It always begins with a story…

How to (and why) work collaboratively with administrative data

The truth about stories…

• We are story tellers

• The language we use should align with the language of those we want to influence

• The language of policy is numbers:

translation

• Vulnerable organizations

What data is “out there”? Held by different government agencies

Each have rules related to stewardship

The paradox• How to identify those living in marginalized circumstances in

datasets: SES, ethnicity

• Rural and remote communities’ reality are swallowed by urban numbers

• Datasets not designed to answer research questions

• Small samples mean high level analyses

• Risk: essentializing, distorting, reducing…

Many breakfast meetings…

• Long term relationships

• Continuous informal discussions (stories)

• Policy vigilance

• Translation of stories into policy relevant research questions

The possible, the likely and the potential

• Planning stage• Conceptual work• Data extraction • Analysis plan• Review of findings • Crafting of the “story” (reporting)

Supporting participation• Staff position within the organization

• Purchased time on Board meeting agenda

• Assisting with fact sheets, resolutions, summaries

• Facilitating partnerships

• Community organizations telling their own story at conferences

Beyond academic expertitis…

• Multiple forms of expertise

• Multiple messages to be carried forward

• Being continuously alert to concerns: risk, fear, inaccessible language, relevance

• Multiple opportunities for collaboration

• Valuing and integrating the knowledge contributed

• Partial stories best woven with qualitative and other data