The Challenge
Everyone held a piece of the picture. No one could see the whole of it.
Everyone held a piece of the picture. No one could see the whole of it.
Everyone held a piece of the picture. No one could see the whole of it.
Muscatine County had no shortage of people working on behalf of its children. What it lacked was a way to see their work together. Three school districts ran on three different student information systems. More than 20 community organizations tracked their own results in their own ways. Everyone held a piece of the picture, and no one could see the whole of it.
Muscatine County had no shortage of people working on behalf of its children. What it lacked was a way to see their work together. Three school districts ran on three different student information systems. More than 20 community organizations tracked their own results in their own ways. Everyone held a piece of the picture, and no one could see the whole of it.
For Aligned Impact Muscatine County (AIM), a StriveTogether partnership, that fragmentation carried real consequences. Public data alone was too shallow and slow to support the decisions AIM needed to make for local children and families. Without a way to connect information across partners, trends that should have prompted early action went unnoticed. Services were harder to coordinate, and opportunities to help kids were missed before anyone knew they existed.
For Aligned Impact Muscatine County (AIM), a StriveTogether partnership, that fragmentation carried real consequences. Public data alone was too shallow and slow to support the decisions AIM needed to make for local children and families. Without a way to connect information across partners, trends that should have prompted early action went unnoticed. Services were harder to coordinate, and opportunities to help kids were missed before anyone knew they existed.
The Work
Technical infrastructure, built through relationships.
Technical infrastructure, built through relationships.
Technical infrastructure, built through relationships.
In May 2023, AIM engaged WillBridge to build the infrastructure and working relationships behind a county-wide shared data system—a secure environment where records from school districts and community organizations could be brought together and used effectively.
In May 2023, AIM engaged WillBridge to build the infrastructure and working relationships behind a county-wide shared data system—a secure environment where records from school districts and community organizations could be brought together and used effectively.
What stood out to AIM was less the technology than the posture behind it. Rather than building a one-size-fits-all model, WillBridge learned alongside AIM, taking the time to understand the goal and the genuine complexity underneath it: three districts running three different student information systems, plus a range of community partners each collecting data their own way. The work was collaborative and relationship driven.
What stood out to AIM was less the technology than the posture behind it. Rather than building a one-size-fits-all model, WillBridge learned alongside AIM, taking the time to understand the goal and the genuine complexity underneath it: three districts running three different student information systems, plus a range of community partners each collecting data their own way. The work was collaborative and relationship driven.
WillBridge worked alongside AIM staff to organize information from those many sources into a common, usable form, building on its DataCommunity platform and FERPA-aligned governance that lets partners share sensitive data with confidence.
WillBridge worked alongside AIM staff to organize information from those many sources into a common, usable form, building on its DataCommunity platform and FERPA-aligned governance that lets partners share sensitive data with confidence.
That included more than configuring technology. WillBridge worked with AIM to develop a governance framework and data sharing agreement that fit the county’s actual partner landscape, giving school districts and community organizations a clear, practical structure for sharing sensitive information responsibly.
That included more than configuring technology. WillBridge worked with AIM to develop a governance framework and data sharing agreement that fit the county’s actual partner landscape, giving school districts and community organizations a clear, practical structure for sharing sensitive information responsibly.
The Value
From collecting data to using it.
From collecting data to using it.
From collecting data to using it.
The clearest change has been in how AIM thinks. “Our team has been able to become more data informed in how we make decisions, evaluate programs, and identify community needs,” said Mindy Hoon, AIM’s Data Manager.
The clearest change has been in how AIM thinks. “Our team has been able to become more data informed in how we make decisions, evaluate programs, and identify community needs,” said Mindy Hoon, AIM’s Data Manager.
For the first time, AIM can look at outcomes across systems rather than one program at a time, strengthening its ability to evaluate efforts from kindergarten readiness through post-secondary outcomes and to see where additional support is needed.
For the first time, AIM can look at outcomes across systems rather than one program at a time, strengthening its ability to evaluate efforts from kindergarten readiness through post-secondary outcomes and to see where additional support is needed.
In Practice
Reading Mentor Program
Because student records can now be connected, AIM can compare the progress of students who receive mentoring against those who do not and see the difference the program is making. That evidence does more than confirm the program works. It gives AIM the standing to recruit more volunteers and expand mentoring into more grades across the community.
Because student records can now be connected, AIM can compare the progress of students who receive mentoring against those who do not and see the difference the program is making. That evidence does more than confirm the program works. It gives AIM the standing to recruit more volunteers and expand mentoring into more grades across the community.
The work has also changed how partners relate to one another. As organizations see the value of contributing to a shared effort, trust has grown, and so have conversations about data quality.
The work has also changed how partners relate to one another. As organizations see the value of contributing to a shared effort, trust has grown, and so have conversations about data quality.
“Partners are beginning to view data not just as reporting requirements, but as a tool for improving services and supporting students more effectively,” Hoon said. That shift from compliance to genuine use is the base upon which everything else is built.
“Partners are beginning to view data not just as reporting requirements, but as a tool for improving services and supporting students more effectively,” Hoon said. That shift from compliance to genuine use is the base upon which everything else is built.
“WillBridge has helped our organization move from simply collecting data to using it in meaningful and actionable ways. Their value comes not only from technical expertise, but from their ability to listen, adapt, and help us build a system that reflects our local priorities and relationships.”
“WillBridge has helped our organization move from simply collecting data to using it in meaningful and actionable ways. Their value comes not only from technical expertise, but from their ability to listen, adapt, and help us build a system that reflects our local priorities and relationships.”
“WillBridge has helped our organization move from simply collecting data to using it in meaningful and actionable ways. Their value comes not only from technical expertise, but from their ability to listen, adapt, and help us build a system that reflects our local priorities and relationships.”
Mindy Hoon
Data Manager, Aligned Impact Muscatine County
Data Manager, Aligned Impact Muscatine County
The Momentum
A foundation that continues to grow.
A foundation that continues to grow.
A foundation that continues to grow.
AIM can now connect information across organizations to understand long-term outcomes for children and families and move from individual program reports toward a coordinated view of where the community is gaining ground and where gaps remain.
AIM can now connect information across organizations to understand long-term outcomes for children and families and move from individual program reports toward a coordinated view of where the community is gaining ground and where gaps remain.
That foundation is already opening doors. The work has strengthened collaboration with school districts and community organizations and deepened AIM’s initiatives in education and workforce outcomes. The systems, cross-partner planning, and data training built during the engagement remain in use and continue to grow.
That foundation is already opening doors. The work has strengthened collaboration with school districts and community organizations and deepened AIM’s initiatives in education and workforce outcomes. The systems, cross-partner planning, and data training built during the engagement remain in use and continue to grow.
Over the next few years, AIM expects to bring on more partners and sharpen its dashboards. A larger goal focuses on integrating education and workforce data, which would let the county spot trends earlier and plan more strategically. The local data, trends, and outcomes AIM can now show have already strengthened conversations with funders and stakeholders about sustainability and future investment.
Over the next few years, AIM expects to bring on more partners and sharpen its dashboards. A larger goal focuses on integrating education and workforce data, which would let the county spot trends earlier and plan more strategically. The local data, trends, and outcomes AIM can now show have already strengthened conversations with funders and stakeholders about sustainability and future investment.
Asked what would have been hardest without WillBridge, AIM’s answer was direct: building the technical infrastructure and strategic framework behind a county-wide shared data system simply would not have been possible.
Asked what would have been hardest without WillBridge, AIM’s answer was direct: building the technical infrastructure and strategic framework behind a county-wide shared data system simply would not have been possible.