Using data to drive action
We give our partners the confidence to make informed decisions that drive action. Visit our project pages to see how the Colorado Lab supports our partners in tackling their most difficult challenges.
We are the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab
We work with government and community partners to create data-informed solutions to Colorado’s most pressing problems. Learn more about how we leverage data for meaningful action.
What We Do
Projects
We support our partners in tackling challenges across issue areas, from early childhood to housing to physical and behavioral health.
Evidence-Based Decision Making
Policy and budget decisions are not made using research evidence alone. Evidence-Based Decision Making recognizes that decision-makers’ expertise and community needs and context are also important.
Evidence-Building Hubs
Evidence-building hubs reduce the state’s administrative burden by managing evaluation teams. Hubs align and support actionability of findings across projects.
Linked Information Network of Colorado
LINC is a data integration collaborative based out of the Governor’s Office of Information Technology that supports timely and cost-efficient research, evaluation, and analytics.
Work With Us
The Latest from the Colorado Lab
Learn more about our work through our blog, where we share the latest updates on projects, evidence-based decision making, partnership opportunities, and more.
Important Advancement for Notification of Substance Exposed Newborns
We’re shining a spotlight on an important advancement in caring for Colorado families affected by substance use during pregnancy. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires states have policies and procedures to address the needs of substance exposed newborns. This includes a process for health care providers to notify child welfare of the […]
HB24-1428 Implementation Support: Evidence-Based Designations in Budgeting
The Colorado Lab serves as the statewide Coordinating Entity for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Colorado state government. In this role, the Colorado Lab is providing strategic consultation to the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) and Joint Budget Committee (JBC) staff in collaboratively implementing House Bill (HB) 24-1428. This law requires an evidence designation […]
Family First Evidence-Building Hub: Annual Strategy Report
Colorado is making strong progress on implementation of its Five-Year Family First Prevention Services Plan. The plan is part of a broader strategy to further evolve the child welfare system to improve the safety and well-being of all children, youth, and families through a continuum of community-based prevention services and supports. The Colorado Lab serves […]
Released! Highly Anticipated Initial Findings for the Alternative Response Pilot for Adult Protective Service
Last month our first policy brief on initial outcomes of the Alternative Response Pilot was presented to the legislature by the Colorado Department of Human Services. Authorized by Senate Bill 21-118, the pilot provides an alternative pathway for Adult Protective Services (APS) to respond to reports of low-risk mistreatment and self-neglect. When allegations of self-neglect […]
Evidence Supports Making CAPABLE a Colorado Medicaid Benefit
We are excited to share our latest evaluation report, Colorado Community Aging in Place–Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) Evaluation. CAPABLE provides each program participant with a series of visits from an interdisciplinary team—made up of an occupational therapist, a registered nurse, and a handy worker—to improve their mobility, everyday functioning, and independence. This is […]
Improving Outcomes for Child Welfare-Separated Families through Family Time
A new report from the Colorado Lab provides evidence-backed recommendations to improve outcomes for families separated during child welfare involvement. Best Practices for Family Time in Colorado: A Data-Informed Approach to Drive Outcomes is based on a statewide study authorized by Colorado House Bill (HB) 23-1027 and conducted by the Colorado Lab in partnership with the High […]
Colorado Wage and Outcomes Results Coalition Grows Reach
The Colorado Wage Outcomes Results Coalition (WORC) is a data-sharing initiative created in response to a growing demand from workforce development programs to know what happens to their learners after program participation. Leveraging the Linked Information Network of Colorado to access Colorado Department of Labor and Employment data, WORC is unlocking administrative data previously unavailable to […]
New Projects Underway at the Colorado Lab
In this month’s newsletter we highlight several new projects underway at the Colorado Lab. We value the opportunity to work with each partner, meeting them where they are, listening carefully to their needs and insights, and supporting them in obtaining the best available evidence to innovate, achieve goals, and use their resources wisely. We wish […]
New Project: Early Childhood Workforce Evidence-Building Hub
An Early Childhood Workforce Evidence-Building Hub has been created at the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (Colorado Lab) to oversee all evidence-building work on behalf of a new grant the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) received from the Early Educator Investment Collaborative. This grant supports planning and implementation activities to increase and sustain increased […]
Evidence-Based Decision Making: Gearing Up for the New Legislative Session
We were honored to present earlier this month at the New Legislator Retreat for the incoming class of the Colorado General Assembly. The bipartisan event was hosted by Senators Chris Hansen (D) and Paul Lundeen (R), bringing together new legislators, Governor Polis, former legislative leaders, and others to build relationships and prepare for the new […]
Explore Our Resources and Projects
We champion transparency and cultivate innovation in Colorado and beyond by sharing our work. Access valuable insights in our resources and projects library.
