Strengthening Connections between Researchers and Policymakers: Testing the Scalability of a Local-level Intervention

In the more than 3,000 county governments across the country, county policymakers have substantial authority on matters that directly affect youth and families. With increasing mandates for research use in policy and the recent shifts in the federal government landscape, county policymakers have a greater need to collaborate with researchers to navigate complex research literature and inform policymaking efforts for youth. At the same time, county policymakers’ part-time schedules and labor shortages in county governments limit resources to support research use. This randomized-controlled trial addresses these shortcomings by scaling an intervention to facilitate relationship-building between evidence synthesis researchers and county legislators, thus lessening the distance between research and key decision makers. The team will assess intervention processes, researchers’ knowledge and beliefs about local policymaking, policymakers’ use of research evidence and research reach. It is informed by findings from the team’s previous Foundation-funded study, which found that in-person outreach by researchers is an effective strategy to build relationships with county policymakers.