Challenges in Evaluating Social Programs

Today we talked to Alex Jutca; he leads analytics and technology at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, where his team’s mission is to build the country’s leading R&D lab for local government. Allegheny County is known for having the best integrated data of any state and local system in the country, and they’ve applied it effectively, like using predictive algorithms in child welfare.

We discussed:

* What issues are consistent across Pittsburgh, Philly, and Baltimore?

* How does a local CPS actually work?

* When shouldn’t you involuntarily commit people with severe mental disorders?

* Why has anti-addiction drug development stalled out?

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