The Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) is committed to evidence-based policymaking through advancing the use of research, evidence, implementation science, and benefit-cost analysis in state decision-making processes. OSPB is analyzing, documenting, and promoting strategies that are proven to work, while at the same time encouraging innovative new approaches paired with evaluation.
OSPB is committed to working with State agencies to improve the use of evidence-based policymaking to inform resource allocation, program design, and program implementation. Evaluations are essential to preserving the programs that work and reform the programs that are not achieving their intended outcomes. Since FY 2017-18, OSPB has awarded about $500,000 annually in grants to support State program implementation or evaluation of outcomes.
OSPB works with other Governor's Office components, state agencies, the legislature, and academic and non-governmental partners to promote the use of data and evidence to inform state policy, planning, and resource allocation.
Results for America:Colorado was recently recognized by Results for America as one of the leading states in the nation in connecting its budget to data and evidence for the second consecutive year. The state is focusing its resources on programs that are proven successes through data and research.
Pew: In the Summer of 2014, the Colorado Executive Branch and the General Assembly partnered with the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative to implement Results First in Colorado. The Evidence-Based Policy team in OSPB has reviewed programs in the areas of adult criminal justice, juvenile justice, child welfare, behavioral health, prevention, and health policy. The Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative works with Colorado and other states to implement an innovative cost-benefit analysis approach to state policy decision making.
NCSL: Colorado is a founding contributor to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ new Evidence-based policy center. Launching in the summer of 2020, this center will continue the great work started by Pew over a decade ago to advance the use of evidence in government. OSPB was invited, based on our respected track record of EBP, to join with colleagues from across the country to identify operational best practices, provide mentorship and advice, and formulate a how-to guide for states as they adopt evidence-based decision making.
Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab: The Colorado Lab is an innovative government-research partnership housed at the Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise at the University of Denver. The Colorado Lab works with state officials to evaluate public policies, design improvements to existing programs, and pilot new interventions intended to benefit Colorado residents. Modeled after other existing labs across America, policy labs are government-research partnerships that seek to integrate evaluation into policymaking by pairing experienced researchers with state and local officials in order to study problems and scale proven solutions.
Evidence-Based Policymaking Resources
There are many steps involved in the evidence-based policymaking process, from program selection to measuring program outcomes. Ensuring that the best programs are available, at the right time, and to the right people is essential to ensuring positive results. Resources are available to support program success, some of which are listed below. These resources may not be exhaustive and are not specifically endorsed by the Office of State Planning and Budgeting.
Pay for Success: Under a Pay for Success contract, a state or local government commits to paying for a service based on outcomes and impact, measured rigorously by an independent evaluator. The model may be accompanied by some version of Pay For Success financing, with foundations and/or impact investors providing up-front project financing, funding a service provider, or providers. Through a contract, a government may commit to repaying these funders if the intervention achieves key outcomes (for instance, a reduction in recidivism or justice system-involvement, or improvements in school performance) for the target population, as measured by the evaluator. Click here for the latest Pay for Success report.
Results First Reports: Results First leverages the best available research on programs that demonstrate their effects and pairs this with state-specific population and cost data to estimate the costs and potential benefits of programs. OSPB works with state departments, the Judicial Branch, and counties throughout Colorado to identify programs that are operating throughout the state and gathers data for the model. This collaborative approach ensures that the best data available is used. Once the model has been run, the team completes reports for Colorado’s Governor, the Colorado State Legislature, and the general public. These reports are available to help policymakers and decision-makers compare programs among policy areas to better target future resources. For OSPB Implementation and Evaluation Grant Funding Opportunity, please click here. For Results First Reports, please click here.
Additional Information
Lauren Larson | Director
The Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting
200 East Colfax, Room 111, Denver, Colorado 80203
