Opinion: How data can transform support for CT youth

CT Mirror – Tuesday, October 7, 2025
By Michelle Riordan-Nold

Michelle Riordan-Nold is Executive Director of the Connecticut Data Collaborative, which coordinates the Hartford Data Collaborative and Hartford Youth Data Fellows program, and operates the CTData Academy.

With the severe cuts to federal programs such as Medicaid and SNAP benefits on the immediate horizon, Connecticut needs to bolster its data infrastructure to ensure the limited dollars the state will be receiving are targeted to those most in need and are having the intended impact.

Several actions during the 2025 legislative session have moved the state closer to strengthening the technical infrastructure needed to support services that generate data for evaluating impact. Most recently, lawmakers have invested in childcare, reduced the cost burden on families, created Baby Bonds to fight generational poverty, and developed strategies to re-engage disconnected youth. Amidst a national climate where protections for vulnerable populations are eroding, Connecticut stands out for its commitment to its future.

Two policy initiatives —Baby Bonds and universal early childcare— have the potential to be transformative for the lives of Connecticut’s children. However, to realize their full impact, it’s essential that we implement systems capable of tracking progress.

Investing in our children’s future not only benefits our youth, it helps develop a stronger workforce for the future. Ensuring the recipients of the bonds are on a path to success will require cooperation among state agencies, characterized by interagency data sharing and measurement of outcomes.

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