Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Description:

Across the nation, government leaders are using evidence—both from rigorous evaluation and internal performance management systems—to identify effective programs and practices that yield the greatest return on investment for their jurisdiction. Known as evidence-based policymaking, this approach has enabled governments to improve public outcomes, reduce costs, and increase accountability. However, to date there has been no comprehensive study that assesses the degree to which states are engaged in this type of work.

To fill this gap, the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative (Results First) conducted a study on the extent to which all 50 states and the District of Columbia are taking concrete steps to support evidence-based policymaking. Based on a multi-step framework developed by Results First in 2014, this study examines and quantifies state-enacted laws (statutes, codes, and executive orders) and implemented practices that demonstrate that the state is reviewing available evidence to estimate the effectiveness and return on investment of state-funded programs and using this evidence to inform budget and funding decisions. The study assesses these efforts across four policy areas—adult criminal justice, juvenile justice, child welfare, and behavioral health—through five indicators of evidence-based policymaking: (1) setting formal definitions of evidence-based programs; (2) creating comprehensive program inventories; (3) conducting comparative benefit-cost program analyses; (4) reporting key outcomes and research findings in budget materials; (5) and targeting funding to evidence-based programs.

This first of its kind national study is based on a review of over 4,000 thousand laws and practices, which were vetted and supplemented through a survey of over 200 state agencies across all 50 states and the District of Columbia (response rate of 75% for studied policy areas) and dozens of interviews with state agency leadership and staff.

Presenters will discuss trends in evidence-based policymaking across states and policy areas, identify challenges and successes to implementing this approach, and highlight promising practices.