Historically, states have not included community members in data-sharing efforts, yet feedback shared by people with lived expertise is a critical data point in and of itself that can guide more equitable public policy. Partnerships involving individuals with lived expertise, along with state and local stakeholders, have the potential to address broader systemic policy issues more equitably and effectively at the state or local level than partnerships lacking the insights shared by community members with lived experience.

Waldo Mikels-Carrasco from Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH) at IPHI, Liz Buck from the Center for Health Care Strategies, Jimmieka Mills from Equitable Spaces, and Roger Gonzales from CyncHealth discussed DASH’s Learning and Action in Policy and Partnerships cohort and project efforts. This included how to integrate new approaches to developing trusting and sustainable relationships directly with community members with lived experiences and the opportunities and risks for human and organizational impact when balancing the need for project deliverables with the effect on people and communities.