In the News
Workshop: Supporting State Agencies with Program Evaluations
(March 8, 2023) – This was the third Supporting State Agencies with Program Evaluations workshop hosted by NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) and the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro. Following an introduction about the purpose and value of considering impact evaluations for state agencies, there was an overview of different methods to pursue impact evaluations and how to demystify discussions about evaluations that agencies and researchers can have together. Representatives from the NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), NC Community College System (NCCCS), and NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) shared information about possible evaluation of the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grants (NCDIT) and the Longleaf Commitment Grant (NCCCS, NCSEAA). An expert research panel then discussed possibilities for impact evaluations of each of these programs, in conversation with the agency representatives.
Webinar: Duke Center for AIDS Research - Talk on Policy Communication
(January 9, 2023) – This webinar, Scientific Communication Series: Policy Communication,
hosted by the Duke Center for AIDS Research Social and Behavioral Sciences Core focused on scientific communication with policymakers. Senator Graig Meyer presented “Stories First, Facts Will Follow.” Jenni Owen presented “Government Wants (and Uses) Research, Too,” and described strategies for communicating with policymakers and examples of missed opportunities for doing so.
Speakers: Graig Meyer, Senator, North Carolina Senate; Jenni Owen, Director, North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships. Watch here…
Webinar: Supporting States’ Evidence-Based Policymaking Efforts
(October 19, 2022) – This session, hosted by the Pew Charitable Trusts, focused on “challenges states face as they work toward more routine use of evidence, the kinds of supports they need, how nongovernmental stakeholders can help address barriers and boost state efforts.” Speakers shared from real world experiences to respond to questions about why state governments need outside help to keep advancing evidence-based policymaking, how nongovernmental organizations approach working with states on evidence-based policy, how researchers can build more effective and durable relationships with state governments, and how to better incorporate equity considerations into evidence-based policy making.
Speakers: Laura Feeney, Co-Executive Director, J-PAL North America; Jenni Owen, Director, NC Office of Strategic Partnerships, Dakota Thomas, Senior Research Analyst, Council of State Governments Center of Innovation; Watch here…
Workshop: Supporting State Agencies with Program Evaluations
(September 7, 2022) – This was the second Supporting State Agencies with Program Evaluations workshop hosted by NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) and the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro. The series was developed as a follow up to OSP’s January 2022 Monthly Connect on conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in state government. Following an introduction about the purpose and value of considering impact evaluations for state agencies, there was an overview of different ways to pursue impact evaluations and how to demystify discussions about evaluations that agencies and researchers can have together. Representatives from the University of North Carolina System then shared information about a possible impact evaluation of the Consolidated NC Need-Based Grant and the Office of State Human Resources shared ideas for a potential evaluation of how telework options affect efforts to recruit for state government positions. A panel of experts responded to questions and offered input on both.
Workshop: Supporting State Agencies with Program Evaluations
(May 17, 2022) - The NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) and the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro hosted the Supporting State Agencies with Program Evaluations workshop as a follow up to OSP’s January 2022 Monthly Connect on conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in state government. Following an introduction about the purpose and value of considering impact evaluations for state agencies, there was an overview of different ways to pursue impact evaluations and how to demystify discussions about evaluations that agencies and researchers can have together. Representatives from Wake Technical Community College and the NC Department of Health and Human Services then shared information about programs they are interested in evaluating. A panel of experts responded to questions and offered input on both.
Podcast: Bringing Great People into Government in the Age of COVID
(October 29, 2021) – A recent episode of the GovLove podcast highlights efforts by the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships and Pittsburgh’s Local Government Academy to recruit talent into state and local government and other public sector jobs. Speakers Eliza Edwards, NC Office of Strategic Partnerships, and Joy Ruff, Local Government Academy, discussed talent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted innovative programming such as the NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps, launched to respond to those needs.
