RAND: Joie D. Acosta2026-04-16T12:36:20ZCopyright (c) 2026, The RAND CorporationRAND Corporationhttps://www.rand.org/about/people/a/acosta_joie_d.htmlhttps://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/09/governing-at-the-speed-of-change-an-ai-enabled-adaptive.htmlGoverning at the Speed of Change: An AI-Enabled Adaptive Framework for Complex Challenges2025-09-19T19:00:00Z2025-09-19T19:00:00ZAs state and local governments take up AI tools and technologies, there is no universal governance model, and there will be no one-size-fits-all adaptive governance model. Rather, AI governance must be tailored to state and local contexts and AI capacity, and include critical reflection on the outputs generated by AI tools.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/09/how-to-scale-up-ai-in-government.htmlHow to Scale Up AI in Government2025-09-11T18:00:00Z2025-09-11T18:00:00ZThe opportunity exists now to set standards for AI-enabled governance, but it requires proactive steps in policy development, funding, procurement, workforce development, and safeguards.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/10/a-different-kind-of-disaster-response-using-social.htmlA Different Kind of Disaster Response: Using Social Media Best Practices to Stem the Tide of Misinformation2024-10-11T20:30:00Z2024-10-11T20:30:00ZEngaging on social media is a different type of disaster response than clearing debris and delivering clean water. Stemming the tide of online misinformation is challenging but critical to combat the rumor mill.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/03/pushing-people-into-poverty-and-public-health-crisis.htmlPushing People into Poverty and Public Health Crisis: Maryland's Recent Energy Cost Increases Could Add Up to an Equity Disaster2024-03-26T19:30:00Z2024-03-26T19:30:00ZIn March, utility prices began increasing throughout Baltimore City and in nearby counties. Prices will continue to increase over the next two years. The Department of Energy is working directly with communities affected by undue energy burdens to better understand how to improve the equity of the energy system. Maryland could follow that example.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/05/public-healths-failure-to-communicate-with-communities.htmlPublic Health's Failure to Communicate with Communities of Color2023-05-17T16:00:00Z2023-05-17T16:00:00ZMisinformation thrived during the pandemic, exacerbating health inequities. To meet its core mission, the public health field needs to engage more actively, particularly in communities it has historically failed to equitably protect.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/05/outrage-is-not-enough-preventing-sexual-violence-starts.htmlOutrage Is Not Enough: Preventing Sexual Violence Starts with a Skilled Prevention Workforce2023-05-01T03:00:00Z2023-05-01T03:00:00ZPreventing sexual assault requires a myriad of competencies including an understanding of the contributing factors so that intervention programs can be designed or adapted to address them. RAND developed a first-of-its-kind tool to assess whether sexual assault prevention practitioners have the core competencies to do their job well.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2021/02/sexual-assault-in-the-military-is-unacceptable-heres.htmlSexual Assault in the Military Is Unacceptable. Here's How to Fix It2021-02-26T19:00:00Z2021-02-26T19:00:00ZDespite some steps taken by the Department of Defense, sexual assault and harassment prevention within the services and at individual installations could be substantially improved. The services could address the problem more systematically and comprehensively.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/02/what-can-fema-learn-from-the-historic-2017-hurricane.htmlWhat Can FEMA Learn from the Historic 2017 Hurricane and Wildfire Seasons?2020-02-03T18:15:00Z2020-02-03T18:15:00ZWhen a hurricane comes ashore or a wildfire ignites, most of a community's vulnerability to disaster is already set. Emergency managers including FEMA, states, and localities could do much more to identify statewide risks and build community resilience before an event makes headlines.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/10/turning-off-power-to-combat-wildfires-could-harm-the.htmlTurning Off Power to Combat Wildfires Could Harm the Very People Who Need Protection2019-10-28T15:45:00Z2019-10-28T15:45:00ZWhile intentionally shutting off power may be a practical way to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires, is it worth the risks? Until more thoughtful and comprehensive decisions are made, planned power outages need to be planned better.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/10/restorative-justice-isnt-a-panacea-but-it-can-promote.htmlRestorative Justice Isn't a Panacea, but It Can Promote Better Relationships Among Students2019-10-21T18:45:00Z2019-10-21T18:45:00ZRestorative practices aren't necessarily a cure-all. But if implemented well, they can contribute to an overall solution. Teaching children to treat one another with respect has the potential to make schools safer and to help kids get along better throughout their lives.