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
Civility, Federalism, and the Future of American Politics
In a week that could easily have been defined by division, the penultimate session of the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting offered something increasingly rare in American public life: two politicians, ...
Policy Brief: Outdoor Recreation and Public Health
States are increasingly exploring the intersection of health policy and outdoor recreation to better understand how these policy areas could be leveraged for the positive benefit of their constituents. While ...
The Power of Service: Governors Lead Efforts to Support Military Families and to Promote Volunteer Service Opportunities
In a segment titled “The Power of Service,” NGA Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore led a panel discussion to explore how Americans can heal division by serving in our ...
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
Shaping a Healthier Generation: Successful State Strategies to Prevent Childhood Obesity
The NGA Center convened the Shaping a Healthier Generation Advisory Council in response to the need for innovative and actionable ...
Preparing to Implement HITECH: A State Guide for Electronic Health Information Exchange
The HITECH Act, enacted as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, expands the role of states in ...
State Employee Health Management Initiatives
With a workforce increasingly susceptible to chronic diseases, states are addressing the various conditions that account for more than 75 ...
NGA Center Influenza Resources
Preparing for a Pandemic Influenza: A Primer for Governors and Senior State Officials Sustaining the State Workforce: Strategies for Effective ...
Small Business Initiatives for Health Coverage and Disease Prevention
Small businesses create a majority of new jobs in the country and make significant contributions to the nation’s economic viability ...
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 ...
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…