Webinar: APPAM - How to start strong with research-government partnerships
(June 9, 2021) – This session, hosted by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), focused on strategies for addressing common challenges researchers face when approaching government about possible partnership and collaboration. Speakers shared from real experiences to highlight the 1) importance of two-way transparency and 2) clarity of needs and expectations with a focus on approach, background work, process, and deliverables.
Speakers: Jason Coupet, Associate Professor of Public Administration, School of Public and International Affairs, North Carolina State University; Jenni Owen, Director, NC Office of Strategic Partnerships; and David Yokum, Director, The Policy Lab; Senior Advisor, NC Office of Strategic Partnerships. Watch here...
Triangle Community Foundation's What Matters: The Podcast: A Year of Crisis
(March 16, 2021) – On March's What Matters: The Podcast episode, Triangle Community Foundation Director of Marketing and Communications Meg Farrell Buckingham is joined by Jenni Owen from the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships and Ben Money from the Department of Health and Human Services to discuss A year of crisis: What we’ve learned through nonprofit and philanthropic partnerships. Listen here...
Building Partnerships between Governments and Research Organizations (webinar)
(March 3, 2021) – The Pew Results First Initiative hosted a webinar to "showcase novel approaches to building partnerships between governments and research organizations." Panelists were Leigh Bates, Research Director, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services; Anita Brown-Graham, ncIMPACT Initiative, UNC School of Government; member, Office of Strategic Partnerships Advisory Group; and Jenni Owen, Director of Strategic Partnerships. Watch here...
Gov. Innovator Podcast: The role of NC's Office of Strategic Partnerships: An interview with Jenni Owen, Director of Strategic Partnerships, NC - Episode #177
(January 5, 2021) – Jenni Owen, Director of Strategic Partnerships, joins Andy Feldman on the Gov Innovator podcast to discuss the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships and insights for other states that might be interested in doing more to advance partnerships with academic researchers and others. Listen here...
Keys to Connecting State Government and Philanthropy
(August 2024) In March 2020, Covid-19 lockdowns brought with them chaos, confusion, and rapidly changing needs for the people in our state. Philanthropic organizations needed to understand the best ways to support communities and to effectively distribute dollars that didn’t interfere with or duplicate the work of state government. The North Carolina Network of Grantmakers (NCNG) reached out to the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) with a request: Can you help gather information from state government agencies on statewide needs? Read more...
A Partnership to Enhance the Use of Evidence in Government Decision Making: The NC Office of Strategic Partnerships and the NC Department of Adult Correction
(June 24, 2024) The NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) are partnering on an initiative to help NCDAC develop evidence to inform its policy, programmatic, and operational decisions. This article describes the process and lessons learned from NCDAC and OSP to develop the NCDAC Priority Questions Research Agenda (PQRA) between March 2023 and May 2024. This interagency partnership is one example of the growing culture of evidence-based decision making in North Carolina state government. The end of the article includes a list of agency partners and deliverables to date and anticipated. Read more...
How collaboration is changing North Carolina, one project at a time
(April 16, 2024) - States that want to tap universities and philanthropies to find solutions to policy challenges using the best research, evidence and data should look at how one state mastered the communications and logistics essential for effective partnerships. Governments, universities, and philanthropies often target the same problems. But when they don't work together to solve them, money, energy, and momentum can be wasted. Read more...
Government + research + philanthropy: How cross-sector partnerships can improve policy decisions and action
(March 2024) - Researchers often lament that government decision-makers do not generate or use research evidence. People in government often lament that researchers are not responsive to government's needs. Yet there is increasing enthusiasm in government, research, and philanthropy sectors for developing, investing in, and sustaining government-research partnerships that focus on government's use of evidence. Read more...
ECU Forum focuses on strategies, impact with state agencies
(January 25, 2024) - The sharing of information, ideas and strategies permeated the room in the East Carolina University Main Campus Student Center on Friday for a unique opportunity with the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships. Nearly 100 researchers, including faculty and some students, registered for the networking forum hosted by the College of Health and Human Performance. It focused on strengthening partnerships with state agencies to deliver on ECU's mission. Read more...
