Project Management

Hiredpen frequently helps researchers and nonprofit organizations conceptualize, organize, and manage large writing and communication projects. From reports, to quarterly publications, to grants, Hiredpen can help groups crystalize their thinking, sort through mounds of data and information, and to keep a project moving forward.

• The Research Network on the Transitions to Adulthood and Public Policy
  Frank Furstenberg, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Principal Investigator; MacArthur Foundation, funder
  The Research Network on the Transitions to Adulthood and Public Policy (http://www.transad.pop.upenn.edu) examines the changing nature of early adulthood, and the policies, programs, and institutions that support youth's psychological and social development as they move into adulthood. Hired Pen, inc., is developing the outreach and dissemination efforts of the Network, including media, policy briefs, op-eds, press releases, and website development. The cohesive package of publications and outreach is designed to expand awareness of the important timespan in young adults' lives.
  
  
• MDRC
  Thomas Brock, Principal Investigator, Opening Doors initiative
  Hiredpen helped develop and write a mid-project report on this large-scale random-assignment evaulation of a novel program to engage at-risk community college students. The report was drawn from ongoing qualitative research at two sites. Hiredpen helped authors conceptualize framework for report, wrote introduction, literature review, and helped to frame the discussion, focusing on policy and program implications.
  
  
• Joint Center for Poverty Research
  Greg Duncan, Northwestern University, Co-director; Susan Mayer, University of Chicago, Co-director
  The mission of JCPR (www.jcpr.org) was to disseminate high-quality research of nationwide affiliates to policymakers at the state and federal levels. Hired Pen, inc., was brought on board in the institute's second year of operation to manage and oversee dissemination efforts. Hired Pen was part of the team to design, launch, and keep current the institute's content-rich website. We helped develop and implement a package of dissemination efforts, using various vehicles: conferences, seminars, policy briefs, newsletters, web, and email. We helped develop and organize congressional briefings. We managed the grant writing and reporting process.
  
  
• Handbook of Measurement in Family Research
  Sandra Hofferth, Professor of Family Studies, University of Maryland
  Hired Pen, inc., is managing the pre-publication process for this important book on measurement issues in family research. Project includes initial editing of 30 manuscripts, author correspondence, deadline management, reviews and revisions, and final copyedits to publisher's style.
  
  
• National Science Foundation Grant
  Northwestern University, Institute for Policy Research
  When Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research responded to a Request for Proposal from the National Institutes of Health for a large-scale training grant, they turned to Hired Pen, inc., to manage the process and edit the grant proposal. The project included coordinating the input from more than 20 scholars across several departments at Northwestern University. The project also included managing tight deadlines, editing individual sections, editing and assembling document, ensuring stipulations of federal NIH document grant were followed, and proofing and formatting the final proposal.
  
  
• Illinois Department of Employment Security
  The state agency responsible for the Unemployment Insurance system and the state's workforce development frequently responds to requests for proposals from the federa government. Hired Pen, inc., has headed up the grant-writing team, helping to conceptualize the proposal, coordinating the contributions of various departments, and keeping everyone on task and on time, always under impossible deadlines and high stakes.
  "Barbara Ray was wonderful at taking our rambling conversations and making them a tight grant proposal."
       -- Don Davies, Deputy Director, Operations, Illinois Department of Employment Security
  In addition, Hiredpen frequently serves as a development leader in major reports to the legislature, and for interdepartmental reporting needs.
  
  
• Production and Editorial Management: Newsletters
  Poverty Research News
  Perspectives: On poverty, policy, & place
  Progress: The Science of Children's Mental Health
  Hired Pen, inc., handles the writing and production of several research-based newsletters (http://www.jcpr.org/newletters, http://www.rupri.org/rprc/PerspectivesSummer04.pdf). Hired Pen, inc., works with organizations on initial design and conception of the newsletter. Once underway, Hired Pen, inc., helps determine content, writes the articles, coordinates the approval process with researchers, hires designers and printers, and manages production and distribution. From start to finish, Hired Pen, inc., can keep your audience informed.