Hartford Foundation Staff Appointed to State Legislative Advisory Groups on Housing Opportunities for Returning Citizens and Connecticut Data Analysis Technology

While providing legislative testimony or lobbying legislators on specific proposals are often the most visible forms of public policy engagement, there is a broad range of activities that can shape policy. One example is participation in legislative working groups and state advisory boards. In recognition of the Foundation’s investments and expertise, two members of the Hartford Foundation’s staff were recently appointed to serve on such advisory groups.

Hartford Foundation Director of Grants and Partnership Investments Judy McBride has been appointed to serve as a member of the newly created legislative working group on housing re-entry opportunities for people returning from prison.  Special Act No. 18-14, charges the group, comprised of policymakers, funders, service providers and advocates, to study housing options for persons reentering the community after incarceration and recommend evidence-based housing policy proposals to support returning citizens. This past spring, the Foundation submitted testimony to the Connecticut General Assembly’s Housing Committee support of the legislation to create the working group in an effort to expand knowledge and generate critical dialogue about housing options and barriers Connecticut residents experience as they return to their communities after incarceration.

The Hartford Foundation has supported reentry programs since 2007, in addition to long-standing support to related community programs that serve people returning from incarceration and their families.  Recent examples include a $400,000 grant to support the BEST Chance Program, which provides pre-employment training and job placement assistance to ex-offenders and a $450,000 grant to create the Greater Hartford Re-Entry Welcome Center. 

Follow the link to watch the first meeting of the Commission on Equity and Opportunity Housing Re-entry After Incarceration Working Group on August 1st.

 Hartford Foundation Director of Research and Evaluation Scott Gaul was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney to serve as a member of the Connecticut Data Analysis Technology Advisory (DATA) Board.  The Advisory Board’s roles and responsibilities include advising various branches of state government and municipalities regarding data policy; providing advice to the Office of Policy and Management’s Chief Data Officer on the state’s open data portal, which allows the public to search or browse public data provided by Connecticut state agencies. In addition, the advisory board can also issue data-related reports and recommendations; request agency data officer or agency heads to appear before them at public hearings; request information and assistance from the executive branch; and provide advice to the legislature regarding skills and expertise necessary for the legislative staff to enhance their data capabilities.

The Hartford Foundation has a history of supporting open data, working to provide capacity building for the use of data, and commissioning independent research and evaluations on topics critical to Connecticut’s economic well-being and health. During the 2018 Legislative Session, the Foundation offered public testimony in support of the legislation that created this advisory board and encouraged the state to involve nonprofits and philanthropy on the board as these sectors collect and rely upon data to support their work. In testimony before the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth earlier this year, Hartford Foundation President Jay Williams urged the Commission to prioritize the development and coordinated use of high-quality research and data to ensure that limited public and private resources support best practices and policies.

Follow the link to watch the first meeting of the  

 Follow the link to submit comments on the draft State Data Plan State Data Plan.