health, and other needs of their family members with special needs. Data was also collected on several of the demographic and situational characteristics that were thought to be most relevant to program participant needs and their experience using EFMP-FS services.
DoD Exceptional Family Member Program Benchmark Report (2012): This study summarizes findings from an extensive literature review, a series of interviews with family support programs for families with special needs within the military and civilian sectors, and focus groups and individual interviews with Service members, Family members, and service providers at eight installations, two from each military service. This work was carried out in 2011 and 2012. The report detailed the experiences of military families with special needs, the military and civilian supports available to them, and the ways in which family members with special needs impact the service member’s career. It also highlighted best practices in both the military and civilian programs and the recommendations of families with special needs for strengthening the support system and facilitating the active duty member’s continued service.