Name: Opinion: Wisconsin needs a statewide, data-driven approach to fight the coronavirus pandemic
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Opinion: Wisconsin needs a statewide, data-driven approach to fight the coronavirus pandemic

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Dan CunninghamOur country is at a critical point in the COVID-19 crisis. We're working every day&nbsp;to protect the health and well-being of all citizens while trying to avoid an economic collapse. Yet projections on both sides of this balancing equation point to potentially devasting results if we pivot too quickly in either direction — or too timidly.It has been increasingly clear that our collective objective must be to do as much as we can to mitigate harm and avoid the false choice of either&nbsp;saving&nbsp;lives or saving the&nbsp;economy.We need clarity, communication&nbsp;and confidence that we have the talent, tools and tactics to win one of the greatest challenges in the last 100 years and have an honest dialogue with the public about this challenge.&nbsp;Live Updates:Daily Digest:While organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce have worked diligently to provide transparency and collaboration at a regional level, it has been seven weeks since the issuance of Gov. Tony Evers'&nbsp;stay-at-home order&nbsp;and we are eager to see this collaborative, transparent, systematic&nbsp;and data-driven approach at the state level.In the absence of such a path, Forward Janesville has&nbsp;introduced the "Better Together Framework," a blueprint for creating a public-private, nonpartisan task force to safely restart Wisconsin’s economy while continuing to battle the coronavirus.&nbsp;The goal is to integrate health and economic goals at the state level to provide much-needed guidance to local communities.Better Together recognizes that there have been individual actions and recommendations on “what” to do but that our state lacks an operating platform that could advance and integrate the excellent ideas and proposals presented by state leaders.&nbsp;Better Together focuses on the “how.”The centerpiece of the Better Together Framework is the Badger Task Force,&nbsp;which would be led by three division leaders — one each from the public, private and&nbsp;health care sectors.&nbsp;These leaders would oversee critical state priorities.The Task Force will have nine focus areas:The task force would be supported by state data and communications centers.&nbsp;The communications center would&nbsp;work with counties and cities, regional state partners, and federal partners to ensure information is flowing in order to maximize our regional response.&nbsp;Marinette County is not the same as Dane County, and so responses for one may not be appropriate for the other.The data center would ensure that all key metrics and trends are collected and analyzed by a single source but be applied on a regional basis.The task force will create vibrancy by setting and achieving measurable goals and objectives.&nbsp;Transparency and communication, such as daily briefings, will build confidence and trust.&nbsp; Everyone in our state should know what’s going on with the COVID-19 virus and the state’s response to it.&nbsp;The Better Together Framework is not a replacement for the Governor’s plan or Wisconsin Manufacturers &amp; Commerce’s plan.&nbsp; Rather, it is meant to provide an operating platform to allow leaders and experts to take the strengths of each plan and transparently communicate with state residents to mitigate harm.&nbsp;In so doing, Wisconsin can create the nation’s most robust and comprehensive recovery blueprint.The Better Together Framework drew on approaches proposed and implemented around the country. It also was informed by tools that businesses and organizations often deploy to tackle massive challenges.&nbsp;The Space Shuttle Presidential Commission and Joint Task Force Katrina are significant national examples of deploying a framework to leverage available resources, find&nbsp;solutions&nbsp;and communicate progress.Better Together was created to address significant gaps facing Wisconsin in PPE, testing, tracing, child care&nbsp;and social safety nets.&nbsp;This is not a short-term challenge.&nbsp;Our organization has asked the governor to implement the Better Together/Badger Task Force Framework;&nbsp;we recognize the formation of a bipartisan collaborative structure will require strong principled leadership.Each day that passes without a cohesive, collaborative approach damages the Wisconsin&nbsp;economy, our society&nbsp;and collective psyche.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dan Cunningham is vice president of government relations and education for Forward Janesville. To see a 10-minute overview of&nbsp;Better Together, visit .

Dan CunninghamOur country is at a critical point in the COVID-19 crisis. We're working every day&nbsp;to protect the health and well-being of all citizens while trying to avoid an economic collapse. Yet projections on both sides of this balancing equation point to potentially devasting results if we pivot too quickly in either direction — or too timidly.It has been increasingly clear that our collective objective must be to do as much as we can to mitigate harm and avoid the false choice of either&nbsp;saving&nbsp;lives or saving the&nbsp;economy.We need clarity, communication&nbsp;and...

Opinion: Wisconsin needs a statewide, data-driven approach to fight the coronavirus pandemic

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