City: New Haven, Connecticut

Reporting to: Chief of Staff

The Challenge

In June 2024, the city of New Haven joined the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance, a multi-year operational and technical coaching program on how to leverage data and artificial intelligence to assess needs, strengthen services, and codify policies.  As part of this work, the city seeks to develop systems and processes to better standardize the collection, storage, and integration of data across services and with community partners. This will lead to the improved streamlining of service provision for residents. One output of this work is the development of a city-wide data warehouse to enhance the city’s ability to address complex, interconnected issues, and improve the quality of life for residents. As the city navigates challenges such as public health crises, homelessness, housing safety, and violence prevention, data plays a pivotal role in making informed decisions that optimize resources and measure success. The mayor’s focus on expanding data capacity across city departments reflects a commitment to evidence-based governance. In addition, investing in data infrastructure—such as the appointment of the city’s first CTO or the creation of new data and GIS positions—aligns with the city’s strategy to use data as a tool for tackling systemic issues, from homelessness to gun violence. These efforts are further supported by partnerships with academic institutions like the University of New Haven, which helps evaluate program effectiveness and refine strategies. In sum, building data capacity across all sectors is essential for advancing the mayor’s goal of a safer, healthier, and more equitable New Haven.

The city has identified two specific areas for better use of data: community services and case management for vulnerable populations as well as housing code inspections. Regarding community services and case management, the city’s Community Services Administration (CSA) oversees health and human services that work with individuals experiencing homelessness, the elderly, individuals suffering from substance use disorder, mental illness, and at-risk youth. CSA also oversees the Office of Violence Prevention, which includes victim services and support for individuals returning to the community from incarceration. Frequently, individuals receiving case management by one department may also be impacted in an area relevant to another department. They may also be served by programs implemented by our partner organizations. Improving our ability to collect and manage data, including case management-related data, will allow us to improve our services, ensure better cross-agency collaboration, and improve accountability for contractors who assist us with our work.

This work is critical to ensuring equitable access to services for vulnerable populations. This project will help identify gaps in service delivery, track outcomes for vulnerable populations, and improve cross-agency collaboration to deliver more equitable and comprehensive care. In addition, we hope to address existing health disparities which became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to refine how the city uses health data to target resources and interventions more effectively to those most at risk, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. By leveraging data to identify trends in public health, we can better allocate resources to address health disparities and improve overall community resilience.

The fellow will support the data work in the CSA, with a specific focus on ensuring that our data strategy is effectively communicated to our community partners and that it aligns with and advances the city-wide work as part of the City Data Alliance. The CSA is currently working on four specific initiatives: (1) violence prevention; (2) at-risk-youth; (3) opioid overdose prevention; and (4) support for the most vulnerable. The fellow would work across these initiatives to help us think through data requirements. We would like the fellow to help us answer the following key questions:

• What are the current gaps in data collection, particularly regarding case management for vulnerable populations?
• How can the city improve its existing data tracking systems to ensure real-time updates, better accuracy, and increased transparency for internal stakeholders, community partners, and the public?

• How can the city develop meaningful metrics and KPIs to evaluate the effectiveness of its programs, particularly in housing inspections, violence prevention, and community services?

• What data tools can be developed to help measure and track progress toward these goals?

• How can the city create a more effective and accessible data warehouse that integrates information from various departments and external partners (e.g., academic institutions)?

What You’ll Do

The fellowship project will focus on improving the city’s data systems to better serve vulnerable populations, enhance coordination across departments, and increase transparency and accountability in service delivery.  The fellow will report to the city’s chief of staff and work closely with the CTO to ensure alignment with the city’s technology infrastructure and strategy and the CSA team. In addition, the fellow will liaise with key staff from other departments, e.g., the Department of Public Health, the Department of Community Resilience, and the Office of Violence Prevention. Externally, we will introduce the fellow to key contacts at the University of New Haven who evaluate our violence reduction initiatives, as well as local nonprofits and service providers who feed into our databases. We will also identify relevant residents and community organizations who can provide feedback in areas such as transparency, service access, and equity implications.

The fellow is expected to work on the following deliverables:

• Clear, actionable recommendations for data integration:
  • Review existing data sources and platforms across departments
  • Act as the integrator between the CTO and CSA, ensuring that the work on CSA initiatives aligns with our city-wide data efforts
  • Work with our CTO to develop a roadmap for a data integration strategy to consolidate key information into a central data warehouse
  • Build cross-sector partnerships and ensure buy-in for the proposed changes
• A clear strategy and approach for data across CSA initiatives:
  • Review and analyze data held in case management systems for vulnerable populations (e.g., homeless individuals, people with mental health issues, those at risk of lead poisoning)
  • Identify opportunities for improvement in tracking service delivery, outcomes, and program impact
  • Provide recommendations for enhancing data systems to ensure that the city can monitor and respond to populations relying on CSA services more effectively and in real-time
• Insight into how we can improve data transparency and public engagement:
  • Develop strategies to improve transparency through accessible public dashboards or reports
  • Gather insights and examples from other cities and their work in this space
  • Support the engagement of residents and community organizations to ensure residents have visibility into city performance and can hold the city accountable

What You’ll Bring

• Data analysis
• Design thinking
• Mapping (GIS)
• Policy analysis
• Qualitative interviewing and analysis
• Language proficiency in Spanish (preferred)