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The Champlain Initiative, a project of the United Way of Chittenden County, uses the National Civic League’s Healthy Communities framework for citizen engagement and community planning. It is one of twelve such region-wide partnerships recognized by Vermont’s Human Services Agency. The initiative relies on broad community involvement and a local data system to develop consensus and establish priorities for addressing the county’s most pressing issues. It publishes an annual report card book that lists 37 standard indictors. The indicators illustrate the initiative’s progress in moving the county toward its long-term goals.
The initiative’s system includes 37 indicators grouped in seven vital areas:
The data for the indicators are derived from both primary and secondary sources. The initiative relies on locally implemented surveys for several of its indicators. The secondary sources include the Vermont Agency of Human Services, the Vermont Department of Health, the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Peace and Justice Center, and the Vermont Department of Employment & Training.
Several of the youth-focused indicators are ones suggested by the Search Institute (described on page 153 of this publication).
Twelve indicators are among those suggested by the Vermont State Team for Children and Families Indicators.
Martha Maksym
Community Services Director
United Way of Chittenden
County
95 St. Paul Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802)
864-7541
Fax: (802) 864-7401
Web page:
http://www.unitedwaycc.org
The Champlain Initiative. (1999).Youth and Developmental Assets: A Framework for Success. Burlington, VT: Author.
The Champlain Initiative. (1998). Champlain Counts: Measuring our Progress Toward a Healthier Community. Burlington, VT: Author.
Champlain Initiative |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Civic Responsibility | |
| Registered voters | Primary and General Elections, Vermont, Secretary of State, 1980-1996. Population estimates for 1980, 1990 from U.S. Bureau of Census; 1996 data from Vermont Department of Health; other years estimated using regression analysis |
| Voting rate | |
| Social Environment | |
| Child abuse & neglect | Vermont Agency of Human Services |
| Domestic violence | |
| Housing affordability | |
| Child care | United Way of Chittenden County |
| Homelessness | Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition, Burlington |
| Diversity | United Way of Chittenden County |
| Valuing youth | Developmental Assets: A Profile of Your Youth, Champlain Initiative Executive Summary, Search Institute, Minneapolis, April 1998 |
| Resident satisfaction | |
| Culture, Recreation, Fun | |
| Recreation opportunities | The Town Recreation Departments, Burlington City Arts, and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce |
| Cultural activity | |
| Special events | |
| Economic Well-Being | |
| Cost of living | ACCRA Cost of Living Index, July 1997 |
| Wages | Vermont Dept of Employment and Training |
| Livable wage | Peace and Justice Center, Burlington, Vermont |
| Unemployment | Vermont Local Area Unemployment Statistics: Annual Summary by County, April 1998, Vermont Department of Employment and Training. National data from The Social Well-Being of Vermonters, February 1998, p. 82 |
| Safe Environment | |
| Neighborhood safety | Phone survey, Champlain Counts Team, July 1998 |
| Violent crime | Vermont Agency of Human Services, Nov. 1997, p. 25 |
| Recycling | Chittenden Solid Waste District |
| Mass transit users | Chittenden County Transportation Agency |
| CO emissions | Agency Natural Resources Environmental Conservation - Air Population Division |
| Beach closures | Burlington Parks and Recreation |
| Lifelong Learning | |
| Kindergarten readiness | Vermont Agency of Human Services |
| Developmental assets | Developmental Assets: A Profile of Your Youth, Champlain Initiative Executive Summary, April 1998, Search Institute, Minneapolis, p.4 |
| Dropout rate | Vermont Agency of Human Services |
| Transition to adulthood | |
| Adult literacy | Social Well-Being of Vermonters and http://www.casas.org/lit/litcode/ |
| Workforce development | Draft Human Resource Investment Council Accountability Committee's Outcomes and Indicators, March 1997 |
| Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit | |
| Regular exercise | Social Well-Being of Vermonters |
| Smoking | Vermont Agency of Human Services |
| Prenatal care | |
| Childhood injury | |
| Binge drinking | |
| Suicide | |
| Faith in others | Phone Survey, Champlain Counts Team, July 1998 |
| Conflict resolution | |
The Community Services Planning Center is an office of the Florida Department of Children and Families. It maintains easy access to critical state administrative data records about Dade and Monroe Counties and works to help those counties use information technologies for better decision making. A major focus of its work has been as a liaison between the state government and community-based organizations. It has particular expertise in using geographic information systems for resource allocation and planning. This project is part of the National Neighborhood Indicators Project, described on page 159.
The Center maintains an indicator system, based primarily on state administrative information that includes 21 indicators in the following five categories:
The Center’s indicator data are collected from the Florida Departments of Health, Human Services, and Children and Families as well as affiliated departments in the state and local governments. Data are updated every 1-5 years depending on the indicator. The Center stores its data in both ARC/INFO and Microsoft Access formats.
