Implementation

Why This Matters For Families 

Families across the United States — especially those with young children — are struggling. Childcare costs are skyrocketing, rising at a faster rate than inflation. Concurrently, the cost of living remains high, forcing many families to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Though designed to support families, existing policy and programs in this country often fail to address root causes, and poor delivery leaves families disconnected from critical supports — keeping too many families from achieving economic stability. 

Every year, billions of dollars in existing public benefits sit untouched, as they fail to reach the families that need it, simply because our system of accessing these programs is too hard to use. Policymakers and advocates often design new policies without considering how these programs will be delivered. When combined with a complex web of different funding streams and regulations, the path forward is often complex, with few mechanisms to help public servants implement and stand up innovative programs. At New Practice Lab, we understand that even the most transformative policies can fail in delivery when people’s experiences are not considered in the policy design. Implementation is a key part of policy — not separate from it.

Our Approach   

The Lab conducts multi-week engagements, called  ‘sprints,’ with on-the-ground government partners to help solve access and usability issues with public programs and policies that serve families with children under six. We begin by understanding the existing system and its challenges through user analysis and staff experience. We then develop and prototype solutions by testing technology, design, and data concepts to address the issues identified. Finally, we refine our solutions to improve the program’s effectiveness and ensure better outcomes. 

Our implementation team (provided at no cost) leverages private sector best practices, with each member contributing very different skills:

• Product managers that set project priorities and guide the execution of projects;

• Engineers that build and code the systems;

• Designers that define the needs of users and create engaging experiences.

NPL not only works hand-in-hand with partner agencies to examine policy design and delivery, but also does so in a matter that can build the implementation capacity of our partners to continue the approach after our formal sprint ends. We also convene civil servants across states to dive into the weedy details of implementation in areas like early childhood, paid family and medical leave, and tax credit uptake to better solve for policy barriers to good delivery, and share lessons learned.