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Data work group urges dedicated position and cross-system integration to operationalize Village Reach plan
Summary
Members said the data work group recommended three steps—establish a dedicated position to run the plan, invest in cross‑system data integration infrastructure, and begin near‑term reporting by reprioritizing staff work—and urged the full task force to schedule discussion before the findings become stale.
Members of the Whatcom County Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force said on July 17, 2025, that the data work group has produced recommendations to operationalize the Village Reach data plan and asked the full task force to review them promptly.
The data work group proposed three near-term priorities: create a dedicated position to operate the plan, invest in cross‑system data integration infrastructure, and initiate near‑term reporting by reprioritizing existing staff work.
The context: the task force has a pending Village Reach report and a small data work group formed by legal, justice, and behavioral-health committees. Members said the group wants the full task force to consider its three recommendations before the next meeting cycle so reporting and dashboards can support policy and implementation decisions.
Peter, a task force member, summarized the work group's output and urged scheduling: “Their 3 recommendations have also been taken to behavioral health and legal injustice. No. Not very many people have had the time to read all of Julia's report. They have some recommendations that, they still really wanted to make,” he said, and asked that the recommendations be on the next agenda so the report “doesn’t start getting old.”
Peter outlined the three recommendations the work group forwarded: 1) establish a dedicated position to operate and coordinate the plan; 2) invest in cross‑system data‑integration infrastructure; and 3) start near‑term reporting by reprioritizing staff work to produce usable dashboards and outputs quickly.
Jill confirmed the data work group presentation is already on the full task force agenda for a forthcoming meeting packet and will be scheduled for discussion. Members said timely action is important because data dashboards and reporting will inform options for reducing jail use and tracking implementation progress.
The steering committee asked staff to ensure the Village Reach report and the work group's recommendations are available for review in advance of the next task force meeting and to prioritize time on the agenda for discussion.