Community Services Planning Center, Florida Department of Children and Families
Dwight Danie
GIS Administrator
Community Services Planning Center
of South Florida
Florida Department of Children and Families
401 NW
2nd Avenue, Suite N1007
Miami, FL 33128
Phone: (305)
377-7639
Fax: (305) 377-5504
E-mail:
Dwight_danie@dcf.state.fl.us
Web
page: http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/
Community Services Planning Center. (1999).Life Zone Planning Posters – Information on Community Indicators in Florida. Miami, FL: Author.
Community Services Planning Center |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Birth rates to teenage mothers (<18 years old) | Florida Department of Health, Birth Records (Annual) |
| Work and Gain Economic Self-Sufficiency participants | Florida Department of Children and Families |
| Eligible Medicaid recipients | |
| Food stamp recipients | |
| Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients | |
| Refugee Assistance Program (RAP) | |
| Criminal justice juvenile arrests | Miami-Dade County's Criminal Justice Information System |
| Foster children rates | Florida Department of Children and Families Child Welfare Information System |
| Child protective investigation rates | Florida Department of Children and Families Client Information System |
| Child maltreatment rates | |
| Verified child maltreatment | |
| Child protective supervision rates | |
| Aging and adult services rates | Florida Department of Children and Families Aging and Adult Services Program |
| Adult protective investigations | Florida Department of Children and Families Client Information System |
| Dangerous drug cases | Miami-Dade County's Criminal Justice Information System |
| Children's medical services rates | Florida Department of Children and Families |
| Alcohol drug abuse and mental health | Florida Department of Children and Families Alcohol Drug Abuse and Mental Health Program |
| Domestic violence | Miami-Dade County's Criminal Justice Information System |
| Cumulative AIDS cases | Florida Department of Health |
| Developmental services rates | Florida Department of Children and Families Developmental Services Program |
| Homeless rates | Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust |
The Health Status Indicator Project, facilitated by the Health Care Cost Summit, provides an ongoing mechanism to measure the health status of Erie County, Pennsylvania residents. The goal of the project is to improve health data access and dissemination of useful information to the community. In turn, the community will use the information to identify its greatest health care needs, prioritize those needs, and mobilize its resources to implement strategies to improve the health of Erie County residents.
This project combines data specific to Erie County residents from several community and state information systems into one integrated database system. The project will produce an information-rich database that will meet the needs of many organizations involved in measuring and improving the health status of Erie County residents. The Health Care Needs Task Force is currently working on a Community Assessment which combines several community agency reports into one complete community assessment report. This comprehensive assessment will be completed in the fall of 2000.
There are 19 indicators. Eighteen are based on those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Health Status Indicators Consensus Work Group, modified based on data availability. A final indicator monitors the immunization status of children less than 2 years of age. In addition The Erie County Adult Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collects data on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to health risks contributing to the leading causes of death. The Youth Health and Safety Survey collects information on priority health-risk behaviors that affect our youth.
The database will link birth and death record information, reportable vaccine-preventable diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, and the immunization status of children less than 6 years of age. The health status indicators were selected and modified based on the availability of data. The system will protect patient confidentiality and provide strict security against unauthorized use of personal data. Only group-level data will be released to the community in the form of tables and reports. Aggregate data is available by municipality and zip code level. Indicators have been geocoded for mapping at either the zip code or municipality level, depending on the indicator.
Data sources include Health Department birth and death records, immunization registry and databases tracking TB, AIDS, STDs and vaccine-preventable diseases. The Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System is a population-based survey aggregated at the county level. The Youth Health and Safety Survey is a school-based survey.
Health Care Cost Summit and Erie County Department of Health
Peggy DiMattio, M.S.
Administrator
Health Care Cost Summit
P.O.
Box 6328
Erie, PA 16512-6328
Phone: (814) 454-5077
Fax: (814)
454-5165
E-mail: peggy@healthcarecostsummit.org
Nancy Rea, Ph.D.
Public Health Administrator/Epidemiologist
Erie
County Department of Health
606 West Second Street
Erie, PA
16507
Phone: (814) 451-6737
Fax: (814) 451-6766
E-mail:
nrea@ecdh.org
Web page:
http://www.ecdh.org/
Rea, Nancy K. (1992-1997 and provisional 1998 data). Health Status Indicator Project Report: Measuring the Health of Erie County Residents. Erie County Department of Health. This document will be updated in 2000 with 1998 and 1999 data. Available online at http://www.ecdh.org/Titlepg.pdf, 125pp.
The Youth Health and Safety Survey Report, 1999. Erie, PA: Erie County Department of Health.
The 1995 and 1999 Adult Behavior Risk Factor Survey Report, 1999. Erie, PA: Erie County Department of Health.
Rea, Nancy K. An Evaluation of the Erie County Immunization Registry of Children 12 to 23 Months of Age, 1999. Erie, PA: Erie County Department of Health.
