Innovations in Washington State Government Yield Results Citizens Can Count On

For Immediate Release: November 15, 2007

Governor�s accountability program receives national recognition from the Council of State Governments

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire is leading a �cutting-edge� program focused on delivering results that matter to Washington citizens, according to the Council of State Governments.

The Governor�s Government Management Accountability and Performance (GMAP) program, one of eight programs around the nation to be recognized, is a management tool that relies on performance measures and a disciplined approach to decision-making to achieve better results.

�Washington�s accountability program was an obvious choice for the Innovations Award. One of the factors that we take a serious look at while judging is whether or not the program can work in other states around the country to achieve similar results,� said Dr. Keon Chi, Council of State Governments. �GMAP represents a mix of good management tools that are being successfully implemented across Washington state government. Many states are watching GMAP and the results it has achieved in critical areas such as jobs and child safety and are working to implement similar programs in their own states.�

State officials select award-winning programs using criteria such as newness, creativity, effectiveness, significance and transferability to evaluate programs.

�I�ve had the opportunity to travel around the state this fall to listen and talk to people and I can tell you that Washingtonians know what they want from their government. They want results that have a meaningful impact on their families in areas like the education and safety of our children, the quality of our healthcare system, and the continued success of our economy,� said Governor Gregoire. �The GMAP program is the tool I use to work with agencies to achieve these results.�

Since 1986, the Council of State Governments has used the Innovations Awards Program to highlight exemplary state programs and practices and to facilitate the transfer of those successful experiences to other states. The program is the only comprehensive national awards program that focuses on state programs and policies.

�As public policy becomes more complex, we must strive to find practical solutions. The Council of State Governments connects state leaders with the strategies, leadership training and information necessary to develop better solutions and improve our communities. Washington�s GMAP program is a great example of using state-of-the-art management tools to increase government accountability while achieving the best possible outcomes,� said Representative Jeff Morris, Western Region Chair, Council of State Governments.

Created in 2005, Governor Gregoire�s accountability program is moving state government away from a bureaucratic, rule-bound approach to a more nimble, results-focused one in high priority areas such as health care, economic development, the environment and public safety. The Governor regularly works with agency directors in open meetings to review performance reports. These GMAP sessions are an opportunity for the Governor, her leadership team, and agencies to engage in frank, open conversations about what is working, what is not, and how to improve. When performance is not meeting expectations, GMAP works with agencies to make the changes they need to be successful and produce results.

Washington�s GMAP program received the award at a ceremony Nov. 13 in Oklahoma City, OK.

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