With recent passage of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, the federal government has taken an important step forward. In addition to strengthening privacy protections and improving secure data access, the act directs agencies to develop evidence-building plans, establish Evaluation Officers, and coordinate evidence-building activities across agencies. But while the federal government’s push for evidence-building is important, we will not arrive at stronger policy if the evidence is not used.
At this forum participants will gain new insight into the use of research evidence. Through presentations and extensive Q and A periods, participants will be challenged to push their thinking beyond evidence building and dissemination to systems-wide approaches to evidence use.
Annette Boaz, eminent international expert, will discuss lessons from around the world in her new book, What Works Now: Evidence-informed Policy and Practice. U.S. researchers and their policy partners will share concrete examples of evidence use. Lauren Supplee and Charisse Johnson will talk about the partnership between the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, and the Office of Family Assistance. Taylor Scott and Max Crowley, Penn State University, and Emily Douglas, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, will present on the Research-to-Policy Collaboration Model.