Policy Studies Associates
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Policy Studies Associates

Strengthening program capacity, informing policy, assessing impact, and providing training and technical assistance

Core Services

Policy Studies Associates, Inc. (PSA)—a woman-owned small business founded in 1982—provides a wide range of solutions and services to nonprofit organizations, local state and federal government agencies; foundations; and universities. PSA conducts research, program evaluation, and policy analysis; provides technical assistance and capacity building support; designs and delivers professional development and training; and supports systems design and implementation.

We are flexible, adaptable, and committed partners, delivering innovative solutions tailored to the unique contexts of our clients. We prioritize high-quality products and practical solutions that improve outcomes.

Research, Program Evaluation, & Policy Analysis

PSA helps clients make informed, actionable decisions by customizing projects to their goals—whether scaling programs, developing measurement tools, or assessing impact—ensuring relevant and rigorous results.

Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

PSA helps organizations improve performance by enhancing data use, planning, leadership, and capacity for conducting needs assessments, trainings, and data management. We connect performance measures to key improvement drivers using theories of change.

Professional Development & Training

PSA partners with clients to develop tailored professional development and training that directly supports their goals. Our approach is research-based, data-informed, and leverages evidence-based practices to suit each organization’s unique context, ensuring high-quality, results-driven sessions aligned with clients’ vision.

Systems Design & Implementation

PSA specializes in systems design, integrating evaluation with performance management to support effective program and policy implementation. Our strategic planning helps clients align, adapt, and improve their systems, with a focus on stakeholder engagement through task forces and work groups to ensure diverse perspectives and broad buy-in.

Content Knowledge & Expertise

Our staff possess deep knowledge and expertise in education, learning supports, social services, and post-secondary success. These interconnected and overlapping areas enable us to transfer insights and best practices across disciplines. We are committed to continuously expanding, refining, and applying our knowledge to advance social service programming and policy, ensuring our work remains innovative and impactful.

 
 

Methods

PSA is known for its ongoing, transparent client communication, ensuring project methods align with needs. Its skilled staff excel in data collection, analysis, and building clients’ evaluation capacity. Our reports focus on clarifying the complex links between interventions and outcomes, often combining quantitative and qualitative data for comprehensive insights. Depending on client goals, our reports may identify strengths and challenges, recommend capacity-building strategies, or suggest options for sustaining and scaling programs in the future.

Our Clients

A trusted partner for more than 40 years, PSA has worked with federal, state, and local government agencies; national, regional, and local nonprofit organizations; private foundations; and public and private universities.