We have a deep and growing portfolio of work across New York. Our teams conduct evaluation, technical assistance, and capacity-building projects that help decision-makers improve services, strengthen programs, and direct resources where they’re needed most, in urban neighborhoods and rural communities alike.
From behavioral health needs assessments in Western New York to workforce development evaluations in New York City, our work is grounded in community voice and driven by evidence. We work with communities to design solutions, and we stay engaged from initial assessment through implementation and beyond.
Our Work in New York
We deliver tangible benefits for New Yorkers through data-driven insights and community-centered research.
Areas of Focus
Substance Use & Suicide Prevention
NORC’s training, implementation, and evaluation initiatives have expanded New York’s capacity to address substance use and suicide risk, including Zero Suicide, SBIRT, and social prescribing models adapted for disproportionately affected populations.
Rural Health
Through listening tours and county-level assessments, we identify gaps in behavioral health services across rural New York and support communities in implementing primary care approaches to address social isolation, loneliness, and mental health needs.
Health Informatics
Our evaluation of the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY) provides insights into how health and community organizations use the network, helping guide improvements in care coordination and service delivery.
Workforce Development
NORC evaluates community-based workforce programs like NYC’s NeON Works, generating findings that inform strategies to strengthen employment pathways and reduce justice system involvement for young people.
Community Resilience & Capacity Building
We partner with organizations to redesign service environments and strengthen trauma-informed practices, centering the lived experience of residents and staff to foster healing and lasting change.
Public Safety & Justice
NORC supports evidence-based approaches to policing, crisis management, and criminal justice reform, using administrative and spatial data to assess the social and economic consequences of enforcement patterns.
Research Approaches
Strategy & Planning
We begin with theory- and evidence-based needs assessments and strategic planning to identify solutions that work within time and budget constraints.
Training & Technical Assistance
We partner with organizations to strengthen their capacity for sustainable impact, from initial needs assessments through implementation and evaluation.
Community Engagement
We design solutions with communities, not for them—centering community voice to ensure approaches are relevant, respectful, and effective.
Research Design, Data Collection & Analysis
We design rigorous methods and use innovative technologies to collect, manage, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data across the full data lifecycle.
Resource Development
We develop toolkits, implementation guides, and practical resources that help partner organizations scale, sustain, and expand their efforts over time.
Program Evaluation
We conduct implementation science and outcome evaluations to identify opportunities for continuous quality improvement and measure effectiveness.
Our New York Experts
Our New York researchers, many of whom live and work in communities across the state, bring expertise spanning behavioral health, public safety, health informatics, and community engagement.
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Brett Harris
Principal Research Scientist -
Jennifer Titus
Principal Research Director -
Rina Dhopeshwarkar
Principal Research Scientist -
Soubhik Barari
Senior Research Methodologist -
Carol Hafford
Senior Fellow -
Marjorie Connelly
Senior Fellow -
Stuart Michaels
Senior Research Scientist -
Joy Zacharia
Senior Research Director II -
Jenny Seelig
Senior Research Scientist -
Rachel T. Kurtzman
Research Scientist -
Carrie E. Markovitz
Program Area Director for Youth Research
Our New York Clients & Partners
NORC collaborates with a wide array of organizations across New York:
- New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC)
- Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
- Genesee County Department of Mental Health
- Orleans County Mental Health Department
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)
- New York City Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity
- New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ)
- New York State Department of Health / Health Research Inc (HRI)
- City University of New York (CUNY)
- Cornell University
