March 15, 2016Event Recap

Building State and Local Capacity for Evidence-Based Policymaking: How can the Federal Government Help?

Federal/Local/ Local Government Fellows/ 2016/

How can federal policy help state and local leaders use evidence to improve outcomes for children, families and communities? How should state and local policymakers navigate new federal laws that include significant requirements and resources for evidence-based approaches, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act?

Results for America and the William T. Grant Foundation shared how to successfully implement evidence-based policies in the social sector at the state and local levels, and how the federal government can help on Wednesday, March 30, 2016. The event titled “Building State and Local Capacity for Evidence-Based Policymaking: How Can the Federal Government Help?” had a packed room at the Russell Senate Office Building.

Featured speakers at the event:

  • Allison Blake, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services
  • Ron Haskins, Co-Director, Center on Children and Families, The Brookings Institution
  • Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder, Results for America
  • Ruth Lopez Turley, Founder, National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships
  • Vivian Tseng, Vice President, Program, William T. Grant Foundation

Two reports released at the event provide important examples and insights to inform federal efforts over the next several years:

“Local Government’s Use of Evidence in Policymaking: A Report of the First Cohort of Results for America’s Local Government Fellowship”

A Results for America report detailing the accomplishments of 11 cities participating in RFA’s Local Government Fellowship Program. Each city made important progress in building and using evidence in policies and programs city-wide. Together, these jurisdictions collectively include nearly 19 million people. Read it here.

“Evidence at the Crossroads” Blog Series

The William T. Grant Foundation also released “Evidence at the Crossroads,” a compendium of 11 blogs authored by leading experts in federal, state, and local policy outlining their vision for evidence-based policymaking in the next five years. Read more here.