Iowa鈥檚 Integrated Data System for Decision Making (I2D2) is a state-wide integrated data system, including education, human services, and health data to inform policy and improve outcomes for children and families. This complex, sprawling system is available online, and depends on technical and legal infrastructure to allow researchers to ethically conduct analyses in ways that protect the vulnerable population, children, that it targets. Each time new data is added to the system, the legal and ethical challenges associated with it become more complex. Their overall recommendation? Don鈥檛 wait to deal with data governance until the system is operational. Instead, address data security issues early, during the construction of the system!
To limit the possibility to data re-identification鈥攖he use of data from multiple systems to identify specific individuals included in them鈥擨owa has put into place a data governance system including three key elements:
Key Elements of I2D2鈥檚 Data Governance System:
- Memorandum of Agreement: Involves all state agencies, establishing the integration system.
- Data Sharing Agreements: Includes agencies contributing data, such as Iowa Head Start and the Department of Human Services.
- Data Use Licenses: Specifies what users can and cannot do with the data.
Demonstration Project:
Researchers used I2D2 to combine data sets and produce actionable insights. For example, they examined how child and family characteristics relate to program participation and kindergarten outcomes.
Key findings included the impact of parental characteristics and prenatal care on preschool participation and kindergarten literacy levels.
By integrating these systems, I2D2 can design early intervention programs to improve outcomes for children from birth through age five.