Policy and Practice June 2017

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of incorporating data into day-to-day operations, and prioritizing security and confidentiality measures. The People Doing the Work Need Data Insight Health and human services agencies have the potential to access endless data about the people they serve and the programs they develop. Yet data are just data unless agencies know how to act on them. This demands a steady focus on outcomes, an ability to use technology rather than be limited by it, and a willingness to connect with stakeholders in new ways. The real game changer in con- verting analytics into outcomes in health and human services? Getting data quickly into the hands of the people doing the work. Reference Note 1. Accenture Public Service Emerging Technologies Research, June 2016 Debora Morris is the Managing Director of Growth and Strategy at Accenture. Joseph Fiorentino is the Managing Director of Health and Public Service at Accenture. social-serving systems have been shaped by our history. While the journey is not an easy one, it is one we can travel together. At APHSA, we look forward to continuing on that journey with you. Note: if you missed Dr. Christopher’s remarks, video recordings of the 2017 National Summit general sessions will be available at http://aphsa.org by early summer). Also, see Association News on page 26 for more from the 2017 National Summit.

exchanges between specific partners for specific purposes. Thanks to analytics approaches and digital platforms, rich data insight from multiple sources can be continu- ously and proactively shared across an entire ecosystem of organizations across sectors to improve levels of service and care. Ecosystems connect disparate organizations in a network of care to address the whole person through complementary strengths and resources. Connected by shared data, eco- systems are the future of health and human services delivery. Policymakers acknowledge the “network effect” of ecosystems to multiply outcomes. The OMB A-87 Cost Allocation Exception offers funding incentives that encourage states to build enter- prise ecosystem data management approaches that make data available across systems. Sharing data across an ecosystem is not without challenges for most agencies. Even with good intentions there may be legislative, process, cultural, and confidentiality barriers. Making progress will take adaptive leadership approaches and creative strategies. A critical part of this will be educating people about the value of sharing their data, designing methods something new for all of us. She spoke of “expanding our view” (what we might refer to in our framing work as “widening the lens”) to tell the stories of the survivors and the “thrivers.” In our zest to use data more effectively, she also cautions us to be careful because embedded in that big data is the legacy of our history. All of these points are at the heart of getting to the generative state of the Value Curve. At the generative level, root-cause analysis is done at the popula- tion level and requires us to understand not only our own communities, but the ways in which our public- and

perfect data culture, to deliver mean- ingful results quickly. With advances in data tools and platforms, agencies can start small, using advanced techniques, and get results faster. So instead of putting time and money immediately into infrastructure, agencies should focus on the data they have, using fast, inno- vative methods to extract value from it. The key is to use a business lens, identifying a specific business problem or question to address and then “work backwards” to determine the data insight needed to solve it. With this narrow focus, agencies can apply methods like rapid prototyping or rapid-cycle evaluation to reduce delivery time and improve services faster. These methods take weeks, not years, speeding insight to action. They are also highly adaptive, giving agencies newfound freedom to take risks and experiment with analytics. 3. Evolve to Ecosystems With a new data mindset that expands beyond compliance and the tools and methods to uncover ana- lytics insight faster, health and human services can pursue a new level of data sharing to drive outcomes. This goes beyond occasional, ad-hoc information and systems—drove this point home. While I cannot speak for others in the audience, I found myself reflecting deeply, both personally and profes- sionally, on her call to action for this nation. She spoke of the importance of creating a new American dream—a new vision of what we will be as a nation. We cannot simply modify the old vision, not when it is founded on a flawed premise of human value. Dr. Christopher notes that “it is not enough to have cathartic conversations of the horrors” endured by communi- ties of color in this nation—we must create the political will to move into

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