How Different Stakeholders Can Use the Scorecard

State Agencies/Policy Makers

The Scorecard is a useful tool to benchmark and compare LTSS performance across states and identify innovative and promising practices. Here are some ways state agencies and policy makers can use the Scorecard to advance action:

• Ensure effective implementation. State agencies play a critical role in implementing policy decisions in their state. Areas of weakness identified by the Scorecard may signal the need for additional quality oversight or monitoring. In the absence of sufficient data to guide decisions, policy makers should seek more data as part of any plan of action.
• Influence policy debates. Agency officials and program managers can look within their own state data to understand what the Scorecard is measuring and how those measurements reflect performance against other states. State agency officials can refer to Scorecard findings to inform policy decisions, evaluate funding proposals, and shape public debate.
• Discover promising practices. The Scorecard highlights a handful of states that stand out in performance. Examples of innovative solutions are documented in Promising Practices and Emerging Innovations reports available at http://www.longtermscorecard.org. Policy makers may choose to adopt successful strategies from other states to improve their LTSS system.
• Engage the public and private sectors. Consider sharing the information about state rankings with community partners, advocates, the private sector, and other stakeholders to assess what is or is not working. The Scorecard measurements can help guide those conversations and drive consensus on action steps.

Advocates

The Scorecard can serve as a road map to improve the lives of individuals who use LTSS and increase efficiencies in state LTSS systems. Here are some ways that advocates can use the Scorecard to advance action:

• Seek robust quality data and public reporting. In order to ensure consumers are well-informed and prepared to advocate for themselves and their family members, they must have access to reliable and current LTSS data for both institutional and community settings. Where public reporting and data collection is inconsistent, advocates should seek more data and transparency.
• Identify opportunities. Advocates can consider how recent initiatives and strategies have impacted state performance across various indicators over time. If there are links between recent policy or budget decisions and improvements in performance, advocates may choose to celebrate that progress. Advocates can apply the information available in the Scorecard to tackle needs and leverage opportunities locally.
• Evaluate legislative and budget proposals against Scorecard measurements. Scorecard data, charts, state fact sheets, and state comparisons can provide advocates with an evidence-based rationale to support policy changes and enactment of model legislation. Advocates may wish to refer to Scorecard findings when delivering public testimony before legislative committees or making presentations to relevant stakeholders.
• Draw comparisons to similar states. Advocates may wish to adopt successful strategies from high-performing states and seed those ideas with key policy makers and legislators. When looking for other state examples, it may be useful to start with neighboring states or those with similar population size or demographics.
• Spark conversation. The Scorecard can be a useful resource to build bridges with other organizations and spark conversation with the public so that those and other stakeholders can understand state results, assess common priorities, and identify opportunities for action.
• Capture the attention of key influencers. Advocates may wish to leverage the Scorecard to draw attention to the findings and implications for local residents. Advocates can help identify points of intersection between state policy priorities and the Scorecard findings. Additionally, advocates can help contextualize the data by sharing personal stories and experiences with policy makers.

Family Caregivers

The Scorecard provides family caregivers with a high-level scan of policies in place to assist and support them. Availability of these supports varies considerably across states.

• Find available resources. The Scorecard may alert family caregivers about a new resource or an underutilized benefit in their own state. For example, a family caregiver may learn that their state or locality guarantees family caregivers workplace protections against discrimination or flexible leave to help balance work and family responsibilities.

Tools to Use

Find full results and more on the LTSS State Scorecard website. Go to http://www.longtermscorecard.org for the following:

1. State Data and Fact Sheets
   Get state-specific data, compare state performance and/or rankings, and download fact sheets for each state.
2. Maps, Graphics, and Tools
   Explore the data with easy-to-use maps and tools. Visualize the findings in each dimension.
3. Videos
   See the impact of the Scorecard and programs for people with LTSS needs.
4. Promising Practices and Other Resources
   Download, read, and share papers that provide concrete examples of programs and policies from states that have performed well in a specific area. Learn which LTSS innovations states are developing, piloting, or testing.