Data Labs Announces Participating States For Their Second-Annual Cohort
Six states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Nevada, and West Virginia, will embark on a nine-month program pursuing data projects to address safety net benefits, workforce transitions, and student outcomes
Data Labs, a collaboration between the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University and the National Governors Association (NGA), today kicks off their second-annual cohort. Composed of cross-functional teams from six state governments—Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Nevada, and West Virginia—the cohort will embark on a nine-month program that offers hands-on support to develop a thoughtfully-designed data project intended to improve government services and the lives of residents.
“We are excited to welcome Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Nevada, and West Virginia into the Data Labs program,” said Lynn Overmann, Executive Director of the Beeck Center. “We are thrilled to work with these innovative state leaders, alongside NGA, as they hone data-informed solutions across a diverse range of challenges that will make tangible improvements in programs that will help accelerate mobility and opportunity for their residents.”
State teams will have access to human-centered design and data-sharing subject matter experts, project management, and one-on-one support through a dedicated program manager as they pursue data-sharing projects in one of three areas:
- Safety Net Benefits: Improving access to and administration of programs that support families and children such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and Unemployment Insurance (UI).
States focusing on safety net benefits include Connecticut and Minnesota.
- Workforce Transitions: Improving pathways to employment and increasing access to career opportunities.
States focusing on workforce transitions include Colorado, Nevada, and West Virginia.
- Student Outcomes: Improve student progress and outcomes by using state longitudinal education data from preschool to college. .
States focusing on student outcomes include Arizona.
“NGA is pleased to work with the Beeck Center to help states better use data to improve their safety net, workforce, and education programs,” said Tim Blute, Director of NGA’s Center for Best Practices. “By assisting this diverse group of states, NGA and the Beeck Center will support governors who are focused on delivering more effective services for the individuals in their states.”
This year’s Data Labs program comes on the heels of a successful inaugural cohort in 2021 which led eight states through data-driven projects that addressed challenges related to higher education, housing and homelessness, small businesses, and workforce. More information on the inaugural cohort can be found in the Data Labs Playbook.
The second-annual Data Labs program will run through October 2023. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/data-labs to learn more.
About the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation
The Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University brings together students, expert practitioners, and extended networks to work on projects that solve societal challenges using data, design, technology, and policy. An anchor of Georgetown’s Tech and Society network, its projects test new ways for public and private institutions to leverage data and analytics, digital technologies, and service design to help more people. For more information, please visit beeckcenter.georgetown.edu.
About the National Governors Association
The National Governors Association (NGA)—the bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors—promotes visionary state leadership, shares best practices and speaks with a collective voice on national policy. Founded in 1908, NGA is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative state solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. NGA also provides management and technical assistance to both new and incumbent governors.
Press Contact:
Joanna Rosholm, Original Strategies
beeckcenter@originalstrategies.com