Office of Reporting, Research, Analytics and Implementation (ORRAI)

​The ODHS Office of Reporting, Research, Analytics and Implementation (ORRAI) aims to promote exceptional and equitable service by embracing opportunities​ for growth and providing innovation, resources, and support to staff. The unit collaborates with ODHS leadership and program representatives to set research and reporting priorities and to design, conduct, and implement research and data-informed change throughout the agency.

ORRAI helps ensure our programs and services are accountable to a variety of stakeholders. ODHS reports to federal agencies, the Oregon State Government, funders and other community partners on an ongoing basis as well as in response to changes in policy or requirements. In addition to reporting, ORRAI staff conduct research and analytics to ensure ODHS programs and services are effective, efficient, and best meet the needs of Oregonians. The addition of implementation staff to the unit in 2017 ensures that research and analysis are informed by workers, experts and clients and that resultant changes are implemented through planned, consistent and coordinated processes.

The ORRAI Reporting Unit compiles reports to assist program leadership in determining whether ODHS programs are achieving their goals and desired outcomes. They specialize in managing data to ensure it is accurate, consistent, and useful to programs in assessing their success and making decisions to alter their program design. One important part of this role is managing the agency scorecard of outcome and process measures. They are key to fulfilling compliance monitoring for both state and federal requirements. Reporting ensures stakeholders are receiving current, reliable, and accurate data based upon the targeted need.

Data Wareho​​use

The ODHS data warehouse is a collection of data sourced from the department’s multiple operational information systems. This data provides the infrastructure necessary to improve efficiencies for data reporting, research and analysis by acquiring cross-program and cross-system data and unifying it into a single area. The resulting single source data consolidation, or warehouse, then allows decision makers, program customers, researchers and other internal state departments the ability to quickly access and analyze the data through the software clients, tools and query languages they prefer.

G​​oals

• Provide a single, accurate, and reliable data source;
• Automation of standardized reports;
• Accessible and accurate data for reporting for internal staff;
• Improved customer service for data, reports, documentation and training.​
  

ODHS Research and Analytics collaborates with ODHS programs, leadership, other state agencies, community stakeholders and policy-makers to develop and implement research and disseminate findings. Research and analytics help ODHS learn more about the efficacy and limitations of the programs and services it provides and the people and communities that it serves, including a more fundamental understanding of their needs and experiences.

In 2015 ODHS’​ internal research and analytics capacity was expanded through the addition of the Oregon Enterprise Data Analytics (OEDA) contract. The Oregon State Legislature created OEDA to produce evidence-based, actionable information through inter-agency research to improve the lives of Oregonians. People experience intersecting issues across health, employment, poverty, education and other aspects of their lives. OEDA projects explore individual and community issues that involve programs or services that fall under multiple state agencies (for example ODHS, Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education). Essential direction in prioritizing our projects is provided by the Oregon Enterprise Data Analytics Advisory Committee, whose members include representatives from nine state agencies.

​Go​als

• Collaborate in the development of research agendas for each ODHS program area;
• Develop research-based tools to help inform decisions for both policy and field operations;
• Support the development of data-informed decision-making in each ODHS program area;
• Evaluate program effectiveness and service matching;
• Ensure research and analytics are replicable for other, related O​DHS or state agency research;
• Enhance cross-system data sharing and collection to improve service delivery across the continuum of each service delivery area.
  

Implementation works through collaboration and consensus-building to inform, plan, implement, and evaluate research for all program areas. It is a sequential process which includes a collaborative workgroup model, training development, pilots, statewide training, follow up and technical assistance. The timeline from research to completed implementation can take approximately 12 to 24 months depending on the complexity of the research and size of the training audience.

Goals

• Strengthen decision-making and outcome and metric tracking;
• Inform policies, procedures and operational models;
• Are conducted collaboratively through partnerships with ODHS leadership, staff from all levels, experts, and other key stakeholders;
• Are well-communicated throughout the ODHS community;
  
• Are well-implemented through training and technical assistance to staff;
• Are supported and sustainable through evaluation and designated resources when applicable.
  

Steps