The world of data and analysis can quickly become complex, particularly for stakeholders who may not consider themselves part of the “scientific” community. I2D2 deliberately works to bridge these gaps by infusing processes for “data dialog,” so information flows in and out of decision-making activities.
We mindfully strip away unnecessary and isolating research language, and work to share a common language about children and families using data. We provide definitions and explanations where helpful, and ask relevant questions of stakeholders on the ground to make sure definitions and inferences are made in context of community realities. We take great care and effort to ensure data will not mislead but rather be interpreted and applied to the lives of Iowa’s young children appropriately and accurately.
To get in touch with staff or leadership of I2D2 for more information or for data support, please contact us.
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The recently released update to Early Childhood Iowa’s “We are ECI” Strategic Plan 2023-2026 is a showcase of the committed partnerships across our statewide systems in improving services and outcomes for Iowa’s youngest children. We are proud to be partners in this work, as ECI has provided a...
The team at I2D2 is honored to be highlighted as a key “Innovative Solution” by Iowa State University in 2022. As part of the university’s strategic plan and the goal “to be the trusted partner for proactive and innovative solutions”, I2D2 was featured as the...
I2D2 recently finalized technical reports from the original Early Childhood Iowa Longitudinal Study integration which now include an addendum with recent work including integrated data from Head Start programs across the state. This addendum focuses on child outcomes for children participating both Head Start programs...
Over the last 20 years, 41 birthing units have closed across the state of Iowa. These birthing unit closures are occurring primarily in rural communities. The purpose of this analysis was to examine how closures may impact groups of families who may be more susceptible...
I2D2 releases new ECI Family Survey report In the wake of our introduction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the shut-down in 2020, and the creation of the Governor’s Childcare Task Force in 2021, it is clear that Iowa families are still facing challenges – particularly those...
I2D2 is thrilled to release the IA Data Drive for use in local and state strategic planning efforts. Stakeholder feedback across our early childhood system in 2020 consistently highlighted the need for aggregate data to support local and statewide strategic planning (see Mapping Vulnerability in Iowa’s...
I2D2 is hiring! The I2D2 Program Assistant will provide valuable support in accomplishing team goals and meeting deadlines specifically related to a large integrated data system build for the state of Iowa. This position will directly support the Director and Assistant Directors of I2D2, coordinate...
I2D2 was recently featured in a release by the Iowa State University News Service. The article discusses the partnerships I2D2 has facilitated, the technology used to ensure privacy, and the impact on programs for young children and families in Iowa. See the full article HERE
Jeff Jackson, I2D2’s Strategic Projects Specialist, was recently inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success in recognition of his academic and professional accomplishments as well as his completion of the NSLS leadership program. Congratulations, Jeff!
I2D2 was recently featured in a case study sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families as part of a national effort to advance the use of administrative data for program evaluation and cross-systems improvement. The report includes lessons learned and recommendations from I2D2 development,...
I2D2 Directors Heather Rouse and Cassandra Dorius presented at Iowa State University’s Research Day 2022 held by the Office of the Vice President for Research. View their lightening presentation on Integrating People and Data to Advance Collaborative Decision-Making
I2D2 presented at the annual “What’s Happening in Early Childhood in Iowa?” meeting to legislators, ECI State Board members, ECI Area Board members, early childhood programs and service providers. This presentation focused on how I2D2 is providing data which can be used to guide program...
I2D2 was featured in the winter 2022 issue of Kansas Child magazine for Dr. Rouse’s work with AISP partners developing a framework to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young children. This framework considers the impact of imbedded stressors caused by housing, health,...
Co-Director Cassandra Dorius and Assistant Director of Data and Analytics Todd Abraham were recently awarded the Interdisciplinary Team Research Award by Iowa State University. The award recognizes an interdisciplinary team of two or more faculty researchers with outstanding achievements who have made a significant contribution...
I2D2 has released a new data brief on the impact of birth risks on home visiting enrollment and program outcomes. Find the brief here.
I2D2 has released a new data brief on Themes in Iowa’s Child Care Conversation. This brief details challenges faced by early childhood care facilities regarding staffing and facilities. See the full brief here.
I2D2 Director Rouse and national colleagues from across the AISP network recently published a paper showcasing how IDS can be a critical resource for studying the impacts of COVID-19 on young children. This paper provides a developmental model and use cases for IDS to study...
In collaboration with the Iowa Department of Public Health, I2D2 released a program evaluation of the Phones 4 Families program. Families who are already more vulnerable due to low-income or family risk status, such as those served by Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting...
In collaboration with the Iowa Department of Public Health, I2D2 released a report on birth risks and timing of enrollment in home visiting programs. This report utilized integrated data from birth records and home visiting records to analyze how birth risks impact timing and duration...
I2D2 team members presented at the Midwest Big Data School on centering racial equity in integrated data. Visit the new I2D2 YouTube channel to view the presentation. I2D2 Director Heather Rouse and Assistant Director of Data and Analytics Todd Abraham discussed the governance and infrastructure...
Jeff Jackson, Assistant Director of Outreach and Strategic Planning for I2D2, has been appointed to the Professional and Scientific Council (P&S) for Iowa State University serving the 2021-2022 term. He will be a member of the Professional Development Committee and a Representative of the College...
I2D2 work completed in 2020 is being used to translate data into action by the Child Care Taskforce recently launched by the Governor. This Task Force will be making recommendations to address the child care shortage for Iowa’s youngest children and barriers for the workforce....
I2D2 Director Heather Rouse has officially been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at Iowa State University. Congratulations, Heather, on this well-deserved accomplishment!
Research from the I2D2 team was recently featured at the 2021 Annual Conference for the Society of Research on Development. Graduate students led two posters co-authored with the I2D2 team and state partners that were designated as Strategic Posters exemplifying policy research related to children’s development. https://www.srcd.org/event/srcd-2021-biennial-meeting View the posters here, available until...
Early Childhood Iowa held its Equity Advisory Committee meeting on March 23, 2021, where the I2D2 team led a discussion about how we attend to equity in data collection, integration, analysis, and dissemination. This work uses concepts from the Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP)...
https://earlychildhood.iowa.gov/document/whats-happening-early-childhood-iowa