BDT Executive Director comments on government accountability office report

Dear Friends and Partners,

I am pleased to distribute the following report completed by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO): HUMAN SERVICES Sustained and Coordinated Efforts Could Facilitate Data Sharing While Protecting Privacy. This report highlights promising data sharing practices that state and local governments are currently implementing to improve and streamline human service delivery.

At Benefits Data Trust, we are committed to transforming how individuals in need access public benefits. Last spring, I was honored to be invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Human Resources Subcommittee on data standardization and the use of technology to better target benefits and create efficiencies in the system. This report captures the success of and need for consolidated data sharing efforts at every level of service provision, whether it be between state agencies, local government offices, or community based organizations.

The GAO’s report specifically examines:

1. How selected states or localities have shared data across programs to improve the administration of human services,
2. Challenges state and local human services agencies face in balancing privacy protections with greater data sharing, and
3. Actions that the federal government could take to help address these challenges.

I encourage you to take a look at the GAO’s findings. Although obstacles remain, BDT looks forward to continuing to engage in this important dialogue while working towards helping people access crucial public benefit programs when they need them most.

Sincerely,
Ginger Zielinskie
Executive Director

To read the full report, click here.