Making Good Things Happen
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Evaluator’s Work with Policymakers and the Legislative Decision-Making Process by Calista H. Smith
With Ohio’s Election Day on March 17th, it is a good reminder of the roles we all play in our democracy and public policy process. Below are some lessons we at Scale learned as evaluators working with policy makers. We initially shared some of these thoughts as a contributor to the American Evaluation Association AEA365blog in 2017 .
Lessons Learned:
• Legislative processes may influence your evaluation design and timeline. Publicly sponsored projects may have reporting deadlines written into legislation or their funding streams may be subject to annual budgeting reviews. Projects sponsored by private philanthropy may also be influenced by the legislative cycle as findings may be helpful to craft or change public policy.
• Policymakers may get data and information from a variety of sources. It was common for a policymaker to have visited a program site or talked extensively with program champions. Program critics may also be vocal to policymakers. External criticism may be based on program perceptions (rooted in experiences or in ideology), or a sense of competition for resources. Your evaluation data will need to be clear and easily accessible to cut through what may be noise.
• You may need various reports of the same analysis. For one evaluation, we produced a one pager of highlights for quick reference by high level administrators and officials, a 6-page summary of lessons to insert in a public annual report, and a full technical report with more detailed explanation of methodology and data for staffers and stakeholders.
Suggestions for Evaluators in Public Policy:
• Spend time refining research questions related to what legislative decision-makers want to or should know regarding the project and related policies.
• Regardless of the scope of your program evaluation, identify what policies and funding streams impact the program. This understanding helps you to gain clarity on who the stakeholders are and their interests and constraints.
• In your evaluation design, consider legislative timelines. Think about what data you may be able to reasonably collect, analyze, and report to provide insights to legislators in line with the legislative decision-making process.
• Encourage your client to think independently from your evaluation about courses of productive action they may take if findings are less favorable than expected. Consider building in extra review time for analysis so that the client can process data and determine how to make lessons actionable or identify questions that may emerge from policymakers about the results or the evaluation approach.
Resources:
• The National Conference of State Legislators has a Program Evaluation Society for its state policy staff members. It is helpful to see what materials policy staff members may reference when they would like to implement or review an evaluation.
• On the federal level, the National Data Coalition has been keeping track of efforts related to the Foundation for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act which has promoted increased use of research and evaluation in policymaking.
• You may map out stakeholder interests, including policymaker’s interest, in your evaluations in a” Power/interest matrix.”
Organizations working in education, health, and social services often face complex challenges. No single group can solve these issues alone. Public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropy must work together to create lasting impact. Strong collaboration depends on trust. Trust is not automatic. It must be built with intention over time. At Scale Strategic Solutions, we have supported partnerships across sectors. These experiences show that trust is the foundation of effective collaboration. To support this work, we use a simple framework. DECIPHER Your Relationships and Communication This framework helps partners build and maintain trust. D – Dialogue-driven Trust starts with conversation. Partners need open and ongoing communication. Everyone should have a chance to share ideas and concerns. Regular dialogue helps partners stay aligned. E – Equitable Each partner should benefit from the collaboration. Organizations bring different strengths and resources. Fair exchange matters. Respect each partner’s role, capacity, and perspective. C – Clear Clarity prevents confusion. Define roles, responsibilities, and expectations early. Make sure commitments are easy to understand and act on. Clear agreements reduce conflict. I – Iterative Trust builds over time. Start small and follow through. Use feedback to improve the partnership. Learn together and adjust as needed. P – Purpose-aligned Partners need a shared mission. Clear goals keep everyone focused. When challenges arise, shared purpose helps guide decisions. Alignment around outcomes keeps the work moving forward. H – Honest Collaborators must be transparent and truthful with each other. Address challenges early. Set clear boundaries when needed. Honest communication builds respect. E – Engaged Partners must stay actively involved. Engagement means more than attending meetings. It shows commitment to the work and the relationship. The collaboration has to be beyond transactional. R – Reliable All partners need to own and follow through on commitments. Consistency builds confidence. Accountability strengthens the partnership over time. When commitments do not come to fruition, the responsible party assumes ownership and takes corrective action. Partners also balance shared accountability with shared grace. From Principles to Practice Trust building is a practical skill. We must approach it intentionally and consistently. Communication routines, project management practices, and relationship-building opportunities help hone those skills that reinforce the trust. Trust does not happen by chance. It requires effort and consistency. Use the DECIPHER framework to guide your partnerships. Build trust. Strengthen relationships. Create lasting impact.
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In today’s data-driven world, local health departments (LHDs) play a critical role in shaping community health and advancing equity. Yet, to do this effectively, they need more than just national trends, they need access to localized, granular data that reflects the real conditions on the ground. Data sharing is not only a technical challenge but a strategic community-focused practice. When LHDs collaborate with community organizations such as schools, hospitals, social service agencies and law enforcement, they unlock new pathways to address public health challenges more effectively. Local data allows communities to identify emerging health threats, evaluate the impact of programs, and understand how the Social Determinants of Health influence well-being. Scale Strategic Solutions, in partnership with D.E.E.P. Consultants and Strategik513, is proud to announce the development of a robust, strategic roadmap designed to support public health professionals in leveraging data to improve population health outcomes and reduce disparities. Our team of subject matter experts collaborated closely with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and local health departments to gain firsthand insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding data sharing practices. This discovery process informed the creation of two key resources aimed at building data capacity in the field. The "Increasing Data Sharing Capacity for Local Health Departments" asynchronous training, alongside the complementary Data Sharing Resource Guide , are now available on NACCHO University , the organization’s online learning platform. At Scale, we are committed to advancing the culture of data sharing within public health ecosystems. These resources were developed to meet practitioners where they are, offering flexible, high-impact tools to drive meaningful improvements in health equity and data-driven decision-making. If your organization is interested in learning more or would benefit from a customized training solution tailored to your specific data sharing needs, we invite you to contact us . Together, we can empower local health leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to transform data into action.
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