​Notice of Opportunity: Conference on Strategic Data Use

​Notice of Opportunity: Conference on Strategic Data Use

​Offerees:

​CoLab is a philanthropic partnership of the Constellation Fund and the Foundation for Educational Research and Development (FERD) to invest in evidence to inform funding and community efforts to strengthen and scale effective solutions in Minnesota and beyond. CoLab funds longitudinal evaluations and mixed-methods research of programs and policies to bolster upward mobility and thriving people, families, and communities. As a component of this work, CoLab works with state and local government to improve capabilities for and adoption of evaluation, data-use, and evidence-based policy-making.

​Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP), housed at the University of Pennsylvania, is a national leader in integrated data systems, data governance, and the ethical use of public data. Funded by state, local, and philanthropic partners, AISP coordinates a peer community of over 40 state and local efforts to facilitate knowledge sharing; supports a research exchange promoting cross-sector projects on shared policy priorities; and provides training and technical assistance to developing collaborations.

​Description of Event:

​Colab and AISP will host two convenings--an executive forum and staff workshops--bring together agency leaders, staff, and academic partners to discuss challenges and opportunities related to the strategic use of data for decision-making. This agenda for the events is being designed by national experts from an academic institution in partnership with state staff. The event will include:

• ​Presentations from national experts and peer states
• ​Best practices from research
• ​Facilitated sessions with State of Minnesota agency leaders to address shared data challenges ​

The goal of the event is to help agency leaders and staff move from identifying barriers to concrete steps to improve data use and evidence-based policy making.

What Is Being Offered:

The following elements of the conference are being offered to select state staff at no cost:

• Conference event facilitation
• Conference venue fees
• Speaker fees and travel costs (speakers include those from academic institutions, national roles, and other state/local government roles, both inside and outside of Minnesota)
• Light refreshments

Invitation of Offers:

Other parties interested in offering such a conference may contact Weston Merrick ( Weston.merrick@state.mn.us ) to discuss opportunities.