IMPAQ International, LLC

IMPAQ International, LLC was founded in 2001 by its CEO, Ms. Sharon Benus, and its Executive Director for Research, Dr. Jacob Benus, with the goal of establishing IMPAQ as a premier social science research firm specializing in the conduct of rigorous impact evaluations for domestic and international clients.  The firm’s name, IMPAQ International, was chosen as symbolic of this focus. After supporting several successful international consulting projects, IMPAQ accelerated its growth with the award of Project GATE to IMPAQ by the U.S. Department of Labor, a project which expanded on work previously conducted by Dr. Benus in the area of entrepreneurship training programs.  This five-year evaluation project enabled IMPAQ to begin the growth trajectory that has continued to today. Once established as a leader in the evaluation of workforce programs as a result of its ground-breaking work performed for the U.S. Department of Labor, IMPAQ next expanded its reach into the health care policy area, winning contracts to support projects for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  This work has enabled IMPAQ to quickly become a market leader in the health care research and evaluation arena. The firm’s record of excellence is rooted in its strong and identifiable culture.  From its inception as a small boutique to its current status as a thriving research firm, the founders have deliberately cultivated and fostered a respectful work environment, hiring diverse, multi-disciplinary, well-educated, and businesslike team members where each staff member’s contribution is recognized and respected.  As a result, our diverse research team and survey center staff now numbers more than 200 people, including individuals with advanced degrees in such areas as economics, education, public policy, health policy and management, public administration, anthropology, statistics, industrial/organizational psychology, business management, information technology, and computer science.     SOLUTIONS   Impact Evaluation Studies IMPAQ specializes in the design, development, and implementation of impact evaluation studies for domestic and international government organizations, including assessing the return on investment and benefit-cost of the programs evaluated.   Survey Research and Data Collection Utilizing its on-site telephone survey center, IMPAQ staff has conducted survey research and data collection projects in support of major impact evaluations and in the measurement of program performance.   Applied Research Studies IMPAQ’s team has proven capabilities in conducting a wide variety of applied research projects, including those involving analysis of program performance data, development of cost models, and the development of new approaches for service design and delivery.    Quantitative Data Analysis IMPAQ’s staff includes economists, statisticians, and computer programmers with proven experience in designing and conducting sophisticated economic and statistical analyses on large data sets, including Unemployment Insurance and Medicare data.   Process Evaluations and Qualitative Research IMPAQ’s work includes the conduct of process evaluations for assessing program implementation effectiveness and the conduct of qualitative research using structured interviews, focus groups, and other data collection techniques.   Technical Assistance IMPAQ provides technical assistance support in the design and implementation of demonstration, new, and existing government programs to enhance their ability to meet program objectives and achieve positive outcomes.     EXPERTISE   Health Care Policy Research Health care policy is one of IMPAQ’s core areas of research. Our areas of expertise include quality and performance measurement, long-term care systems, and payment error identification and analysis.   Workforce Policy Research Our research team is currently leading important labor projects in the areas of entrepreneurship, unemployment, reemployment, and other cutting-edge workforce investment system initiatives.   Survey Research IMPAQ offers a full-range of survey research services, including survey development and testing, survey implementation using our in-house telephone survey center, data management and analysis, and final report preparation and dissemination.   International Development IMPAQ staff work with international governments and institutions to develop practical and effective approaches for designing cost-effective government programs and creating and improving policies.