DATA PARTNERS

How to Become a LINC Data Partner

LINC is a resource for data partners who would like to improve their approach to data sharing for research and analytic projects requiring cross-system data. The LINC Director only initiates the onboarding process for new data partners if the data partner (a) desires to join the LINC partnership and reaches out or (b) is a necessary party to a potential LINC project initiated by an existing LINC data partner. The steps to joining the LINC collaborative include:

An introductory meeting with LINC Director and prospective data partner leadership to learn about the LINC collaborative and its governance and legal frameworks. This is an opportunity to ask questions and identify the ways LINC can meet their needs. If a potential LINC project hasn’t already been identified for the partner, this is an opportunity to brainstorm ideas.

A subsequent meeting with LINC Director and prospective data partner legal, privacy, and data security staff. This is to introduce the LINC collaborative and provide greater detail on the ways the LINC structure addresses the concerns of these organizational experts. Flexible decisions that can be made by the prospective LINC data partner include:

• Any limitations on their ability to support LINC projects (e.g., specific project types based on regulations, must benefit data partner directly, hiatus due to pandemic).
• How data will be prepared for LINC projects they choose to approve (e.g., standing data extract held by data partner and refreshed routinely, customized data pulls for projects, direct access to data system for LINC data scientist.
• Unique expectations on LINC data scientist handling of data or certification to work with data.
• Specific de-identification and cell suppression policies

The LINC Director sends the prospective data partner all LINC legal documents for review including the Enterprise Memorandum of Understanding (EMOU), LINC Data Sharing Agreement (DSA), and standard LINC Data Use License (DUL). A meeting is scheduled to discuss feedback from designated staff after reviewing documents.

If the prospective data partner is ready to join LINC, the data partner’s key leadership is sent the LINC EMOU for signature.

The LINC Director incorporates required revisions to the prospective data partner’s LINC DSA and sends to the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) for review and acceptance.

The final LINC DSA is signed by the new LINC data partner and OIT.

The LINC Director and Data Scientist work with the new LINC data partner as desired to prepare data for future projects.

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