What Does it Take to Make Evidence-Based Policymaking Work?

Led by the Washington Evaluators and Co-Sponsored by the American Evaluation Association Evaluation Policy Topical Interest Group, May 5, 2:00 - 3:30pm ET

Look at the literature and you will discover there’s no widely shared definition of evidence-based policymaking. Through discussion, panelists will share their experiences with evidence-based policymaking – the what, the how, and the why. Collectively, a larger picture of what it takes to make evidence-based policymaking work will emerge, as the panelists describe the opportunities and challenges of building and maintaining a culture of evaluation.

Washington Evaluators in partnership with the American Evaluation Association’s Evaluation Policy Topical Interest Group (TIG) is excited to host a diverse panel of leaders with expertise in research, evaluation, policy, consultancy, as well as federal and state governments. Our panel will share their nonpartisan perspectives and focus on the following topics:

• Introducing new and emerging evaluators to the policymaking world.
• Understanding critical aspects, as well as implementing processes of evidence-based policymaking across different levels of government.
• Building and maintaining a culture that values evidence-based policymaking.
• Collecting quality evidence for improving programs and decision making.
• Considering multicultural validity for evaluative judgments across cultural differences.
• Collaborating and coordinating within and between all levels of government, agencies, organizations (e.g., academe) rather than build or maintain silos.
• Working with states on evidence-based policymaking from a consultancy perspective.

Following the facilitated discussion, attendees will have an opportunity to share questions and/or experiences concerning evidence-based policymaking.

Moderator: Rakesh Mohan, Director, Office of Performance Evaluations, Idaho State Legislature

Panelists:

• Jon Courtney, PhD; Deputy Director at the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee (LFC); Program Evaluation Unit
• Andy Feldman, PhD; Founder and Principal Consultant of the Center for Results-Focused Leadership
• Terell Lasane, PhD; US Government Accountability Office (GAO) Assistant Director of the Center for Evaluation Methods and Issues in the Applied Research Methods Team
• Meri Clare Ringer, MBA; Lead Analyst for the Mississippi Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER)
• Lana Rucks, PhD; Principal Consultant of The Rucks Group

If you have questions about this event, please email programs@washingtonevaluators.org.