Data to action: Using GIS to improve community health and planning

The University of Florida Family Data Center (FDC) has galvanized local policy and decision-makers by moving from “data to action” through use of GIS. The process involves acquiring data, linking data, producing GIS maps, and sharing maps with the community.

Enlarged to posters, the maps illustrated county-level birth density, Medicaid births, teen births, low birth weight, child maltreatment, domestic violence, municipality revenues, youth population density, homeless schoolchildren, and school academic performance by lifestyle segmentation profiles. Over six months, posters were shown at over 20 venues and viewed by over 700 people.

This presentation will explain the history of community involvement, what data was collected, and how data was used. Key indicators provided novel, multi-layered views of underserved neighborhoods in the community. The maps facilitated engagement by elected officials and government agencies to address health disparities. Subsequent community action included purchasing two buildings for a neighborhood resource center, financial commitments to staff the new center, and collaboration on grant applications to achieve sustainability.

Community partners become proactively engaged through viewing health and social conditions portrayed on maps. Visual evidence can guide actions to plan and implement place-based interventions that can enhance the life chances of families living in distressed neighborhoods. Sharing the process of our local efforts should help other communities better engage their constituencies.