Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/958890
MEASUREMENT AND DATA SYSTEMS In order to improve mental health and well-being, we need to understand the underlying causes and conditions of suffering. Data and technology help us do this in a rigorous, defensible and repeatable way, supporting all our program and investment activities and contributing valuable information and resources to the field. We recognize that measurement and data systems are only relevant if they help inform action and improve results. Our approach to data and technology is to focus first on sharpening our theory of change, outcomes and goals and then develop a measurement strategy that ensures that we understand how data and technology can best inform actions. In the coming year, we expect to increase our investment in measurement and data systems that can clearly improve effectiveness in three areas: 1) Assessing the current state of mental health and well-being, and specifically providing us with unique insights into places and populations that are facing significant issues and barriers 2) Measuring the progress of our investments toward achieving our larger vision and specific improvements in the five focus areas 3) Communicating what we've learned and accomplished to the wider clinical and nonprofit community to help rally others to the cause The specific investments we plan to make should be aimed at supporting the larger public good. We've identified the following guiding principles we will use to inform the direction and outcomes of our data and technology projects: • Use and contribute to open-source projects: As a foundation, our core mission is to contribute to the public good. As we build technology, we want to actively support the open-source culture by using and contributing our code where practical. • Rely on open data standards: We have the unique opportunity to inform the national conversation about measuring mental health and well-being, but unless we make our data open and easily accessible, we won't succeed in changing the larger conversation about mental health. • Iterate and rapidly improve: To spend our resources wisely, we will focus our process using an "agile" development methodology that ensures that we can achieve maximum results with minimum investment. In order for our data and measurement strategy to be effective in the long term, we need to find partners who can assist us with building, maintaining and scaling our solutions to a wider audience. Over the last year, we have begun building key partnerships with thought leaders in the field, such as the Institute for People, Place and Possibility; Community Commons; ReThink Health; and many others who will be key to expanding our reach and sharing what we learn with a wider audience. 20 Well Being Trust | Annual Report | Measurement and Data Systems