Planned Parenthood Partners with DrivenData on Data Competition

For Immediate Release: March 9, 2015

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New York, NY — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) has launched a data science competition with DrivenData, a Harvard Innovation Lab-based data firm that brings the technical abilities of aspiring and experienced data scientists to meaningful social questions. The competition is open to the public, and aims to bring the most talented minds in data research together to identify trends in reproductive health care.

“Understanding trends in women’s health care is critical to delivering the expert, quality care that is the hallmark of Planned Parenthood,” said Cecile Richards, president, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “By bringing in experienced data scientists to better understand women’s needs and preferences in the changing health care environment, this contest will build upon research that could help women across the board access the health care services they need.”

“In partnership with Planned Parenthood, we are challenging data lovers to investigate and model the health care decisions of millions of American women,” said Isaac Slavitt, a co-founder of DrivenData. “Now is a great time for social impact organizations to start using data to their advantage. We want to use the results of this competition to help inform health policy groups, public health researchers, and health care providers like Planned Parenthood. If you want to use your data skills for lasting good, sign up now and get mining!”

Challenge Summary: Recent literature suggests that the demand for women’s health care will grow by 6 percent by 2020. Given how rapidly the health landscape has been changing over the last 15 years, it’s increasingly important that we understand how these changes affect what care people receive, where they go for it, and how they pay. Using the National Survey of Family Growth, can you predict what drives women’s health care decisions in America?

You can learn more about the challenge, which will have a combined prize of $5,000 ($3,000 for first place; $1,500 for second place; $500 for third), here: http://www.drivendata.org/competitions/ppfa/

DrivenData and Lawrence Finer, director of domestic research at the Guttmacher Institute, will review the top selections based on criteria approved in advance by Planned Parenthood.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.