Informatics Studio has worked on a wide range of communication initiatives for the US Department of Health and Human Services, including multi-year engagements for the Office of Minority Health, National Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health. While we have much more to show, the following samples highlight a variety of communication programs for which we have provided audience evaluations, communication strategy, messaging, branding, design and technology implementation.

Our work for NIH ranges from the Clinical and Translational Science initiative at the National Cancer Institute to national conferences, including US Conference on AIDS, National Flu-pandemic Conference, National Institute of Nursing Research’s State of the Science Congress, and many online exhibits for the NIH History Museum. Our approach blends method-based audience analysis with sophisticated design and development for many kinds of health, scientific and behavioral communications, programmatically delivered through a variety of appropriate media.

The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) is an online database containing large quantities of detailed and comparable alcohol-related policy information at both State and Federal levels. In close collaboration with prime contractor CDM Group and experts at NIAAA, Informatics Studio developed an innovative suite of web-based tools that empower researchers and others involved in alcohol policy issues to simply and flexibly query and explore complex information according to individual needs and preferences.

The APIS web system gives program stakeholders the tools they need to meaningfully track policy changes over time, access legal citations and download data sets in a variety of formats for at-a-glance understanding of complex program metrics, generate reports and support critical decision making concerning alcohol policy at state and federal levels.

Informatics Studio developed audience-specific communication strategy, integrated branding and comprehensive design for the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, a collaborative science initiative funded by NIH at the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of Health Sciences. We developed comprehensive design and communication guidelines for web and printed communications, including targeted program advertising, website strategy and design, and integrated families of printed materials.

There are two primary audiences for the program:

• Researchers - consisting of faculty, research staff, students, research partners, academic institutions and science stakeholders, medical industry

• Community - consisting of the general public and targeted audiences, including potential clinical participants, community stakeholders (including minorities, health and social service providers, pharmacists, other influencers), legislators

Informatics Studio created audience-specific, integrated program branding, web design and development, print design, internal (researchers) and external (community) marketing, communication strategy, information architecture, usability, and design which we strategically conceived and implemented to raise awareness and encourage participation in the program by multiple audiences.

It should be noted that Informatics Studio brought deep experience to the program having developed a number of complex, multi-disciplinary science and health communication programs for NIH, CDC, HHS, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and large academic hospital systems.

Our strategic approach resulted in the development of impressive communication that are strategically designed to:

• Build awareness
• Create sense of urgency + timeliness
• Build belief in the program mission
• Educate audiences about clinical and translational research
• Identify translational science as a distinct discipline
• Educate researchers and industry to conduct collaborative work
• Create a structure to facilitate interdisciplinary research
• Promote and support collaborative approach
• Inspire enthusiasm
• Focus on and promote discovery
• Recognize achievement
• Build partnerships
• Share research across disciplines through technology
• Direct researchers to support and tools
• Activate student pipeline
• Advance understanding of methodologies and state of science through education
• Build public awareness, engagement, support
• Build government relationships, legislative support

Informatics Studio recently wrapped up development with the production of a comprehensive system evaluation, planning, strategy, design and development program for a Drupal web platform that incorporates knowledge management, facilitates collaborative medical research, and supports the capture and application of new knowledge.

We have completed the first phase of work, consisting of the core programs website and provided comprehensive system analysis through the development of detailed design and technical specifications for expansion into the fully functional collaborative framework.

Informatics Studio provided Learning Strategy, Instructional Design, Visual Design and Technical Implementation

Course objectives are as follows:

• Modules provide an introduction and overview of what tools and information the user will learn/utilize through the specified module:
  • Module 1 – Recovery-oriented Approaches to Peer Support
  • Module 2 – Continuum of Care Systems
  • Module 3 – Outreach and Engagement
  • Module 4 – Effective Services and Supports
  • Module 5 – Housing Resources
  • Module 6 – Mainstream Resources

• Courses address
  • SAMHSA’s definition and dimensions of recovery
    • 10 principles of a recovery-oriented approach
  • 10 principles of peer support
  • Understanding the different programs and funding sources for homelessness services and/or programs
  • HUD Definition of Homelessness
  • How HUD Funding works
  • Practicing effective outreach and engagement in the community
  • Using motivational interviewing as a valuable tool
  • Myths about homelessness
  • Understanding the experiences of poverty and homelessness
    • Taking a look at our own attitudes and assumptions
  • What and how to make a service or support effective
  • Housing resources and finding affordable housing
    • Understanding affordable housing standards
  • Key Elements of Permanent Supportive Housing
  • Mainstream resources that are available and who they are available to

Informatics Studio provided Learning Strategy, Instructional Design, Visual Design and Technical Implementation

Course objectives are as follows:

• Preparing law enforcement and members of the larger justice system, homeless providers and community members to develop and use collaborative approaches in order to help solve the problem of homelessness
• Modules provide an introduction and overview of what tools and information the user will learn/utilize through the specified module:
  • Module 1 – Overview of Homelessness and Collaborative Solutions
  • Module 2 – Law Enforcement
  • Module 3 – Service Providers
  • Module 4 – Community

• Courses address
  • Key causes of homelessness
  • Who is experiencing homelessness
  • Laws that criminalize homelessness
  • Understanding issues of homelessness
  • Costs associated with homelessness in the community
  • Alternatives to criminalization
  • Partnering with providers
  • HOT (homeless outreach team) units and how they connect with people
  • Collaborative outreach and engaging with the community
  • Increasing overall awareness about homelessness

Informatics Studio provided Learning Strategy, Instructional Design, Visual Design and Technical Implementation

Course objectives are as follows:

• Helping new outreach workers and those new to this approach understand why housing-focused outreach works and how to implement solutions into their daily practices.
• Modules provide an introduction and overview of what tools and information the user will learn/utilize through the specified module:
  • Module 1 – Introduction to Housing-focused Outreach
  • Module 2 – Housing-focused Outreach Processes
  • Module 3 – Housing-focused Outreach Skills
  • Module 4 – Housing-focused Outreach Supports

• Courses address
  • Considering how different members of your team and the community support your work
  • Identifying different but appropriate shelter/housing options
  • Connecting people experiencing homelessness to housing
  • Transitioning into and creating new housing
  • How to communicate and engage with individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Managing day to day issues you will possibly face when working on the streets
  • Understanding the implications of trauma and its effects
  • Community education
  • Planning and documentation resources on increasing awareness and learning about homelessness in each community state
  • How to be safe while in the field
  • Adequate self-care