Nonprofit think tanks play a vital role in society by providing reliable research, analysis, and education to help government officials develop compassionate policies that are responsive to the challenges their communities face. In order for state-based leaders to solve local problems in ways that truly meet their communities’ needs, it’s critical to listen to and understand fellow Americans’ concerns.

Since March 2020, State Policy Network and Heart + Mind Strategies have tracked American reactions and needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. From these weekly polls, trends are emerging that should help state-based leaders effectively communicate with their states about policies related to the pandemic and those that are not.

See Week 9 highlights and key takeaways here. Previous weeks are listed below.

Week 8 Highlights: May 6-7, 2020