RFA’s 2016 Federal Invest in What Works Index Sets Standard of Excellence for Federal Agencies and Departments in Using Data and Evidence to Improve Lives
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, April 18, at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., Results for America will unveil its 2016 Federal Invest in What Works Index and host two panel discussions focusing on innovative work of seven federal agencies and departments to build the capacity to promote evidence-based policymaking. White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan will deliver keynote remarks, highlighting the Obama Administration’s commitment to using data and evidence to drive policy decisions and address the nation’s challenges.
The event, “What Works in Federal Agencies: Celebrating Progress and the Release of RFA’s 2016 Federal Index,” will showcase how federal agencies are currently using data and evidence to drive budget, policy and management decisions, and ultimately to improve lives. It will also feature panel discussions moderated by former White House Domestic Policy Council Directors Bruce Reed (Clinton) and John Bridgeland (G.W. Bush), former USAID Director Raj Shah (Obama), and presentations from the seven federal agencies showcased in the 2016 Index including:
- The Administration for Children and Families (within HHS);
- Corporation for National and Community Service;
- Millennium Challenge Corporation;
- U.S. Agency for International Development;
- U.S. Department of Education;
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
- U.S. Department of Labor.
The purpose of the Index is to educate public, private, and nonprofit sector leaders, as well as members of the general public on how federal departments and agencies are currently using data, evidence and evaluation to invest taxpayer dollars in what works – and to set a benchmark upon which federal government leaders can make improvements on behalf of the people they serve. The Index assigns a score of up to 10 points for agency progress in meeting 10 rigorous criteria, for a total score of up to 100.
About Results for America
Results for America is improving outcomes for young people, their families and communities by shifting public resources toward practices, policies, and programs that use evidence and data to improve quality and get better results. In a climate of constrained resources and mounting demands, we know that public funds must increasingly be invested in “what works.”
In November, 2014, Results for America published Moneyball for Government, the national bestselling book that brings together a group of bipartisan leaders and makes the case for government at all levels to inform public policy and funding decisions by using the best possible data, evidence and evaluation about what works. In January, 2016, RFA published the second edition of Moneyball for Government featuring a new bipartisan chapter about the importance of using data and evidence to drive U.S. foreign assistance. Go to www.results4america.org for more information about Results for America.