Improving Government Programs Relies on Data Access

Last year, a federal commission began studying how data that the government already collect can be used to improve government programs and policies. The Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking was the creation of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), who are long-time champions of data and the use of evidence to drive federal policymaking. After over a year of meetings and deliberations, the 15-member Commission wrapped up its work with a final report and list of recommendations focused on data access, privacy, and capacity.

 

This Commission articulated what many in the Pay for Success (PFS) community have been uncovering through their feasibility study and project construction support work for years now. Data are at the center of our ability to generate evidence, assess programs for impact, and ultimately make decisions about what to fund and at what level with our limited resources.

As the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking recognized, data are important building blocks for the generation of evidence and many of the greatest gains for evidence building can be achieved by addressing the challenges that surround data access, capacity, and privacy. The support provided by the SIF PFS program is critical to surface data challenges, assess ways to address these challenges, and ultimately achieve the promise of the evidence-based movement to measurably improve the lives of individuals through more effective services.

Read the full article by Nicole Truhe about data access on americaforward.org