United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley announces The Data Equity Pilot Project

Data—What thoughts or images does that word conjure up in your mind? What about equity—does the word pull at your desire to see expanded opportunity and a more level playing field so that all succeed? How do we put these two words together to make a stronger community?

In our ongoing commitment to excellence in area of pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion in our daily operations and investment process, UWGLV invites funded partners in Lehigh and Northampton counties to apply to be part of the Data Equity Project. The Project will design and test report formats allowing us to view our data through a variety of lenses with the goal of understanding our impact in new ways. Selected partners will help design the pilot and then be part of the implementation. Your contributions will shape data collection and analysis that will drive our evolving work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. More information is available below and the application is live in e-Cimpact. Funded partners are encouraged to apply by January 11, 2021 to be part of the Project. Selected partners will be compensated $3,000 per agency.
 

Click to Apply

About The Data Equity Pilot Project

The Data Equity Pilot Project will enhance UWGLV’s and partners’ data collection process, data reporting and ability to assess program outcomes through a variety of demographics/social constructs. The ultimate pilot outcome is progressive and modernized data analyses to support creative, innovative comprehensive strategic planning and data driven decision making both at funder and partner levels. It is expected that through the collaborative process new best practices will emerge and partners will be in regular communication with UWGLV as we strive to create a reporting process that works for all parties. Participation in the pilot project will not affect current partner funding for the 18-22 investment cycle. During the pilot period partners will not be expected to report in both the current format and pilot formats, only the pilot format.

Data Collection and Outcome Reporting

Pilot partners will continue to collect the same data they do now, demographic and outcome, but instead of reporting them separately, outcome data will be attached to demographic information. Large and small programs are encouraged to apply. The pilot is designed to be highly collaborative and participatory for all involved. During the first 2-3 months of the pilot, after partner selection, pilot partners will work with the UWGLV team to finalize the planning phase and prepare and begin the implementation phase. Training for partners on both data equity and why it matters as well as technical support will be offered during both the planning and implementation phases.

Current outcome reporting for UWGLV funded partners is provided in averages aggregate (in one large group) only allowing for insights on outcomes and outputs based on the “average” experience of the program/service. Without any ability to filter outcomes by a variety of demographic/social constructs, we are limited in how the data can provide an enhanced landscape to guide in improvement planning or have a more real-time response to data-identified issues of inequity. On the other side of the coin, disaggregated data allows the analyst to see successes in a program. Those insights can be used to improve services for populations not reaching the desired outcome or review how these successes are being triggered so as to reproduce the same success in another project area as a benchmark. Disaggregating data allows us to see beyond the average to both those achieving above and below desired outcomes, in this way partner successes can be readily seen instead of “hidden” within the averages.

Pilot Team

The pilot team consists of UWGLV staff/VISTA members, Data, Research and Evaluation Committee members and the pilot program partners. Early in the project the pilot team will work together to develop operational procedures including staff training (i.e., software) and reporting protocols and procedures. Pilot members will be contributing to the data structure and developing processes to move forward with our goal of understanding our outcomes through an equity lens.