Using Neighborhood DATA to Identify and Engage Stakeholders: A Case Study from Houston, Texas

Background: Youth Violence Prevention (YVP) efforts warrant a multi-sectorial approach, thus continued engagement of stakeholders is vital but challenging in the planning process.   The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) assembled a cross-disciplinary coalition of internal and external partners to address an array of risk and resilience factors for violence.

Method: STRYVE Houston team began the stakeholder development process with the use of customized neighborhood data to communicate the need of YVP efforts in the local level. For example, while sharing the citywide youth risk behavior surveillance (YRBS) information on fear of violence and sexual violence to the potential stakeholders (e.g. local schools), we also presented the rates of attendance and disciplinary action in the local schools. An organizational capacity assessment, social network analysis and youth-led surveying enhanced the identification of key ‘change agents’ in the community.  This network of youth and youth-serving agencies-led communication strategy allowed highlighting the need of YVP efforts while empowering the local youth and stakeholders to become a part of the solution.

Result: These ‘localization’ efforts along with customization of information for the potential stakeholders ensured better engagement of stakeholders in the discussion around YVP issues.

Conclusion: Understanding each sector’s mandate, goals and activities enables local public health departments to design persuasive messages and reinforce their reasoning with relevant data.  Additionally, the local public health department can engage partners in new explorations of their data sets, with an outcome of sustainable involvement and increasing data-informed decision making.