Our Essential Elements

We conduct research with rigor to obtain the best available evidence to address Colorado’s most pressing social problems and improve the lives of Coloradans. To do this, we build relationships, work to understand and reform systems, and collaborate with partners to take action. With these Essential Elements guiding our collaborative efforts to improve the lives of Coloradans, our goal is to leverage data to inform policy and practice, set the wheels in motion to achieve and sustain change, and position our partners to pursue additional, meaningful change for the communities they serve.

Hover over any bubble to reveal more information: each bubble represents a data point, and hovering on it will provide additional details.

Relationship Prioritize Relationships
Early on, we learned the importance of meeting our government and community partners where they are. We listen carefully, supporting them to unpack ideas and gain insights on the factors—big and small—that might serve to accelerate or shut down learning, improvement, and change efforts. These actions require trust, which is why our top priority—always—is relationships.
Relationship Learn Toghether
Part of relationship building is learning together with our government and community partners about the data and actions needed to move the needle toward desired outcomes. Using the Colorado Steps to Building Evidence model, we support our partners in moving their program, initiative, or collaboration to the evidence level needed to achieve their goals.
Relationship Bridge to the Research Community
We host a trusted community of subject matter and methods experts who help us be responsive to the needs and goals of our government and community partners. We prioritize capacity building within our own team and the broader research community so that we are always providing quality support.
System Apply Rigor
The rigor of our work is just one of the things that gives our government and community partners the confidence to make informed decisions that drive action. Rigor means employing the appropriate analytic design based on the question and goals, being systematic and transparent in approach, and asking challenging questions.

What is rigor and why is it important?

System Make Connections
As an independent, neutral third party, we are in a unique position to make connections within agencies, between agencies, and across branches of government. We also help support connections between state and local government and community partners. Whether these connections involve linking data systems, aligning program implementation, or combining resources to achieve a common goal, the Colorado Lab can help.
System Risk for Reward
We recognize that tackling problems that cross systems and involve multiple stakeholders is a long game. We approach this work with patience and a sense of urgency that keeps things moving. The decision-making priorities of our partners anchor us and we celebrate both incremental successes and substantial gains.
Action Activate Findings
The goal of every Colorado Lab project is meaningful, timely action. We generate research evidence to inform practice and policy decisions. We learn together with our partners, candidly and continuously discussing the data and building the structures and processes needed to support sustained change.
Action Sustain Change
When the essential elements are implemented—from building relationships with our government and community partners to learning together as we conduct research with rigor, leveraging data to inform policy and practice, and intentionally activating findings—we increase the chance that our findings will be actionable, successfully implemented, and sustainable.
Prioritize Relationships Relationship
Early on, we learned the importance of meeting our government and community partners where they are. We listen carefully, supporting them to unpack ideas and gain insights on the factors—big and small—that might serve to accelerate or shut down learning, improvement, and change efforts. These actions require trust, which is why our top priority—always—is relationships.
Learn Toghether Relationship
Part of relationship building is learning together with our government and community partners about the data and actions needed to move the needle toward desired outcomes. Using the Colorado Steps to Building Evidence model, we support our partners in moving their program, initiative, or collaboration to the evidence level needed to achieve their goals.
Bridge to the Research Community Relationship
We host a trusted community of subject matter and methods experts who help us be responsive to the needs and goals of our government and community partners. We prioritize capacity building within our own team and the broader research community so that we are always providing quality support.
Apply Rigor System
The rigor of our work is just one of the things that gives our government and community partners the confidence to make informed decisions that drive action. Rigor means employing the appropriate analytic design based on the question and goals, being systematic and transparent in approach, and asking challenging questions.

What is rigor and why is it important?

Make Connections System
As an independent, neutral third party, we are in a unique position to make connections within agencies, between agencies, and across branches of government. We also help support connections between state and local government and community partners. Whether these connections involve linking data systems, aligning program implementation, or combining resources to achieve a common goal, the Colorado Lab can help.
Risk for Reward System
We recognize that tackling problems that cross systems and involve multiple stakeholders is a long game. We approach this work with patience and a sense of urgency that keeps things moving. The decision-making priorities of our partners anchor us and we celebrate both incremental successes and substantial gains.
Activate Findings Action
The goal of every Colorado Lab project is meaningful, timely action. We generate research evidence to inform practice and policy decisions. We learn together with our partners, candidly and continuously discussing the data and building the structures and processes needed to support sustained change.
Sustain Change Action
When the essential elements are implemented—from building relationships with our government and community partners to learning together as we conduct research with rigor, leveraging data to inform policy and practice, and intentionally activating findings—we increase the chance that our findings will be actionable, successfully implemented, and sustainable.