Mapping for Michigan Chronic Disease Prevention and Control: A Portfolio of GIS Maps for Health Planners and Advocates

In 2007 Michigan was awarded a Geographic Information System (GIS) Capacity Building grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners. The grant included a needs assessment, eight training sessions, consultation, site visits, software, hardware and other resources to develop chronic disease GIS capacity in state health departments. Michigan's team included staff who work in heart disease, stroke, obesity, cancer, tobacco, and diabetes program areas.

Maps developed in the grant include a variety of chronic disease areas focusing on mortality, hospitalization, demographics, economic indicators, associated risk factors and assets of importance to program services, gaps and systems design. The team has accessed various data sources and used standardized templates for displaying and storing map information to maximize efficiency and collaboration. The map products have been incorporated in burden reports, project reporting and strategic planning. The team has developed mapping capacity for a range of topics with different examples of program and partnership application.

Over 40 maps have been incorporated in a portfiolo for chronic disease advocates and planners. The purpose and process for establishing the current GIS maps with lessons-learned, will be shared. The portfolio of maps has been used in partnership discussions and presentations. Continued growth and utilization of this methodology is expected and increasing requests from community partners is evidence of the value of this information.