Other Group

New Practice Lab

Website:

www.newamerica.org/new-practice-lab/

Location:

Washington, DC

Type:

Advocacy Group

Formation:

2020

Project of:

New America

Executive Director:

Tara Dawson McGuinness

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The New Practice Lab is an advocacy group that claims to push for policies meant to increase access to welfare services in the United States. The group is a project of New America, a left-of-center think tank based in Washington, D.C. 1

Activity

The New Practice Lab is an advocacy group that claims to push for policies meant to reform American welfare programs and services to increase access for families. In a 2023 interview, senior policy manager Erica Meade claimed the welfare system was “a maze” with “a lot of variation among states,” and further claimed the system was purposefully designed not to function well. During the interview, Meade also claimed that many families eligible for welfare programs do not receive benefits because they are unaware of the programs or do not know how to apply. Meade also asserts that her group advocates for a “streamlined” approach to Welfare through “state-level implementation” of new programs and services centered on a “human-first, consumer mindset.” 2

The Lab uses what it calls “sprints,” or experimental partnerships with local governments. For instance, in late 2019, the Lab partnered with New Jersey on a four-week “sprint” to improve the delivery of the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Lab staff advocated new incentives meant to improve user experience for both programs, while also making similar recommendations to such programs within the State of Connecticut. 3

In 2021, the Lab published a summary of its findings from both New Jersey and Connecticut. The summary recommended for welfare programs to focus on real-time data monitoring, have stricter “job protection” provisions for employees who access such programs, and have the state work with employers to spread awareness of such programs. 4

Also in 2021, the Lab ran a “sprint” in New York State with the State Department of Taxation and Finance to increase the number of recipients of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The Lab’s findings claimed that many state taxpayers were using tax software that did not recommend the EITC or similar programs nor did they understand requirements for receiving such benefits. 5

Leadership

Tara Dawson McGuinness is the founder and executive director of the New Practice Lab. Prior to this, she was a senior advisor to New America. From 2013 to 2017, McGuinness served as a
senior advisor in the Obama White House, including to the Executive Director Community Solutions Task Force. From 2008 to 2013, McGuiness worked at the Center for American Progress. Earlier, she worked for then-U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), then-U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA), and the National Democratic Institute. 6

Amira Choueiki Boland has worked as the chief of staff of the New Practice Lab since June 2024. Boland also works at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy as a faculty member. From 2018 to early 2024, Choueiki Boland worked at the Office of Management and Budget. From 2015 to 2019, she worked in a similar role at the General Services Administration. From 2015 to 2017, Choueiki Boland worked in the White House during the Obama administration. Prior to this, Choueiki Boland was a consultant with Deloitte. 7

Sarah Gilliland has been a senior policy analyst at New America and the New Practice Lab since October 2022. From 2010 to 2022, Gilliland worked as a librarian in the Executive Office of the President under President Joe Biden, at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and in the U.S. Senate. 8

Funding

From 2020 to 2023, the New America Foundation received three grants earmarked for the New Practice Lab from the Open Society Foundations, the grantmaking network of billionaire left-wing philanthropist George Soros, worth a total of $6.25 million. 9

The Lab has previously received funding from the Families and Workers Fund. 10

References

  1.  Weeden, Jessica; Trivedi, Sheri Bernard. “Meet the New Practice Lab: Where Policy and Delivery Converge.” New America. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://www.newamerica.org/new-practice-lab/blog/meet-npl-policy-delivery/.
  2. Swartz, Mark. “Escaping the Policy Labyrinth with New America’s New Practice Lab.” Early Learning Nation. May 16, 2023. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://earlylearningnation.com/2023/05/escaping-the-policy-labyrinth-with-new-americas-new-practice-lab/.
  3. Weeden, Jessica; Trivedi, Sheri Bernard. “Meet the New Practice Lab: Where Policy and Delivery Converge.” New America. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://www.newamerica.org/new-practice-lab/blog/meet-npl-policy-delivery/.
  4. Zucker, Gabriel; McGuinness, Tara Dawson. “Reaching all individuals and families with Paid Family and Medical Leave.” New America. March 31, 2021. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://www.newamerica.org/new-practice-lab/blog/reaching-all-individuals-and-families-with-paid-family-and-medical-leave/.
  5. Rodríguez, Alberto; Kaur, Navya; Nichols, Imani; Namdol, Tenzin; Rachakonda Sudeepti. “Improving service delivery in EITC for New Yorkers.” August 10, 2021. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://www.newamerica.org/new-practice-lab/blog/improving-service-delivery-in-eitc-for-new-yorkers/.
  6. “Tara McGuinness.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-mcguinness-28b2aa1/.
  7. “Amira Choueiki Boland.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiracboland/.
  8. “Sarah Gilliland.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gilliland-a772149a/?locale=de_DE&trk=public_post_comment_actor-image.
  9. “Awarded Grants.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=new+practice+lab&grant_id=OR2022-87843.
  10. “Featured Grantee: New America.” The Families and Workers Fund. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://familiesandworkers.org/grantees/.
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New Practice Lab


Washington, DC