Publications

2024
Jane Wiseman and Katie O'Toole. 3/2024. Reimagining Vital Records: A Digital, Interoperable, & Timely Public Health Data Infrastructure. Washington, DC: Data Foundation. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Report provides recommendations to create a more modern and accurate vital records system, and is based on expert interviews and panel discussions. 
3/2024. “Using Generative AI in Government: Reflections on Public Service”.Abstract
This article reflects on the author's time in public service and suggests how the role could be made more efficient with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI).
how_id_use_genai_in_government_today.pdf
2/2024. Targeting Support to Families at Greatest Risk: Case study of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Predictive Risk Model for Child Abuse and Neglect.Abstract
Vital records such as those of births and deaths are among the mundane ways that government records events and tracks data.  Yet these universal data sources can be an untapped resource for finding trends and patters that help improve public health.  An excellent example is the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which uses data from birth records to prioritize prevention services to the families of children at highest risk of abuse or neglect. Using predicted risk scores, the county created a universal family support program and offered services tailored to individual family needs, with emphasis on reaching those at greatest risk.  This case study describes the Hello Baby program and how it uses predictive risk scores to help families most at risk.
allegheny_county_hello_baby_case_study.pdf
1/2024. Case study of Massachusetts Public Health Data Warehouse.Abstract
This case study profiles the work of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create an integrated data warehouse to provide insight into the causes of opioid overdoses.  This cross-agency data sharing is exemplary in its design for the way it protects privacy while generating insight from individual level data linked across sources.
massachusetts_public_health_data_warehouse.pdf
2022
11/2022. Civic Data Analytics: Lessons from Pioneers and the Way Forward.Abstract
This report traces the first years of the Civic Analytics Network of urban Chief Data Officers, and profiles lessons learned from leading cities in the use of data to solve urgent urban problems.  Recommendations for other cities provide a path forward that builds on insights gained from pioneering cities. 
civic_data_analytics_lessons_from_pioneers.pdf
11/2022. Leading with data and innovation: Louisville case study .Abstract
This case study describes how the city of Louisville has developed a culture of innovation by leveraging data and technology and creating a culture of curiosity and experimentation. 
louisville_case_study.pdf
10/31/2022. City of San José: Closing Equity Gaps with Data.Abstract
This case study describes how the City of San Jose developed and used a data-driven approach to identifying equity gaps in key city services, and developed capacity in the data team as well as among city managers to use data to drive improved service for the public. 
san_jose_case_study.pdf
9/8/2022. Accelerating Government Innovation With Leadership and Stimulus Funding. IBM Center for the Business of Government.Abstract
This paper provides practical tips for leaders and managers in government to unleash untapped innovation in their organizations, and makes the case that the federal stimulus, with trillions of dollars for economic, infrastructure and climate projects presents a once in a generation opportunity for change.
2021
11/9/2021. “Building a Diverse Workforce in Law Enforcement .” National Police Foundation. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Blog post in National Police Foundation series "On Policing" summarizes reserach on widening the net of interested recruits to law enforcement and identifying new audiences so that a more diverse force can be achieved. 
11/2021. “Advice to a public official responsible for stimulus funds:Create a bold vision and roadmap, celebrate every success, and tell your story”. stimulus_funding_recommendtions.pdf
10/2021. Law Enforcement Recruitment:Research-based Recommendations.Abstract
This policymaker summary provides police executives and recruiters with actionable insight from a review of recent scholarly and policy literature on recruiting for diversity in law enforcement.  The summary draws on previously published work by the author found here.
police_recruiting_policymaker_summary_oct_2021.pdf
8/2021. Recruiting for Diversity in Law Enforcement: Selected Recent Research Insights.Abstract
Law enforcement recruitment has faced challenges in attracting a diverse candidate pool.  Recent research sheds light on some approaches police leaders and recruiters can take in widening the net of interested candidates and identifying new talent pools to draw from. 
police_recruiting_research_summary_august_2021.pdf
4/15/2021. Campaign for Criminal Justice Data Modernization. Arnold Ventures. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Arnold Ventures convened a group of experts to develop recommendations for the Biden administration to improve the quality and availability of criminal justice data for research and evidence based policymaking.  I facilitated the expert sessions and wrote the report. 
Stephen Goldsmith Jane and Wiseman. 3/9/2021. “Data-Driven Ways to Maximize City Budgets Post-Pandemic.” DataSmart City Solutions. Publisher's VersionAbstract
This article, originally published in GovTech provides recommendations to state and local government for using data to make more strategic budget decisions post-pandemic.
3/2021. “Roundtable on Improving Criminal Justice Data: Recommendations Considered by Expert Panelists ”.Abstract

In late 2020, Arnold Ventures convened a series of roundtable discussions wtih over two dozen criminal justice experts from a variety of disciplines to explore ideas to improve the quality and availability of criminal justice data for research and evidence-based policy making. The goal was to address the challenge that too often, criminal justice data is incomplete, inaccurate, out of date, or inaccessible to researchers and policy makers. This document includes recommendations considered at the roundtable sessions. The first session, held on November 19, 2020 addressed recommendations to improve federal data collection. The second session, held on December 10, 2020 addressed recommendations focused on data collected and used primarily at the state and local level.  Deliberations at these sessions culminated in a report, “Campaign for Criminal Justice Modernization: Because the Road to Reform is Paved by Data.”

recommendations_considered_at_roundtable_sessions.pdf
3/2021. State of the Nation’s Federal Justice Statistics.Abstract

As a companion to the report, “Campaign for Criminal Justice Modernization: Because the Road to Reform is Paved by Data,” this report describes the current situation and the need for additional investment in the nation’s federal criminal justice data and statistical infrastructure.  This report is based on the input of experts, a review of federal justice statistics funding and activity, and best practices for data and digital services in government. 

state_of_the_nations_federal_cj_statistics_2021.pdf
2020
12/10/2020. “Eight Keys to Accelerating Government Data Innovation.” IBM Center for the Business of Government. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Insights from case studies of inter-governmental data sharing, a set of ideas about what can precipitate or accelerate success and factors that create momentum for data sharing.
12/8/2020. “Two Models for Successful Intergovernmental Data Sharing.” IBM Center for the Business of Government . Publisher's VersionAbstract
Two models characterize how intergovernmental data sharing efforts are led and managed - one is primarily led and managed by employees who are inside government and the other is typically led at the policy level by government staff but at the operational level executed by collaborating third party intermediaries, such as a university, a think tank, a research organization or a data standards organization.
12/2020. Silo Busting: The Challenges and Success Factors for Sharing Intergovernmental Data. IBM Center for the Business of Government. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Today, there is a growing understanding of the power of data integration to solve vexing and entrenched public problems and the value of seeing the whole person across their many touchpoints in public service systems.  Yet, true inter-governmental data sharing is rare.  This publication shares case studies of successful data sharing across the "silos" of government to deliver more customer-centric and effective service, along with recommendations to increase diffusuion of successful models. 
11/2020. “Getting Value from Workforce Stimulus Investments: What Works in Youth Workforce Programs and How to Grow the Evidence Base.” Ash Center, Harvard Kennedy School. Publisher's Version

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