Alex R. Dopp

Alex R. Dopp is a senior behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation and a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. He holds a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology from the University of Missouri. His work focuses on improving youth mental health and substance use services through interdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing evidence-based practices (EBPs) and their implementation within systems like juvenile justice, child welfare, and primary care. He explores financing strategies, telehealth innovations, and policy implications to reach underserved populations.

Key research areas include:

• Economic evaluation of behavioral health treatments
• Financing models for sustaining EBPs
• Telemedicine and cross-sector partnerships
• Implementation science for youth services
• Policy analysis for vulnerable populations

His projects often involve mixed-methods approaches, combining quantitative analysis with stakeholder engagement to address gaps in service delivery. Notable contributions include developing the Fiscal Mapping Process for sustainable financing and evaluating CLARO, a collaborative care model for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Dopp collaborates extensively with researchers, clinicians, and community partners to translate evidence into actionable policy and practice.

Grants and partnerships highlight his focus on federal and state financing mechanisms, with studies assessing how funding cliffs impact EBP sustainment. His work bridges clinical practice and public policy, advocating for systemic solutions to improve access to mental health and substance use treatments for at-risk youth.