During Newseum Event, Federal Departments and Agencies Recognized for Promoting Evidence-Based Policymaking at the Federal Level
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During an event today at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., Results for America (RFA) unveiled its 2016 Federal Invest in What Works Index. The 2016 Index establishes a new standard of excellence for evidence-building at the federal level and highlights how federal leaders are using data and evidence effectively to drive budget, policy and management decisions, and ultimately improve lives. This Index details the “what works” architecture that federal departments and agencies must have in place to be able to use evidence and data to make our government more effective and efficient.
During today’s event, Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan delivered a keynote address highlighting the Obama Administration’s commitment to using data and evidence to drive policy decisions and address the nation’s challenges.
“Evidence-driven policy is an important part of the President’s larger vision of a modern, 21st Century government – one that taps emerging technology and innovation to help the Federal government better deliver for the American people,” said Shaun Donovan, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Leaders from agencies across the federal government highlighted their success and progress in developing and implementing evidence-based policies and programs. The 2016 Federal Invest in What Works Index is designed 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.
“Even in a time of political turmoil and growing distrust in government, there is a bipartisan movement promoting the use of evidence and data to get better results and improve the lives of young people, their families and communities. Our 2016 Federal Invest in What Works Index sets a new standard of excellence for evidence building at the federal level and shows the promise and the potential of a what works approach to policymaking,’’ said Michelle Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder of Results for America. “We applaud the seven federal agencies and departments highlighted in this year’s Index. Our next president’s charge is to meet this standard and exceed today’s progress by the end of his or her first term.”
The 2016 Federal Invest in What Works Index evaluates the efforts of the following seven federal departments and agencies, including:
- Administration for Children and Families (within HHS);
- Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS);
- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC); and
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
- U.S. Department of Education (ED);
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
The 2016 Index assigns a score of up to 10 points for federal agency progress in meeting 10 rigorous criteria, for a total score of up to 100. The Index highlights the extent to which agencies are:
- Building evidence about the practices, policies and programs that will achieve the most effective and efficient results so that policymakers can make better decisions;
- Investing limited taxpayer dollars in practices, policies and programs that use data, evidence and evaluation to demonstrate they work; and
- Directing funds away from practices, policies, and programs that consistently fail to achieve measurable outcomes.
Click here to learn more about the federal Index and to read previous years’ Indexes.
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. For more information about Results for America, click here.