State Chief Data Officers manage a state’s data as a strategic asset to support decision making, enhance policies, and deliver services in a way that the public expects. This means ensuring that data are properly accounted for, designed and maintained for reuse, and put to their highest and best use. The Evolving Role of a State CDO: A Framework for Today provides a broad framework for what the CDO role should encompass and states should use this as a long term guide for the role. However, as states are nuanced, creating an effective CDO position requires decision-makers to address specific considerations to ensure it’s set up for success at the outset. 

This tip sheet outlines seven steps to to create a strong foundation for a CDO and a data-driven government.