Evidence-based policymaking is the systematic use of findings from program evaluations and outcome analyses(“evidence”) to guide government policy and funding decisions. By focusing limited resources on public servicesand programs that have been shown to produce positive results, governments can expand their investments inmore cost-effective options, consider reducing funding for ineffective programs, and improve the outcomes ofservices funded by taxpayer dollars.While the term “evidence-based policymaking” is growing in popularity in state capitols, there is limitedinformation about the extent to which states employ the approach. This report seeks to address this gap by:1) identifying six distinct actions that states can use to incorporate research findings into their decisions, 2)assessing the prevalence and level of these actions within four human service policy areas across 50 states andthe District of Columbia, and 3) categorizing each state based on the final results.#2017#WhitePaper#evidence#Evidence/FactedBasedOrganization#thepewcharitabletrust#macarthurfoundation