EVIDENCED
Solutions Success Change Policy Advocacy Design Programs Implementation
Welcome to Evidenced, where our mission is to elevate the use of evidence to enhance programs, policies, and systems that benefit individuals, youth, and families. Through supportive partnerships and collaboration, we strengthen the research and evaluation capacity of research institutions, community organizations, and public agencies.
We are dedicated to leveraging evidence to connect scientific knowledge to real-world applications, enabling your organization to foster a reciprocal relationship between its data and actions. We are excited to join you in your journey to improve your programs, assess your impact, or address complex policy challenges.
Let's connect to explore how we can help you achieve your goals!
Meet Jessica
Jessica R. Norton, PhD
Dr. Jessica Norton is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Evidenced Research & Evaluation Consulting. Jessica earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science and a Certificate in Advanced Research Methods for Developmental and Family Science from Auburn University. This training built her expertise in program development, evaluation, and advanced research methods in human sciences. Jessica has led and supported research and evaluation efforts with interdisciplinary teams in academia, governments, and private organizations. She uses her training and experience to advance evidence-based research, programs, and policies tailored to benefit children, adolescents, and families.
Jessica is passionate about advancing the use of evidence in human services and policymaking that benefits individuals, youth, and families. She teaches Social Policy courses at Auburn University and is an active member of several national research associations. She enjoys working with clients to help them connect the dots from their goals to outcomes. Jessica collaborates with a diverse group of researchers and consultants to meet the needs of each project.
Our Consulting Services
Policy-to-Practice
Advisement
Evidenced policy-to-practice advisement service empowers clients to create evidence-based policies and practices. We help bridge the gap between policy design and real-world implementation by translating evidence into actionable insights that elevate your social policy initiatives. Let us help you make informed decisions that advocate meaningful change.
Our Services Include:
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Evaluability Assessments
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Implementation Reports
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Policy Feedback & Recommendations
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Policy Readiness
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Feasibility Assessments
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Case Studies
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Evidence Translation
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& More
Research
&
Evaluation
Building evidence is an exciting journey that takes time and expertise. We provide tailored research and evaluation services to enhance your evidence-building efforts. Evidenced research and evaluation services help uncover the answers you need to discover what works, who it benefits, and in what conditions. Let's elevate your work together!
Our Services Include:
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Research & Evaluation Design
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Data Analysis & Interpretation
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Scientific Writing
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Survey Design and Data Collection
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Subject Matter Expertise
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Project Support
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Evidence Reviews
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Grant Evalution Support
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Capacity Building & Technical Assistance
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& More
Program Design
&
Development
Beginning from the ground up? We support organizations in designing innovative, evidence-informed, equity-centered, and community-driven social programs. We’re here to assist you in aligning your goals with your desired results. Our collaborative service will help you connect the dots from your ideas to your outcomes, to build programs that are responsive, scalable, and sustainable.
Our Services Include:
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Program Conceptulizatoin
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Implmentation Planning
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Stakeholder & Community Partnership
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Logic Modeling
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Theory of Change Development
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Pilot Design & Testing
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Evidence & Best Practice Review
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Scaling & Sustainability Planning
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& More...
Recent Projects & Publications
Collaborator
WestEd's Justice and Prevention Research Center
"Research on the factors that contribute to male gang involvement is extensive and varied. It includes studies of environmental, cultural, and social factors that increase the risks of gang involvement or lead to gang involvement, including how these factors vary by race and ethnicity. These factors are typically referred to as “push” and “pull” factors. Push factors are external to the gang (e.g., history of abuse, lack of parental support or supervision) and push an individual toward membership, and pull factors are internal to the gang (e.g., street credibility, protection, economic benefits) and draw an individual into membership. This paper extends the focus on push and pull factors by providing a systematic review of research from the past decade specific to female gang involvement."
Sutherland, H., Norton, J... & Fronius, T. (2024). Push and pull factors for female involvement in gangs and collateral involvement in sex trafficking: Systematic review of research. Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families.
Consultant
Urban Institute & National Diaper Bank Network
Research Advisory Council Member
"The project will form a research advisory council, which will include individuals with lived experience as well as researchers and practitioners in the areas of financial security programs, early childhood, and basic material needs. Ongoing engagements with advisors will shape the research agenda and dissemination efforts as well as provide an opportunity to share new evidence with key decisionmakers to inform the field."
Consultant
WestEd's Justice and Prevention Research Center
In Progress: Assisted WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center in examining the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) funding focused on racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. juvenile justice systems. JRNR gathered descriptive data on the R/ED funding mechanism to understand what resources may be available to evaluate the impact of these funds. Tasks included exploring the availability of quantitative data to understand the impact of Title II funding to identify and reduce racial and ethnic disparities (R/ED) among youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system and gathering qualitative data from researchers and administrators of the Title II awards. The final products included draft documents, including a literature review, interview protocol and summaries, sample state profiles, and limitations and recommendations for building a state and national evaluation.
Elevate Your Evidence
Delivering Science as a Service