In 2014, the Results First™ initiative identified a framework consisting of five key components of evidence-based policymaking: program assessment, budget development, implementation oversight, outcome monitoring, and targeted evaluation. Taking into consideration and implementing one or more of these components can help states and counties use the framework in ways that yield meaningful changes for their communities.

State and county leaders can carefully direct limited resources to rigorously assess the effectiveness of select programs. This is known as targeted evaluation. They can then use the information to decide when to scale up programs that work, when to scale back those that don’t, and when to improve those that show potential.

Strategy: Build internal capacity to support impact evaluations

• Washington State Data Warehouse Fosters Comprehensive, Frequent Program Evaluations (2018)
• How States Use Data to Inform Decisions: A National Review of the Use of Administrative Data to Improve State Decision-Making (2018)

Strategy: Develop partnerships with external research entities

• Wisconsin Researchers Work With State and Local Agencies to Evaluate Programs (2018)

The Results First™ initiative, a project supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, authored the publications in this collection.

Click here to return to the Evidence-Based Policymaking Resource Center five key components information page.