In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the federal government authorized a new emergency program, Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), to replace school meals with money for groceries while schools are closed. Code for America describes its efforts to launch an accessible, online P-EBT application under an accelerated timeline due to to immense demand caused by the pandemic.
Innovators inside and outside of government are working to improve access to the social safety net using data, technology, and design. This report highlights innovations carried out by The Rockefeller Foundation’s Data and Technology grantees from 2018 to 2021, including extraordinary efforts to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Those grantees are: Benefits Data Trust, Code for America, Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, U.S. Digital Response, and the Digital Innovation and Governance Initiative at New America. In 2020, these projects secured more than $200 million in benefits for close to 100,000 people across at least 36 states, and helped millions more through policy change, training, and guidance.
This issue brief illustrates the challenges that many older adults with low income face in gaining access to benefits online. It addresses digital literacy, access to broadband internet, and the increasing prevalence of connecting online to SNAP.
Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) launched a three-year (2024-2026) strategic plan centered around three key goals: optimize service delivery for customers, cultivate an flexible and innovative workplace, and establish WaTech's role as a statewide technology leader.
The article outlines NYC Opportunity's "Designed by Community" program, which funds and empowers local leaders to create solutions for challenges in marginalized communities. Initially focused on government projects, the program pivoted during the pandemic to support community-led initiatives, with projects ranging from mentorship programs to tech tools for public housing residents.
The user recruitment services resolution passed in Saint Paul, MN for a third year in a row in 2024. It allows for city funds to be used to compensate community members who participate in research.
The folder for the Montgomery County Library Website Redesign contains draft materials, including design specifications of the current menu, an audit of menu items, and wireframes for the new homepage layout, providing a foundation for the site's improved structure and navigation.
A participant handbook that explains how a child care wage boost pilot works, including eligibility, enrollment, payments, privacy protections, and ongoing responsibilities for facilities and workers.
King County Department of Community and Human Services
A practical, research-based handbook from The Lab @ DC that teaches public servants how to redesign confusing government forms through user-centered, evidence-based design methods.
