How the Indiana Management Performance Hub’s Data Capacity Helped Fuel COVID-19 Research and Response

The economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened demand for cross-agency data capacity, as policymakers are forced to reconcile the need for expanded services with extreme fiscal constraints. In this context, integrated data systems (IDS) — also commonly referred to as data hubs, data collaboratives, or state longitudinal data systems – are a valuable resource for data-informed decision-making across agencies. IDS utilize standard governance processes and legal agreements to grant authority for routine, responsible use of linked data, and institutionalize roles across partners with shared priorities.

The following case study details how one state-level IDS, the Indiana Management Performance Hub (MPH), expanded existing capacity to facilitate groundbreaking COVID-19 research, support vaccine distribution, and inform long-term recovery efforts. While every context is unique, Indiana’s experience offers lessons for other state (and local) governments seeking to build flexible capacity to integrate data for impact.