State Chief Data Officers Network

States know that data is a strategic asset and that they have great potential to unlock it for public good — for example, to integrate data across social service agencies in order to serve children and teens with complex needs, reduce homelessness, or respond more quickly to natural and public health disasters.

New tools and technologies like artificial intelligence and predictive analytics that are driven by data are also emerging in state government, and both the applications and implications of them aren’t fully understood. While several states have established Chief Data Officers (CDOs) to advance the use and management of data, many states still lack the senior technical leadership to (1) leverage the data they already have to better target services, and (2) use ongoing data collection to test different strategies and scale what works. The State Chief Data Officers Network will provide expert support for state efforts to utilize data to deliver better outcomes.

There are many challenges for responsible data use in state government. These include legal, technical, and cultural issues, and there are few resources that exist to document which approaches work or don’t. This project will address how state leaders can be better informed when they establish a CDO role, where existing CDOs can go to obtain support or find best practices, and what a high-functioning state data program looks like.

Related Reports

Open Data for Economic Recovery: A Guidebook for States

Leveraging Data for Economic Recovery: A Roadmap for States

An essential element of planning for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is taking into account the ways in which separate social programs interact with one another to avoid changing one system and overburdening another. States should lean heavily on data to make these difficult decisions on the path toward economic recovery. By using data to inform policy and improve public understanding of pathways out of poverty, states can efficiently and effectively lead the way to improve economic mobility for their residents.

screenshot of Maryland Department of Health website

7 Ways to Boost Data Impact in Response to the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every state and illuminates the critical role data plays in their response efforts. The members of the State Chief Data Officers Network, which consists of 25 state Chief Data Officers across the country, are stepping up to support their states’ efforts to use data.