Since 1998, Dr. Friedman has led the Center for Social Policy’s team in its research and evaluation work in Massachusetts and in the United States, much of it focused on: social welfare policies; homelessness and its prevention; evaluating comprehensive community change initiatives; and government, third sector and philanthropy roles in advancing social policy innovations. Throughout her career, Dr. Friedman has been engaged in the: management and delivery of human services; policy analysis of welfare and homelessness social policies; evaluation of government and NGO social policy innovations; and teaching in graduate programs of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the Heller School, Smith College and Lesley University. More specifically, her areas of expertise are in:

• Social Policy Planning – Government, NGO and Philanthropy Partnerships
• Evaluation of comprehensive human service delivery innovations
• Evaluation of welfare reform policies
• Outcome measurement
• Models of consumer involvement in social service and social policy planning

Donna has authored Parenting in Public:  Family shelter and public assistance, published by Columbia University Press in 2000 and 10 other refereed chapters or articles in her areas of expertise, as well as over 25 public documents (commissioned papers and project reports), including the final report of the Massachusetts’ Commission to End Homelessness (January 2008). Currently, she leads the UMass Boston’team in its evaluation of the City of Boston’s Thrive in 5 Initiative and The Boston Foundation’s Fairmount Initiatives.