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/09/hurricane-recovery-in-the-bahamas-turning-good-intentions.htmlHurricane Recovery in the Bahamas: Turning Good Intentions into Good Decisions2019-09-06T14:45:00Z2019-09-06T14:45:00ZRecovery in the Bahamas will have to be a balancing act. Plans will need to allow for transition toward long-term strategic goals for the nation, but also be mindful of not perpetuating inequities.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/07/after-school-shootings-children-and-communities-struggle.htmlAfter School Shootings, Children and Communities Struggle to Heal2019-07-19T18:30:00Z2019-07-19T18:30:00ZSchool shootings leave wounds that affect students, school staff, families, and communities for years. Building community resilience, implementing evidence-based mental health support early, and providing access for survivors and the community immediately and in the long term could help promote healing and prevent more tragedy.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/04/what-two-new-studies-reveal-about-restorative-justice.htmlWhat Two New Studies Reveal About Restorative Justice in Middle School and How It Can Be Done Better2019-04-17T14:30:00Z2019-04-17T14:30:00ZThere are many nuances to the implementation and impact of restorative practices. This suggests that continued experimentation could allow school districts to realize the benefits of instituting these practices and reduce the cost of doing so.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2019/04/preventing-suicide-treat-mass-shooting-trauma-beyond.htmlPreventing Suicide: Treat Mass Shooting Trauma Beyond Initial Tragedy2019-04-04T16:00:00Z2019-04-04T16:00:00ZThe need for mental health support and suicide-prevention efforts targeting survivors of mass shootings, and the friends and families of victims, is great. Putting such programs in place could go a long way toward helping them heal, and preventing more tragedy.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2018/01/evidence-based-treatments-may-be-casualties-of-war.htmlEvidence-Based Treatments May Be Casualties of War on Drugs2018-01-15T12:10:00Z2018-01-15T12:10:00ZU.S. schools and community organizations face a difficult battle to keep kids safe and drug-free. They need tools to help them choose programs that will work best for youth. The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices is such a tool, but its future is uncertain.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2017/10/checklist-of-best-practices-developed-to-guide-development.htmlChecklist of Best Practices Developed to Guide Development of Suicide Prevention Campaigns2017-10-25T12:00:00Z2017-10-25T12:00:00ZIs your crisis line’s suicide-prevention communications effort working well enough? What should you be doing differently? Some help is available through a checklist published earlier this year.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2015/10/rethinking-student-discipline-and-zero-tolerance.htmlRethinking Student Discipline and Zero Tolerance2015-10-14T11:00:00Z2015-10-14T11:00:00ZRestorative practices are an alternative to zero-tolerance school discipline policies. Rather than mandating prescribed punishments for specific misbehaviors, this more tailored approach aims to empower students.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2014/01/us-needs-to-improve-community-based-drug-alcohol.htmlU.S. Needs to Improve Community-Based Drug, Alcohol Prevention2014-01-31T03:20:00Z2014-01-31T03:20:00ZAs familiar as Americans are with the problems of youth drug and alcohol abuse, we are not identifying all the potential solutions. While observers criticize overemphasis in U.S. policy on enforcement and scant resources devoted to treatment, the focus on these approaches often ignores a key piece of the puzzle: prevention.https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2013/09/translating-policy-into-action-to-build-community-resilience.htmlTranslating Policy Into Action to Build Community Resilience2013-09-04T19:00:00Z2013-09-04T19:00:00ZThe philosophy and motivation surrounding community resilience has strongly resonated with community leaders but there remains a divide between how experts articulate resilience policy and how that policy translates to on-the-ground implementation. Building Community Resilience: An Online Training addresses that tension. https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2013/04/getting-to-outcomes-improvement-of-prevention-capacity.htmlGetting To Outcomes: Improvement of Prevention Capacity Unveiled at a Summit of Maine Officials and Stakeholders2013-04-29T15:00:00Z2013-04-29T15:00:00ZCommunity-based practitioners can improve their programs using Getting To Outcomes®, a toolkit, training, and onsite-support package which enhances their ability to prevent drug and alcohol use among youth.