245430 A National Network of State and Local Health Surveys

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 1:24 PM

AJ Scheitler, MEd , UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
National organizations, federal agencies, and the 2010 federal health care reform legislation have called for local- and state-level population health data collection to evaluate and monitor the nation's progress in improving health and eliminating health disparities. Existing federally-sponsored surveys provide important information about the health of the nation's population, but critical gaps remain in the kinds of data they collect, and especially in their ability to provide state and local health data. To fill these gaps, a number of states have developed innovative population health surveys to meet their own needs. Based on findings from a study of state health surveys conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and funded by several NIH Institutes and Offices, we are taking steps to form a National Network of State and Local Health Surveys. The study identified the need for technical assistance to promote comparability of survey questions and resulting data across states and localities. Statewide Local Health Surveys reported needing technical assistance including strategic planning and outreach to stakeholders, a “survey question bank” to promote use of comparable survey questions, and dissemination tools to maximize access to and use of statewide local health surveys data. These steps are expected to enhance the utility of the surveys for national, state and local health policy development, for research aimed at eliminating health and health care disparities, and for assessing the impact of health care reform.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Differentiate between national surveys that produce state estimates and surveys that produce local-level estimates. 2. Describe the current availability of state and local surveys 3. Demonstrate the benefits of a coordinated network of the state and local health surveys 4. Discuss next steps to be taken in achieving national comparability of state and local health surveys

Keywords: Data/Surveillance, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I am the grant and development manager at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR). I direct the Center's development activities, creates grant proposals and manages grant awards. Prior to joining the team at CHPR, I conducted federal resource development activities for a number of institutions of higher education and lobbied Congress and the federal government for the interests of education organizations and post-secondary schools. She has experience at the state government level as well, having served as the Chief of Staff for the Florida Senate Minority Leader.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.