ACF Data Strategy

Group of employees reviewing data to inform decisionmaking

With the rapid growth in data and artificial intelligence, ACF has launched its first-ever data strategy to guide its mission. This strategy lays out a clear long-term vision and details the practical steps we’re taking to reach that goal. A lot of these initiatives are already in motion. 

You'll notice that ACF's approach to data is all about making a positive impact. We're investing in ways to better prepare for disasters, break down barriers to equity, and enhance our support for grant recipients, ultimately benefiting children and families across America. 

The agency's data strategy aims to empower nearly 2,000 public servants at ACF with valuable data insights to further our mission. This will help us provide better federal leadership, partnerships, and resources for delivering human services effectively and compassionately. It also helps the American public understand how ACF adds value and sheds light on the current landscape of human services in the country.

View the data strategy (PDF)

Vision

Data delivers for ACF’s mission

Whether we’re developing policy, streamlining operations, setting standards, or sharing the story of children and families across the nation, ACF uses the power of data to continuously improve human services and transform communities.

ACF Data Strategy Initiatives

We're already making progress on our data strategy initiatives, but making ACF's ambitious data vision a reality will require time, investment, and collaboration.

Sustaining Initiatives

Foundational infrastructure to support the data strategy including:

  • Hiring a Chief Data Officer 

  • Creating a long-term funding and investment plan 

  • Establishing a Data Governance Council 

One Stop Shop Initiatives

Centralized resources to support program offices to build their own data capacity that includes:

  • Creating a Data Talent Center to support hiring and team development 

  • Building an open data plan for data produced or managed at ACF 

  • Establishing a Privacy Policy Center 

Delivery Initiatives

 Activities and dedicated expertise to advance the use of data at ACF that entails:

  • Continuing ACF’s Data Surge Support, a team of technical experts that deploy to focus on discrete data challenges 

  • Conducting analytic campaigns, to advance agency-wide priorities on an accelerated timeline 

  • Releasing community-centered data tools and stories 

Technology Initiatives

Provide technology platforms and tools needed to streamline data reliability and enhance collaboration which includes:

  • Providing tools and infrastructure to conduct projects such as responsible applications of artificial intelligence and linking large datasets 
  • Launching a customer relationship management system to coordinate across ACF 
  • Enhancing data

Webinar on the ACF Data Strategy

In September 2024, ACF hosted a webinar about the ACF Data Strategy. You can view a recording of the webinar below.