NGA Center for Best Practices
NGA Center for Best Practices teams develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The NGA Center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s Governors.
Latest
NGA HHS Institute 2025: Making Innovative Tech Work for Health & Human Services
Governors are looking to drive cost- and time-efficient solutions that mitigate workforce strain and improve seamless service delivery but navigating the universe of available products while balancing procurement requirements with ...
NGA HHS Institute 2025: Navigating SNAP Implementation Post-Reconciliation
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed H.R. 1, which contained several programmatic changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including the introduction of a new benefit cost-share penalty, ...
Telecom Infrastructure Vandalism and Public Safety Impacts
Vandalism of telecommunications networks is a growing problem, driven by theft of copper and fiber optic cables for scrap metal. More than 800 incidents are reported each month. That’s 27 ...
Reigniting the American Dream
Every American should have the opportunity to build a life of purpose, to strengthen their community, and to help shape a nation defined not only by prosperity, but by potential realized. Yet across our very diverse states, too many people have lost faith in this opportunity. They’ve faced too many obstacles, encountered too many closed doors, and given up the hope of a brighter future. We can do better.
Reigniting the American Dream is more than an initiative. It’s an invitation for every U.S. governor to take action.
Program Areas
Center for Best Practices Library
Arts & the Economy: Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development
Through the creative industries, states have an opportunity to create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies ...
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Update: States Increase Eligibility for Children’s Health in 2007
Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) provide a critical source of health insurance coverage to low-income pregnant ...
Promoting Film and Media to Enhance State Economic Development
Film and media arts can play a key role in state economic development. As economic impact studies continue to demonstrate ...
State Efforts to Expand Broadband Access
This Issue Brief reviews state efforts to expand broadband access by offering examples of implementation strategies. In addition, we highlight ...
State Efforts to Promote Reading and Literary Activities in Communities
Policies and programs that support reading can help create a culture of reading and community action. By promoting literary reading, ...
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Update 2005: States Make Modest Expansions to Health Care Coverage
Medicaid continues to be the nation’s largest health insurance program for low-income people. This report examines some of the policies ...
MCH Update: States Protect Health Care Coverage During Recent Fiscal Downturn
Medicaid is the nation’s largest health insurance program for low-income persons. The data in this report show state efforts around ...
MCH Update 2002: State Health Coverage for Low-Income Pregnant Women, Children, and Parents
Since 1990, the NGA Center has reported on the status of state Medicaid coverage of children and pregnant women and ...
MCH Update 2001: Trends in State Health Insurance Coverage of Pregnant Women, Children, and Parents
Since 1990, the NGA Center has reported on the status of state Medicaid coverage of children and pregnant women and ...
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Update: States Have Expanded Eligibility and Increased Access to Health Care for Pregnant Women and Children
In January 2001, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) announced that more than 3.3 million previously uninsured children now have ...
PAST NGA CHAIRS INITIATIVES
- 2024-2025
Gov. Jared Polis’s Initiative
Let’s Get Ready! - 2023-2024
Gov. Spencer Cox’s Initiative
Disagree Better - 2022-2023
Gov. Phil Murphy’s Initiative
Strengthening Youth Mental Health - View all…