Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation partner to build local capacity to use data to improve health and equity

The Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson (RWJF) are partnering on a series of research and engagement activities to expand the knowledge and examples of how communities can use data to advance the foundation’s principles of evidence, equity, and voice. The project will assess the opportunities for data, tools, and support to empower local organizations, especially in small- and medium-sized places. Through convenings, key informant interviews, and literature reviews, the Urban Institute will produce new insights and guidance about local capacity to use data for social change.

The project will be informed by the two decades of experience from the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP), which is coordinated by the Urban Institute. The grant will also support the network’s efforts to illustrate how local data can inform efforts to improve health, highlight connections between community conditions and health, and assist organizations interested in adapting the NNIP model in new cities.