Results for America Releases 2023 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence
WASHINGTON, DC (November 15, 2023) – Today, at a virtual event co-hosted by the National Governors Association, Results for America released its 2023 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence, showcasing 194 efforts across 46 states – led by Governors, state legislators, and state agency leaders of both parties – to build and use evidence and data to improve residents’ lives.
This year's State Standard of Excellence recognizes five Leading States — Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee — and five Honorable Mention States — California, Connecticut, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Utah — for their exemplary building and use of evidence and data to guide decision-making and invest taxpayer dollars in what works. Read more...
Leveraging North Carolina's Assets to Prevent Child Trauma
(September 1, 2023) - Adverse childhood experiences increase risk for a range of health problems. A statewide summit, "Leveraging North Carolina's Assets to Prevent Child Trauma," convened researchers, practitioners, educators, government officials, policymakers, and community stakeholders to identify common goals and determine next steps in a statewide plan to prevent and heal child trauma. Read more...
Saif Khairat Highlights Cross-Sector Telemedicine Partnership at NC Learning Forum
(June 01, 2023) - Saif Khairat, PhD, MPH, associate professor at the UNC School of Nursing, recently delivered a talk at the Learning Forum organized by the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP). The event aimed to explore collaboration opportunities among government, research, and philanthropy sectors, highlighting initiatives like Khairat’s cross-sector partnership on telemedicine. Read more...
Leading With Courage - Reshaping Southern Philanthropy for a New Era
(January 01, 2023) - Government has long been a black box to many in philanthropy. But increasingly, government is recognizing the value of partnering with foundations and others in philanthropy to coordinate efforts to create a stronger social safety net, respond to crises, and pursue systemic solutions to longstanding problems. That's what led the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships and some foundations in North Carolina to create a new position within the state's government: philanthropy liaison. Read more...
North Carolina Named a "Leading State" for Building and Using Evidence and Data to Deliver Better Results for Residents
(October 01, 2022) - Results for America recently published its annual Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence, highlighting examples of data-driven and evidence-based practices, policies, programs, and systems from across the country. In 2022, North Carolina was recognized for the second consecutive year as a Leading State. Read more...
Governor Cooper Directs New Federal Funding to Further Support Postsecondary Students and New Teachers
(August 19, 2022) - Today, Governor Cooper directed $14.5 million in new federal funding to further support postsecondary students in completing their degree or credential and to support beginning teachers as they start a new academic year. Read more...
To Overcome Challenges to Evidence-Based Policymaking, States Need Outside Help
(September 12, 2022) – Over the past decade, states have increasingly relied on evidence to help ensure that relevant data informs their budget and policy decisions. But states still encounter significant barriers to embedding evidence in government decision-making processes, in part due to capacity constraints. To identify ways that other entities can help states overcome these issues, the Results First initiative gathered input from philanthropies, research and policy organizations, associations for public officials, and state government staff members. Read more...
North Carolina Funds Data Analysts and Program Evaluation to Strengthen Evidence Use
(June 9, 2022) – Leaders in North Carolina's executive and legislative branches are investing in more tools and personnel to study the impact of publicly funded programs and determine how to deliver them with greater efficiency to the state's residents. Read more...
How Philanthropy Can Catalyze Government-Research Partnerships – and Why it Should
(June 7, 2022) – Partnerships between government and research organizations have increasingly emerged as a promising path for policymakers to expand their access to and use of evidence in policy, program, and budget decisions. In these partnerships, government officials and researchers co-define information needs and engage regularly to ensure that evidence is more relevant, trusted, and likely to be used. Read more...
The Volcker Alliance: Changing the Narrative of Public Service
(May 4, 2022) – Many people think that in order to work in government, you have to study political science, law, economics, or something related to those fields. In reality, public sector employees come from all different disciplines and backgrounds. For Catherine Chen, the journey to public service started with frogs. Read more...
EdNC Perspective: College internship partnership building state's talent pipeline
(March 2, 2022) – The NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps (Response Corps) is a partnership between the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (NC OSP), Lead for North Carolina/UNC School of Government, and nonprofit organizations. Since the launch of the program, the Response Corps has placed over 185 students in internships at over 100 North Carolina nonprofit organizations and governmental entities. Read more...
NC Office of Strategic Partnerships Major Activities and Impact Report
(February 2022) – The NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) develops, launches, and enhances partnerships between state government and NC's research and philanthropic sectors. At the core of this work is a focus on building a culture of evidence and increasing the use of research and evidence to inform policy and programmatic decisions. This report highlights some major activities and impact from OSP's first two years. Read more...
Partnerships Between Researchers and Policymakers Help Ensure That Evidence Is Relevant and Accessible
(August 17, 2021) – The Pew Charitable Trusts’ evidence project and Results First initiative are both invested in helping policymakers access and use evidence regularly and effectively. Both efforts are seeking innovative ways to incorporate evidence throughout the decision-making process, from program selection and budget allocation to tracking outcomes and impact. Read more...
Shopping for legislation? Why Utah’s part-time Legislature may be vulnerable.
(August 9, 2021) –This story is part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s ongoing commitment to identify solutions to Utah’s biggest challenges through the work of the Innovation Lab. "...Providing personal staff, even shared personal staff, to Utah legislators could be costly. It’s not the only solution, however. Two years ago, NC established the Office of Strategic Partnerships, which seeks to bolster data-driven governance and policymaking in the state by connecting government leaders, academic institutions and philanthropy." Read more...
Student Interns Support Local Governments, Nonprofits Across North Carolina
(July 20, 2021) – Across North Carolina, college students are helping out local governments and nonprofits thanks to a program started by Governor Roy Cooper’s administration to provide extra support as the state works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps is in its second year of helping place college and university students into internships with local governments and nonprofits across the state. Read more...
Arts Nonprofits Grapple with Effects of COVID Year
(April 8, 2021) – After more than a year of shuttered venues and cancelled performances, arts and entertainment nonprofit organizations are grappling with devastating amounts of lost revenue and facing a longer road to recovery than any other sector of nonprofits. Read more...
Governor Cooper Encourages Students Interested in Public Service Internships to Apply for NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps
(March 8, 2021) – North Carolina college students can get valuable work experience with government and nonprofits this summer through the NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps. The program, launched in 2020, provides a database to help match college students in need of work experience with local governments and nonprofits seeking additional help during the pandemic. Read more...
North Carolina Leverages State Research Capacity to Improve Government Performance
(February 18, 2021) – State government leaders across the country can benefit from using rigorous research to inform policy and program proposals, but they can face difficulties finding experts who are well-suited to helping them use that evidence in policy contexts. Researchers, meanwhile, want their work to inform more effective government approaches but may not know how best to engage with state officials. Read more...
The Learning Agenda Every Public Agency Needs
(February 16, 2021) – Learning agendas are an up-and-coming tool to strengthen a culture of evidence-based decision-making within public agencies. While at the federal level they’re now required of many large departments, they’re just starting to be used by state and local agencies. Examples include the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and several agencies in North Carolina. Read more...
Philanthropy Liaison Joins State Government
RALEIGH, NC (January 27, 2021) – North Carolina state government’s first philanthropy liaison will join Governor Roy Cooper’s administration on March 1. The grant-funded role will focus on improving interaction between state government and the philanthropic sector, educating philanthropy and government about each other, and encouraging collaboration on projects across the state. Read more...
Pew Charitable Trusts: Governors' Appointees and Agency Staffers Help States Boost Evidence-Based Policymaking
(January 26, 2021) – As governors nationwide manage their responses to the coronavirus pandemic, their appointees and state agency staff can promote the use of data to help guide state policies and implement their visions for a successful recovery. For executive branch leaders facing reduced revenues and increased community needs, using insights gathered from rigorous evaluations to inform budget deliberations can lead to more efficient and effective decisions. Read more...
