Sustaining the Evidence-Based Movement in a Time of Retrenchment: Research Partnerships with States and Nonprofits

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Abstract

As the federal government disinvests in research, evaluation, and data collection, the future of the decades-long movement to advance evidence-based policy and practice will likely rest much more heavily with robust partnerships between researchers and states, local government, and the nonprofit community. Fortunately, many of these partnerships exist and have developed effective partnership structures and track records of results that can be models for new and expanded initiatives. 

This roundtable will feature representatives from research-practice and research-policy partnerships led by state government entities and by nonprofit organizations, by a former senior official in the North Carolina Governor’s office, and by a leader from a nonprofit research and evaluation firm. They will discuss the unique value and special qualities of successful research-practice partnerships, what various types of partnerships have accomplished, and strategies for expanding them, particularly during this time of federal disinvestment. 

This proposal stems from roundtables that Jenni Owen and John Hutchins have organized at each APPAM conference since 2009 on the growth in the use of evidence in education and social policymaking. Topics thus far have included examining the staying power of evidence-based policymaking during tight budget times; the challenge of “scaling up” evidence-based programs; the politics of evidence-based policymaking in states and localities; the opportunities presented by successful policymaker-researcher collaborations; and reporting on research in an age of political polarization. 

This session is an ideal fit with the conference theme, “Forging Collaborations for Transformative and Resilient Policy Solutions.” Cross-sector partnerships to use evidence for policy solutions are more critical than ever. The panelists bring deep expertise and practical insight for making the most of a challenging phase in the movement to use evidence to improve policy and practice.

Policy Area

• Politics, Media, and the Policy Process

Moderator

• John Edward Hutchins, MDRC

Organizer

• John Edward Hutchins, MDRC

Speakers

• Jared Barnett, Slingshot Memphis

• John M. Martinez, MDRC

• Michael P Meotti, Washington Student Achievement Council

• Jenni W. Owen, Duke University