Webinar: Conducting Rapid Analyses for Data-Based Decisionmaking during the COVID-19 Crisis

Publication Date: January 19, 2021

States are collecting data to make quick decisions about delivering early care and education during the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar supports Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agency staff, their research partners, and others in conducting analysis for data-based decisionmaking when quick decisions are needed and data are limited. The webinar includes (1) an overview of the process of conducting rapid analysis for data-based decision-making; (2) an example of applying the process for data-based decisionmaking to school openings; and (3) examples of how researchers and state agency staff in Illinois and California are using data to understand the problems COVID-19 has created in child care and make decisions to address supply and funding. Following the presentations, speakers address questions from the audience.

This is the second in a series of webinars on Building CCDF Lead Agencies’ Capacities to Use Data to Inform Policy Responses to COVID-19, hosted by the Child Care Research and Evaluation Capacity Building Center , with support from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families.

The speakers include:

  • Gretchen Kirby , Senior Researcher, Children, Youth, and Families Division, Mathematica (panel moderator)
  • Jesse Chandler , Data Analytics Lead, Education and Employment Division, Mathematica
  • Brian Gill , Senior Fellow, Education and Employment Division, Mathematica
  • Natasha Nicolai, Chief Data Strategist, Research, Automation, and Data Division, California Department of Social Services
  • Nick Mader , Senior Researcher, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago

View the Webinar Slides (PDF)
 

Research Questions

  1. What does rapid analysis for data-based decisionmaking mean and what are steps in the process?
  2. How can agencies use data to better define and understand the problems that COVID-19 has created for the education and care of young children?
  3. How have states used data to identify solutions to support child care facilities and match child care needs to supply during the time of COVID-19?

Purpose

This webinar is designed to support Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agency staff, their research partners, and others in using data to inform decisionmaking related to child care during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Citation

Child Care Research and Evaluation Capacity Building Center. 2020. “Conducting Rapid Analyses for Data-Based Decisionmaking during the COVID-19 Crisis.” Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation.