Strong Legal Frameworks for Data Integration: Four Questions for Moving Forward

Cross-sector data sharing and integration has become more routine and commonplace, and for good reason. When governments and their partners bring together data safely and responsibly, policymakers and practitioners are better equipped to:

• Understand the complex needs of individuals and families
• Allocate resources where they are needed most to improve services
• Measure impacts of policies and programs holistically
• Engage in transparent, shared decision making about how data should (and should not) be used
• Institutionalize regulatory compliance

Data sharing and integration is also not without risks, and clear legal frameworks are essential to mitigate those risks, protect privacy, and guide responsible data use. Designing the appropriate legal framework for your context can be a complex task and a test of endurance. In response, Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP) created Finding a Way Forward: How to Create a Strong Legal Framework for Data Integration to support the essential and challenging work of exchanging, linking, and using data across government agencies. This resource was developed in partnership with our national network of integrated data systems to provide clear guidance on how to get started, including guiding questions to explore with partners, checklists to assist with drafting legal documents, memorandum of understanding templates, and site examples. We suggest starting with “the four questions” to identify relevant next steps for your jurisdiction.