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Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE)

Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) is one of the nation's preeminent independent, nonprofit organizations focusing on individual and social problems associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs. PIRE is dedicated to merging scientific knowledge and proven practice to create solutions that improve the health, safety, and well-being of individuals, communities, nations and the world. The Institute has a significant national presence in the area of prevention, with funded research projects at its ten research centers located around the country.

Focus
PIRE scientists and practitioners continually focus on the design and implementation of complex program evaluation strategies and the conduct of research related to health and social issues, including criminal justice. PIRE provides training and technical assistance in many health-related areas to states and communities that are attempting to mitigate the effects of alcohol and other drug abuse.

In all its work, PIRE maintains a commitment to the application of research findings in solution of real-world problems, achieved, in part, by translating scientific knowledge into practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners.

History
PIRE was founded in the early 1970s when a group of allied scientists were among the first to recognize the dangers inherent in the emergence of widespread drug use. The Institute developed and disseminated some of the earliest prevention strategies. Since then, PIRE has broadened its scope to encompass many of the most serious threats to human health and safety.

Nonprofit Status
PIRE is a California-chartered, not-for-profit corporation, that qualifies for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code.

PIRE is a mission-driven organization that lives by its values.

Mission
The mission of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) is to promote, undertake, and evaluate activities, studies, and programs that improve individual and public health, welfare, and safety. In support of this mission, we create and support an environment within which skilled, innovative, and dedicated researchers and practitioners work to extend the leading edges of their respective fields.

Vision
For more than a quarter century, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation has been committed to making a positive impact on the health, safety, and well-being of the nation and the world through the development and application of scientific knowledge. While PIRE has grown, broadened its scope, and increased the use of emerging technologies, our basic commitment remains. It is the cornerstone of our mission.

The Difference Is Our Values
PIRE is organized around a number of key institutional values that make us different from typical for-profit, as well as most not-for-profit, private research and program evaluation organizations. These values actively guide our operations and management practices and the Institute's work culture. They define PIRE's difference.

Science to Practice, the Commitment to Making a Difference
Our research and program staff believe that knowledge development and research efforts should inform policy and practice in the real world. Our portfolio of work covers this continuum. As knowledge has increased in public health and safety, we have expanded our role to test this knowledge in the field, and then developed training and technical assistance programs to see that it is adopted and put to use.

Staff Independence in a Culture of Collaboration
The Institute values and honors the independence of our research and program staff to develop and manage their own work. We see the central organization of PIRE existing to serve and facilitate our exceptional staff in pursuing their passions in the fields of health, safety, and well-being, all in the public interest. This independence is balanced by a strong sense of collaboration between staff in diverse areas of expertise as well as across the Institute's sites and facilities. Fostering and facilitating this collaboration is the task of central executive management.

Staff-Driven Mission Implementation
It is understood that PIRE's mission in the public interest is best fulfilled when dedicated staff are allowed to pursue their natural interests and passions for improving health, safety, and well-being. Effective executive leadership is viewed in the "servant-leader" model, whereby central management actively provides the support and central synergy that allow staff to thrive and flourish, thereby moving the Institute's work forward in the most natural way.

Participatory Decision Making
Since its inception, the Institute's basic management tenet has been that the best decisions are those that involve the input of staff most affected. Though this differs from a more centralized, hierarchical model, our experience has shown that active staff participation in key management decision making facilitates ownership of decisions and educates staff on the complexities of Institute work and management.

Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
Calverton Office Park
11710 Beltsville Drive, Suite 125
Calverton, MD 20705-3102
301-755-2738
Fax: 301-755-2799
http://www.pire.org/