Improving Engagement in Community Level Data Collection

To improve health outcomes for all, it is essential for the community to be at the forefront of public health data.

 

Through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the CDC Foundation administered a project to investigate opportunities for health surveillance systems to better respond to local data priorities related to the social and structural determinants of health (SDOH), including the experiences and impacts of systemic injustices.

In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Alliance Against Disparities in Patient Health (NADPH) and Data Equity Coalitions (DECs) in Atlanta, Detroit, Durham, Pittsburgh and San Antonio, this program gathered communities’ perspectives on the use of survey data to improve health.

As a local DEC for the project, Neighborhood Nexus conducted the project activities in Atlanta, Georgia:

The research project focused on collecting community feedback on the use of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), and PLACES.

In this effort, we facilitated interviews, focus groups and findings validation sessions with members of three populations of interest:

  1. Traditionally marginalized communities: Groups that have been traditionally marginalized, excluded and/or most affected by the adverse health outcomes of health inequities.
  2. Public health workers: These are public health professionals from any Public Health Department at the city, county, or state level. This group can include participants of any level and occupation, from service providers to researchers and more.
  3. Sector and community leaders: Representatives of community-focused organizations, such as neighborhood boards, advocacy groups, nonprofits, and local foundations.

All this was possible by engaging community partners with established trusted relationships with these groups, providing valuable insights and guidance for the activities and communication efforts:

 

View a collaborative recap of the project and a list of promising actions for surveillance systems to consider for enhancing community engagement and developing more relevant SDOH metrics in our Final Collaborative Report.

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