Series on HHS Strategic Plan: Goal 4—Restore Trust and Accelerate Advancements in Science and Research for All

HHS is committed to restoring trust and advancing science and research. The Department prioritizes science, evidence, and inclusion to enhance the design, delivery, and outcomes of its programs.

Strategic Objective 4.1—Improve the design, delivery, and outcomes of HHS programs by prioritizing science, evidence, and inclusion

HHS employs strategies to enhance the design, delivery, and outcomes of its programs by prioritizing science, evidence, and inclusion. This involves leveraging stakeholder engagement, communication, and collaboration to build and implement evidence-based interventions, ensuring stronger public health, and human services outcomes.

Strategies

Strategies for Objective 4.1 focus on evidence-based approaches to enhance programs.

·      Leverage stakeholder engagement, communication, and collaboration to build and implement evidence-based interventions for stronger healthcare, public health, and human services outcomes.

·      Promote an evidence-based and equity-focused approach in designing, redesigning, implementing, and ensuring quality in HHS programs. This aims to inform decision-making, enhance oversight, and strengthen data integrity and program fidelity.

·      Improve communication and provide accessible information to community members for a transparent flow of information and education about HHS programs.

Objective 4.4—Improve data collection, use, and evaluation, to increase evidence-based knowledge that leads to better health outcomes, reduced health disparities, and improved social well-being, equity, and economic resilience

HHS invests in strategies to enhance data collection, utilization, and evaluation, aiming to increase evidence-based knowledge for improved health outcomes, reduced health disparities, and enhanced social well-being, equity, and economic resilience.

Strategies

Strategies for Objective 4.4 focus on improving HHS’s ability to evaluate its work.

·      Strengthen capacity and the use of evaluations at HHS to inform evidence-based decision-making.

·      Engage in a systematic approach to build capacity for evaluation and related analyses, ensuring the Department supports programs effectively improving the health and well-being of its constituents.

·      Publish an Evidence Building Plan and Annual Evaluation Plans focused on Departmental evidence-building activities and organizational learning. This promotes transparency, encouraging external stakeholders to contribute evidence useful for Agency decision-making focused on Departmental evidence-building activities and organizational learning. This promotes transparency, encouraging external stakeholders to contribute evidence useful for Agency decision-making.

Implications for State and County HHS Department

Strengthening the capacity and use of evaluations requires a systematic approach to building evaluation-related capabilities. This implies that HHS workers may experience an increased workload and responsibilities as they engage in activities to support effective programs that enhance the health and well-being of constituents.

The call to improve communication and provide accessible information to community members suggests that HHS workers may need to enhance their communication skills. This involves conveying information about HHS programs in a transparent and accessible manner to foster community understanding and engagement.