Public Policy Lab

On Accountability" brought some powerful perspectives to PPL15 last month. Huge thanks to our speakers who explored themes of power, consent, and transparency. Watch the full recording on our website! https://ow.ly/AzM750YQNEO

It's official: the affordable housing application forms we redesigned with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and FirstPic, Inc. are now live for 3,000+ agencies serving nearly 5 million Americans. These forms are clearer, easier to navigate, and compliant with new federal requirements – because applying to housing shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Head to the case study page on our website (https://ow.ly/KsFc50YCTL9) to learn more.

Are you a PHA that needs new HOTMA-compliant forms? Be in touch! We’re happy to walk you through these new materials.

AI offers significant potential to improve health outcomes and system efficiencies, but its integration into primary care settings raises questions about equity, trust, and consent. For our work with The Commonwealth Fund, we’ve been speaking with patients from communities historically underserved by or mistrustful of the healthcare system to better understand how they feel about AI in primary care. Head to the case study page on our website (https://ow.ly/fFNp50Yzn2U) to find out what we heard.

What does it mean to navigate power in the space between innovation teams and the public?

Join us for a conversation on accountability in public-sector innovation with PPL executive director Chelsea Mauldin, Amira Boland (New America), Rachael Dietkus (Social Workers Who Design), and Terrance Smith (Johns Hopkins University). Drawing on the Public Policy Lab’s essay, “New View of Consent” (https://ow.ly/ok7750YxPJL), they’ll reflect on the realities of working within complex systems—and what it takes to build more equitable, trust-centered relationships with the communities designers aim to serve.

This event is part of PPL15, our series celebrating 15 years of Public Policy Lab. Find past events and blog posts on our website.

Register here: https://ow.ly/TIr850YxPG2.

For our latest PPL15 essay, we revisit a pivotal moment in our organization’s history when we realized our research consent processes were insufficient. With an updated foreword from PPL research director Judy Park Lee, this piece reflects on the unequal power dynamics that can shape research and how we’ve worked to redesign consent practices to center participant agency, transparency, and care. https://www.publicpolicylab.org/resources/ppl15-new-view-of-consent/