To apply to NASHP’s Learning Lab: Healthy People, Healthy States — Addressing Health Disparities, please complete this brief application.
Applications due: August 8, 2023
Selected states notified: Week of August 14, 2023
Learning Lab begins: Virtual kickoff meeting late August, 2023
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is seeking state applications to participate in its virtual Addressing Health Disparities Learning Lab, a multi-state technical assistance opportunity that will support states in data-driven policymaking approaches to address health disparities. Participating states will engage in robust discussions with peer states advanced in their health disparities data approaches; have peer-to-peer exchange of best practices, opportunities, and challenges; and receive expert support in developing and implementing action plans to meet their own data goals.
Up to five states will be selected for participation in the Learning Lab. Teams of state officials from selected states will participate in a six-month project that informs and supports progress on state-specific data strategies. This opportunity will feature a deep dive into Indiana and Utah’s comprehensive data strategies to identify and address health disparities. Through three roundtable discussions with Indiana and Utah’s health data policy leaders, participating states will learn about their approach to data collection, data completeness and accuracy, analytics, and IT process, as well as how the states foster key partnerships and strategically manage data-informed policy around Indiana’s Equity Data Portal, and Utah’s uniform data collection standards for race and ethnicity information. Participating states will meet virtually with the Indiana and Utah teams beginning late August, 2023, followed by two virtual work sessions with the Indiana and Utah teams (and additional subject matter experts as indicated) to develop and execute tailored action steps to meet their state’s data goals. NASHP will also draw lessons and best practices from states featured in the “Healthy People, Healthy States: Promising Practices to Address Health Disparities” resource.
Possible focus areas for participating states include:
- Data collection, sources, and quality (completeness and accuracy)
- Data sharing
- Data disaggregation by key demographic variables
- Data analytics
- Data strategies for implementing policies and programs
- Outcome metrics, continuous improvement, and evaluation (including payment strategies)
- Governance, leadership, and key partner engagement
Participating states may use this opportunity to focus on any state-specific population or initiative involving a data strategy to address health disparities. State team’s work in the proposed project may complement (and not duplicate or detract from) ongoing work in the state.
Informational Webinars
Interested state teams are encouraged to participate in an informational webinar. Registration is available on the following dates:
- Monday July 17 at 1 p.m. ET — Register for the July 17 webinar.
- Monday July 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET — Register for the July 24 webinar.
What Will States Gain during the Learning Lab?
Each state team will receive technical support during a six-month period starting in August 2023. The Learning Lab will provide state officials with opportunities to learn from states with comprehensive data strategies, peer-to-peer discussion, targeted support on their state policy goals, and access to national experts. NASHP staff will work with selected states to:
- Develop a tailored state workplan to achieve project-specific goals within the context of each participating state’s unique policy environment
- Receive technical assistance through three in-depth discussions with Indiana and Utah, additional subject matter experts, peer-to-peer exchange, and through written resources
At the end of the Learning Lab, state teams will have made tangible progress in advancing their data-driven policymaking approaches to address health disparities strategies.
State Team Composition
State applicants may identify a core team of up to seven state officials to participate in the Learning Lab, which should include state officials leading work at the health policy and data nexus. All teams will include decision-makers in health and human services such as, but not limited to, Medicaid, department of health/public health, cross-agency data policy leads, and other human and social services leads.
Participating state teams will engage in the following activities:
- A virtual kickoff convening
- Development of a state-specific strategic work plan to guide each state team’s work during the Learning Lab
- Two virtual convenings with Indiana, Utah, and peer states for in-depth technical assistance and monthly calls with NASHP (and other experts as indicated) to support execution of the workplan
- A wrap-up virtual convening in which state teams share progress on their strategic work plans and receive technical support to complete plan execution
To Apply
To apply, please fill out this brief application. Applications should be emailed to Josh Rohrer (jrohrer@nashp.org) by August 8, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET.
About NASHP
NASHP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with over three decades of experience in helping state policymakers lead. NASHP provides expertise, convenes states, shares innovations and best practices, and supports state policymakers in making concrete and sustainable health system reform.
The Addressing Health Disparities Learning Lab is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
