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Donald E. Pryor, Ph.D.
Director of Human Services Analysis |
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Expertise
Human services, criminal justice, children and youth services, community indicators, education, program evaluation
Dr. Pryor has directed 3 studies for which CGR has won the Most Distinguished Research Award from the Governmental Research Association, the national organization of professionals engaged in governmental research. The most recent award was in 2007 for a comprehensive assessment of, and recommendations for, a New York county’s criminal justice system. Previous awards involved an assessment of a city’s early childhood needs, and a county’s youth service needs.
During his distinguished career Dr. Pryor has directed, consulted on, and critiqued a wide variety of research projects in the public, nonprofit and private sectors at local, state and national levels. His work has led to improved services and millions of dollars in direct savings to taxpayers. Dr. Pryor’s expertise encompasses human service delivery, assessments of community needs and resources, criminal justice practices, educational reform, program evaluations, policy analysis, social indicators, and governmental management and organization.
Current Projects
- Development of major 7-county community indicators project to help drive a strategic planning process designed to stimulate community solutions to critical challenges (partners: United Way of Greater Rochester NY, The Community Foundation)
- Development of a NYS-wide evaluation process to assess the implementation and impact of 2-1-1 call centers
- Assessment, across NYS, of the services, costs and impact of Independent Living Centers, which serve people with disabilities
- Evaluation of Dutchess County (NY) Mental Hygiene Department and contract agency services to improve program effectiveness and service delivery efficiency
- Assessment of gaps in services provided veterans in 5 upstate NY counties, with a focus on strengthening reintegration of veterans into families / communities
Completed Projects
- County government management studies leading to streamlined government, improved efficiency and enhanced public service
- Cost/benefit evaluations at the local and state level (e.g., human services delivery systems, mental health services, integrated services for children and families)
- Assessments of criminal justice practices and opportunities to reduce costs, specifically including alternative to incarceration programs and their impact on jail numbers
- Educational studies, including cost-effective, efficient delivery of educational services; program evaluations; needs assessments; school reorganizations; and shared services
- Assessments of resources, needs and service gaps in a wide range of areas for governments, United Ways, nonprofit agencies and community groups to help leaders achieve desired outcomes for their communities (e.g., housing, county-owned nursing homes, subsidized childcare, consolidation of services)
- Evaluations of programs for at-risk youth that have assessed youths’ needs and characteristics and the impact and cost effectiveness of programs designed to serve them
- Identification of the met and unmet service needs of preschool and early childhood youth, and recommendations for the future
- Public health planning studies
- Pre-trial diversion program assessments, including a major evaluation that led to a county’s decision to assume costs of running a program (Study was cited at the state and national levels as a model evaluation.)
Education
B.A. in Psychology from Randolph-Macon College, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial Psychology from Purdue University
Background
Dr. Pryor has served as CGR’s Director of Human Services Analysis since 1982. Previously he directed research for the Washington D.C.-based Pretrial Services Resource Center and worked in various capacities for Xerox Corporation and the General Motors Institute. |
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