EdNC Perspective: NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps: Supporting students in pursuit of public service careers
(January 18, 2021) – This is the fourth article in a series about the NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps, a cross-sector partnership to help address the strain COVID-19 placed on government and nonprofit organizations compounded by jobs and internships lost unexpectedly. The Response Corps was developed and launched by the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships and Lead for NC along with the many partner organizations listed below, and others. Read more...
EdNC Perspective: NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps: Strengthening the talent pipeline to public service
(January 11, 2021) – The pandemic has prolonged economic damage and increased community need. Nonprofit organizations and local government have struggled to address new challenges, serve their client base, and manage workloads. The situation resonates with Neha M. Shah, the director and sole full-time staff member leading the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Read more...
EdNC Perspective: NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps: Partnerships at Work
(December 16, 2020) – Lost internships and jobs. Strained organizational capacity. Due to COVID-19, both have been widespread in North Carolina, the nation, and the world. Enter the North Carolina COVID-19 Student Response Corps, a partnership between state and local government, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Since June 2020, the NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps has placed approximately 120 students in internships at over 100 North Carolina nonprofit and government entities. Read more...
Spectrum News Feature: Nonprofits During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Part 1)
(December 6, 2020) – Funding for charitable organizations has dropped off significantly during COVID-19, according to a new survey of more than 1,700 NC nonprofits. The NC Center for Nonprofits joins the conversation with an update on how groups serving our most vulnerable can pivot in the pandemic. Watch video...
EdNC Perspective: NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps: Supporting students, nonprofits, and government through a cross-sector partnership
(October 19, 2020) – “COVID-19 is testing local governments and nonprofits as they work to meet the needs of people in their communities. Through these public service internships, students gain valuable on-the-job experience and local governments and nonprofits gain extra help when they need it most,” said Gov. Roy Cooper.
Internships are one of the most valuable learning experiences available to college students. Approximately 60% of students will hold at least one internship during their college career, according to a 2017 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Read more...
Volcker Alliance Spotlight: NC Talent Partnership: Strengthening Government-University Partnerships
(September 9, 2020) – A talented public sector workforce is essential to effective government and requires the cooperation, communication, and collaboration of colleges, universities and government agencies. In 2018, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina named Jenni Owen as the inaugural Director of Strategic Partnerships. Read more...
Volcker Alliance's Government-to-University Initiative Continues to Grow
NEW YORK, NY (August 18, 2020) – Following the successful launch of the first three Government-to-University (G2U) networks in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, the Volcker Alliance’s G2U Initiative is expanding to Chicago and North Carolina. Read more...
Results for America Releases 2020 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence
WASHINGTON, DC (August 12, 2020) – During a virtual event co-hosted by the National Governors Association today, Results for America released the 2020 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence, which highlights how states are using evidence and data to inform their COVID-19 efforts and to advance economic mobility.
The 2020 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence (State Standard of Excellence) identifies seven Leading States (Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington) and four Honor Roll States (Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island) for their evidence-based policymaking. Read more...
N.C. COVID-19 Student Response Corps offers alumni and students opportunities for partnership
BOONE, NC (July 17, 2020) – Students from colleges and universities across North Carolina unexpectedly lost internships due to COVID-19. At the same time, many local government and nonprofit organizations have been overwhelmed in response to needs related to COVID-19. Read more...
Virtual internship program connects students with local nonprofits
GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 16, 2020) –A summer internship from the comfort of your own home. With many summer programs canceled across the country, a lot of students were left scrambling to find job experience. Read more...
New program helps students who lost summer internships and jobs due to the pandemic
(July 10, 2020) – Many students have lost their summer jobs and internships because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there's a new state program that's giving them some different opportunities. Read more...
NC College Students Help Local Governments, Nonprofits with COVID-19 Response
RALEIGH, NC (July 9, 2020) – An effort by Governor Roy Cooper’s administration is matching North Carolina college students in need of work experience with local governments and nonprofits seeking additional help to support COVID-19 response efforts. Read more...