LEVER Training Sprint: Policies & Practices to Sustain Equitable Recovery
Applications are open from February 6-March 11, 2024. Apply today!
Training Sprint Overview
State and local government leaders are working to strengthen community resilience in the face of Covid-19’s effects. Results for America and J-PAL North America are supporting state and local governments in their use of data, evaluation, and evidence in order to advance economic mobility and racial equity for generations to come.
As a part of this effort, the Policies & Practices to Sustain Equitable Recovery Training Sprint will help jurisdictions evolve their current internal decision-making practices to prioritize impact evaluation, evidence-driven planning, and equitable outcomes.
Over 10 weeks beginning in April, with access to tools and coaching, each team will develop an internal LEVER implementation policy by embedding key evaluation and evidence practices into their jurisdiction’s decision-making processes. Participants will finish the Training Sprint with a robust decision-making framework that translates their LEVER implementation policies into actionable planning guidance.
Apply today! Applications are open from February 6- March 11, 2024.
Who Should Participate?
Results for America anticipates selecting 10-15 teams from jurisdictions across the country who will learn together in weekly virtual sessions.
Applicants are required to identify an Executive Sponsor and a Project Director in the application (See Section 3 of the application for descriptions of these roles). Although we expect there will be a wide range of other team members that will participate in this project (e.g., project manager, subject matter experts, other state or local partners, and/or a communications professional), these will vary by jurisdiction and are not required to be identified for this application.
Selection Process
Applications will be evaluated based on the following three criteria:
- Lead agency’s demonstrated commitment to embedding evidence, evaluation, and equity into its decision-making process;
- Alignment, support, and engagement of Executive Sponsor(s);
- Project Director and project team’s ability to influence the policy process
Applications are due March 6th at Midnight. Click here to download a word document version or PDF (fillable) of the application. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is LEVER?
State and local government leaders are working to strengthen community resilience in the face of Covid-19’s effects. Through Leveraging Evidence and Evaluation for Equitable Recover (LEVER), Results for America and J-PAL North America are supporting state and local governments in their use of data, evaluation, and evidence in order to advance economic mobility and racial equity for generations to come.
Government decision-makers participating in LEVER programming will come away with a basic understanding of evaluation, knowledge of what it takes to build evidence and evaluation capacity, and the opportunity to access tailored support and connections with experts in the evidence and evaluation practitioner field.
What will I learn in the Training Sprint?
The LEVER Training Sprint will focus on: Policies & Practices and Leadership & Culture.It will help jurisdictions incorporate best practices in their current decision making and embed these key practices into their decision-making processes moving forward to continue the momentum established by these recovery dollars.
Through this training sprint, participants will develop their own policy for how evidence, evaluation, and equity are prioritized in their jurisdiction and build out a decision making framework that makes their policy actionable; so that they can sustainably incorporate equity, evidence use, and evaluations into their practices and initiatives. Over 10 weeks, teams will access tools and resources focused on building an evidence-driven process and policy for future planning decisions and receive support and coaching from experts to socialize and embed these practices.
What is the format and time commitment?
The LEVER Training Sprint will be delivered through weekly virtual meetings that will include presentations from leading national experts, facilitated group discussions, and opportunities for break out sessions and peer-to-peer learning. Participants can expect a commitment of 1.5 hours per week, including a virtual session (60 minutes), pre-work (15 minutes) and follow up (15 minutes).
What topics will the curriculum cover?
Defining Evidence, Evaluation and Equity
Definitions for key components of equitable outcomes and evidence building, including community voice and impact evaluations as well as best practices for incorporating these concepts into decision-making and assessing current practices.
Developing Your Evidence Policy
An overview of evaluation policies and their uses, and a template to create a meaningful policy that prioritizes equitable outcomes. This will include guidance and strategies for adopting an evaluation policy to ensure it has a long-term impact on decision-making within a government.
Embedding Actionable Processes
Existing frameworks and templates, and how to update them to solidify an evaluation policy’s impact on decision-making. These decision-making frameworks will help jurisdictions effectively prioritize spending and programs, and measure progress toward goals.
What is the timeline?
Applications are due March 11th and will be reviewed in the first few weeks of March. The ten week training sprint will take place between the beginning of April through mid June 2024.
Who is eligible to apply?
States (agencies, offices, and departments), counties, cities, and tribal governments are eligible to apply.
Do I apply as an individual or as a team?
Each jurisdiction can apply with one team of 2-3 individuals. Applicants are required to identify an Executive Sponsor and a Project Director to start.
How many teams will be selected?
We anticipate 10-15 teams from different jurisdictions will participate in the training sprint.
Does it cost anything to participate?
No. This is provided at no cost through our LEVER Programming.
How can I find out more information?
You can email [email protected] with any questions. Quinn will respond within 3 business days.
How do I apply?
Applications can be submitted online or downloaded and emailed to [email protected]. Applications are due March 6, 2024.