Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina will join the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative, focused on investing taxpayer dollars wisely in programs and policies that are proven to work.
“We can find common ground by using the best available evidence to invest wisely in programs that work for the people of North Carolina, and this effort can help us do that,” Governor Cooper said.
Gov. Cooper has tapped the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as the first state agency in North Carolina to partner with Results First. This work will support the Governor’s goal for a healthier North Carolina by providing data and evidence to inform investments in programs that support child and family health.
The partnership will focus initially on North Carolina public health programs that address child and maternal health and chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Also included in this effort are public health programs that seek to improve birth outcomes and prevent infant mortality, low birthweight and preterm births.
North Carolina becomes the 27th Results First state in the country. The Governor’s Office and the Office of State Budget and Management will work closely with DHHS and Pew on the Results First effort.
“Evidence-based policymaking can help guide state policy and funding decisions,” said Sara Dube, director of the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. “By focusing limited resources on services and programs that have been shown to produce positive results, governments can expand investment in cost-effective programs, consider reducing funding for ineffective programs, and improve the outcomes of services funded by taxpayer dollars. We’re excited to work with North Carolina to enhance its evidence-based policymaking efforts.”
Results First works with states to identify options that provide positive outcomes while improving states' fiscal health. These partnership efforts identify areas that could benefit from the Results First approach to state policymaking, use data to inform decisions, and assist states with applying a cost-benefit model to policies and programs.