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
Local, State Coalition Presses Congress for Urgent SNAP Fix
Officials on the frontlines of SNAP benefits administration across the nation are warning Congress about a little-known legislative provision with a huge impact on state budgets – an impact supercharged ...
State Leadership: Governors Work to Sustain Food Assistance
Governors and their teams stepped up to provide crucial support and safeguard the well-being of their communities during the 43 days of the 2025 federal shutdown. The shutdown demonstrated Governors’ ...
Policy Academy to Improve Crime Clearance Rates
When crimes are solved and cases are closed, communities experience greater confidence in their justice systems, victims receive closure and potential offenders face meaningful deterrence. For Governors, clearance rates offer ...
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
Health Workforce Policy Academy Meeting Building a Transformed Health Care Workforce: Moving from Planning to Implementation
May 19-20, 2014| Washington, D.C. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices hosted a meeting on May 19-20, 2014, ...
Reducing Prescription Drug Abuse: Lessons Learned from an NGA Policy Academy
As part of the National Governors Association’s (NGA) ongoing effort to help states reduce prescription drug abuse, findings from the ...
The Role of Dental Hygienists in Providing Access to Oral Health Care
Basic oral health is an important determinant of overall health, yet access remains a challenge for many Americans. Dental hygienists ...
Governor’s Guide to Mass Evacuation
Click here to read the Governor's Guide to Mass Evacuation written by the Homeland Security and Public Safety Division of the NGA Center ...
A Governor’s Guide to Early Literacy: Getting all Students Reading by Third Grade
Improving early literacy is essential to increasing high school graduation rates, success in postsecondary education and ensuring states have a ...
2012 Maternal and Child Health Update: The Changing Environment of Medicaid/CHIP Coverage for Children and Improving Birth Outcomes
The 2012 Maternal and Child Health (MCH) update presents data gathered by the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best ...
Improving Birth Outcomes in Medicaid
Women who begin their pregnancies in poor health are more likely to have negative birth outcomes than healthy women, according ...
Effect of Provider Payment Reforms on Maternal and Child Health Services
States are actively pursuing reforms to enhance the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care services provided to pregnant women and ...
Building a Civilian Cyber Corps
Whenever a natural disaster strikes a community, dozens, if not hundreds, of volunteers flock to assist in any way they ...
State Sector Strategies Coming of Age: Implications for State Workforce Policymakers
This paper offers a snapshot of sector strategies today, an overview of what makes them different from traditional workforce and ...
The Role of Nurse Practitioners in Meeting Increasing Demand for Primary Care
One way states could increase access to primary care for their residents is to consider easing their scope of practice ...
Improving Preparedness Through Sharing Public Health and Homeland Security Information
Governors can play an active role in improving how state and local agencies work together to produce useful homeland security ...
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…