RI Innovative Policy Lab at Brown
transitioning to a state-focused policy research center
After three years of
designing evidence-based policies to support efforts of the State of Rhode
Island to better serve families, the Rhode Island Innovative Policy Lab (RIIPL),
located at Brown University, will be transformed into a permanent University
research center under new leadership and governance.
RIIPL was founded as a
partnership between Brown researchers and the State of Rhode Island in 2015 by
Justine Hastings, professor of economics and international and public affairs
at Brown.
Projects undertaken by
RIIPL include using big data and data science to find new solutions to lower
emergency health care costs, curb the opioid crisis, improve worker training
programs, create tools to connect dislocated workers to benefits, and help
Rhode Island children reach proficiency in reading and math tests.
RIIPL is also conducting research in partnership with the state on early childhood and disability programs, helping families become more food secure, optimizing energy policy for low-income families, and closing the college achievement gap.
RIIPL is also conducting research in partnership with the state on early childhood and disability programs, helping families become more food secure, optimizing energy policy for low-income families, and closing the college achievement gap.
Based on the success
of this work, Brown’s senior administration and the State of Rhode Island have
begun discussions to create a permanent center that will be formally part of
Brown.
This center will build upon efforts to support data-driven policymaking on important issues facing the state and its residents. It will engage the breadth and depth of expertise among Brown’s faculty and will operate under new leadership and a new governance model.
This center will build upon efforts to support data-driven policymaking on important issues facing the state and its residents. It will engage the breadth and depth of expertise among Brown’s faculty and will operate under new leadership and a new governance model.
“Brown is committed to
undertaking research that can address critical and persistent issues facing
Rhode Island,” Brown Provost Richard M. Locke said. “We look forward to
strengthening our collaboration with the state, and to conducting data-driven
research that informs effective public policy development and implementation.”
A planning committee
with representatives from Brown and the State of Rhode Island will convene in
mid-April 2018 to begin a strategic planning process that outlines the scope,
mission and new governing structure for the center.
