The Colorado Lab partnered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to study how research evidence can be best used in policymaking to drive equitable opportunities in perinatal health. Authorized by SB21-194 (Maternal Health Providers), the study used a mixed methods approach, including expert interviews with state government, policy, community, and family leaders (see related blog post).
Four strategies were identified to reduce barriers to using data and strengthen evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) in support of policies that shape the lives of people who are pregnant and parenting.
To implement these recommendations, cross-system partners are encouraged to review and map the strategies to their roles to identify their piece of the puzzle. For instance, state agency leaders may want to focus on building infrastructure that improves access to important sources for quality research, while private entities may want to explore how they can make data more transparent.
CDPHE has also invited Drs. Courtney Everson and Lauren Gase to speak with Colorado leaders, changemakers, and data champions at the statewide Perinatal Data Summit on September 14th, to facilitate action planning around the data-informed strategies and inspire evidence use in policy.
To learn more, read the two-page top line policy summary and the full policy brief, Improving Perinatal Health for Colorado Families: Strategies to Advance Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Policymaking. For more information, please reach out to Dr. Courtney Everson.