The U.S. Senate Finance Committee Tuesday will explore a critical – yet often ignored – topic: the need for evidence-based programs to enhance social services.
Sound boring? Too esoteric? Let me explain why evidence-based policy represents the future of policy making.
For too long, government has been investing in programs that could be working or feel like they are working, without any rigorous evidence to prove they are working. As a result, we continue to see poor outcomes: stubbornly high poverty rates and rising income inequality, to name a few.
With evidence-based policy, we can raise the bar for government effectiveness and efficiency. Taxpayer resources will be invested wisely in the nation’s wellbeing. And residents will no longer waste time on programs that are not working. Instead, more often, they will receive services that we know work to help them get back on their feet.