The Catherine Cutler Institute collaborates with partners throughout the nation and across the world to find sustainable practical solutions to critical societal issues. Our work typically falls under the following focus areas.

  • Children, Youth, and Families
    Advances the well-being of children and families by improving the public and private systems that serve them. With expertise in child welfare, early childhood education, and youth and community engagement, staff bring knowledge and experience in strategic planning, workforce development, tribal-state relations, youth and parent engagement, evaluation, and community engagement methodologies to their technical assistance and training work. We work to include the voices of children, youth, and families, and to engage the community.
  • Disability & Aging
    Commits to making sure public resources are used to their best effect in helping older adults and adults with disabilities live healthy, active, secure, and engaged lives.  In collaboration with state and federal policymakers and service providers, we improve programs and services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and the most vulnerable through technical assistance, evaluations, identifying best practices, and performing policy analysis work.
  • Economic & Workforce Development
    Provides applied research and technical assistance that advance Maine’s economy and build its workforce through staff expertise in economic impact analysis and modeling, forecasting, and strategic planning. We also work with organizations and agencies to develop and implement professional development programs and partner with a broad range of stakeholders to develop innovative economic development solutions that contribute to Maine’s economy.
  • Environmental & Social Resilience
    Supports local, regional, and community partners as they adapt to a changing environment and develop policy decisions based on the best scientific information available related to coastal environmental restoration and protection, wetland science and policy, climate change, sea level rise, stormwater financing solutions, and land conservation for flood protection. We do this work through education, technical assistance, communication, environmental monitoring/data collection, and project development and implementation.
  • Justice Policy
    Informs policy development and practice in civil, criminal, and social justice systems in Maine and nationally. Our applied research, training, and technical assistance build capacity and improve community health and public safety. We bring experience in research methods, program assessment and evaluation, and policy development to areas such as juvenile recidivism, violence against women, victim assistance, and justice system statistical analysis.
  • Population Health & Health Policy
    Conducts policy-driven research, evaluation, policy analysis, and technical assistance focusing on the public health system and the delivery of healthcare services. Our work covers a broad range of areas, including healthcare access, epidemiology, rural health, health informatics, substance use, patient safety, and healthcare reform.