IPRTF approves data workgroup recommendation to fund a county position for performance measurement

During the July 15 meeting, the committee considered recommendations from the data workgroup that synthesized VillageReach’s evaluation framework. The data group recommended, as its primary near-term action, that Whatcom County establish and fund a dedicated position to lead implementation of the measurement and evaluation plan and to coordinate cross-system data integration.

Dean and Bertie, representing the data subgroup, described the need for a funded project manager because data collection and cross-agency coordination exceed current staff capacity. As Bertie summarized, the legal and justice committee’s review raised concerns that “in their individual departments, there was not a penny, a 10 minutes of staff time to, share with any data project,” and the recommendation therefore called for county-funded capacity rather than expecting participating agencies to absorb the work.

A committee member moved to approve recommendation number 1 (establish and fund the position); another committee member seconded the motion. The committee voted by roll call: eight members voted yes; none opposed. The committee chair declared the motion carried.

The committee asked staff and the executive’s office to treat the recommendation as a formal advisory request to county leadership and to work on a budget and scope for the proposed position and supporting resources.

Ending: Committee members tasked staff to forward the approved recommendation to the county executive with a proposed scope and budget and to begin identifying near-term measures that could be reported while larger integration work proceeds.