Health Status Indicator Project |
|
| Indicators |
Source of Data |
| Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births | County death records |
| All causes of death per 100,000 population | |
| Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population | |
| Work-related injury deaths per 100,000 population | |
| Suicides per 100,000 population | |
| Homicides per 100,000 population | |
| Lung cancer deaths per 100,000 population | |
| Female breast cancer deaths per 100,000 population | |
| Cardiovascular disease deaths per 100,000 population | |
| Reported incidence (per 100,000 population) of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) | County immunization registry |
| Reported incidence (per 100,000 population) of measles | |
| Reported incidence (per 100,000 population) of tuberculosis | |
| Reported incidence (per 100,000 population) of primary and secondary syphilis | |
| Prevalence of low birth weight as measured by the percentage of live born infants weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth | Birth records |
| Births to adolescents (ages 10-19 years) as a percentage of total live births | |
| Prenatal care as measured by the percentage of mothers delivering live infants who did not receive care during the first trimester of pregnancy | |
| Childhood poverty, as measured by the proportion of children under 18 years of age living in families at or below the poverty level | U.S. Bureau of the Census |
| Proportion of persons living in counties exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for air quality during the previous year | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Immunization status of children less than two years of age as measured by the percentage of children who are up to date on their vaccinations | County health department databases: TB, AIDS, STD, and Vaccine Preventable Diseases |
The Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators (SAVI) project is a comprehensive electronic database of mapped and tabular data about the Indianapolis Metropolitan Statistical Area which comprises Marion County and the eight surrounding counties: Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Madison, and Hancock. This project is a joint effort between IUPUI (Indiana University – Purdue University at Indianapolis) and The Polis Center, a research organization devoted to gathering, analyzing, and disseminating information about Indianapolis. The SAVI Project is part of the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership, described on page 159.
SAVI collects, organizes, and presents information on community assets and vulnerabilities. It gathers information from disparate sources, consolidates it into one standardized source, and makes it available to those who need the information in an accurate and comprehensible format. SAVI employs geographic information system technology to display information graphically. Viewed as a series of maps, statistical information can be readily understood in the context of geography and compared with other information from the same geography. Vulnerability indicators—e.g., health and poverty—can be correlated, as can corresponding assets.
The SAVI project has not developed specific indicators. Rather, it collects data from demographic, health, education, criminal justice, welfare, and other areas and makes it available to other organizations that are establishing and tracking indicators.
The SAVI database is continually expanded and updated. It includes census data, demographic, health, education, criminal justice, welfare, and other statistical information, as well as information on social service agencies, religious organizations, libraries, health care facilities, and other community organizations.
SAVI data are presented at public access sites as a series of map layers or "themes" that may be accessed using ArcView geographic information system software. A map (theme) exists for each data class for each year of data, such as "1990 Total Population" or "1993 Total Public School Enrollment." Maps are organized into collections. A collection of maps exists for each type of SAVI data, such as census data and education data.
Map collections are organized by county into presentation files. At least one presentation file exists for each county.
To gain access:
United Way/Community Service Council
Phone:
(317) 923-1285
Analysis and research assistance through The Polis
Center
Phone: (317) 274-2455
Alicia Gebhardt
United Way/Community Services Council
3901 N.
Meridian St.
P.O. Box 88409
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: (317)
921-1260
Fax: (317) 921-1254
General questions:
Karen Frederickson
Acting Director,
Community Analysis
The Polis Center at IUPUI
1200 Waterway Boulevard,
Suite 100
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Phone: (317) 274-2455
The Polis Center at IUPUI
1200 Waterway Boulevard
Suite
100
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: (317) 274-2455
Fax: (317) 278-1830
E-mail: polis@iupui.edu
United Way of Central Indiana and the Polis Center. (1999). SAVI Information for Communities. Indianapolis: Author.
United Way of Central Indiana and the Polis Center. (Quarterly Newsletter). SAVI Solutions. Indianapolis: Author.
The Partnership for Children, a not-for-profit organization, has issued annual Report Cards and accompanying Data Briefing Books summarizing the status of children and youth in the metropolitan Kansas City area, which includes Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties, Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, Kansas, since 1992. The Report Card presents a letter grade in the five indicator areas, with supporting data in a Data Appendix.
There are 17 indicators in five areas:
The Report Card presents a letter grade in the five indicator areas, with supporting data in a Data Appendix. The letter grade is based on positive or negative trends, comparison to national benchmarks, and comparison to goals from Healthy People 2000 and America 2000 educational goals defined by the National Center for Educational Statistics. The Data Appendix presents up to 5 years’ worth of trend data for each indicator. Comparison years vary with the indicator. Data are presented both separately for the five metropolitan area counties and in the aggregate for the Kansas City metropolitan area. Where available, comparison data are presented for the states of Kansas and Missouri and for the United States as a whole. For some indicators, data are stratified by age or by race/ethnicity. Detailed notes describe how each indicator is calculated, including any adjustments that were made to account for inconsistencies in how data are compiled by the two states.
Data sources include Kansas and Missouri social service, health, education, justice, and substance abuse agencies and national resources for comparison data.
Partnership for Children
Donna Peck
Partnership for Children
1000 Broadway, Suite
302
Kansas City, Missouri 64105
Phone: (816) 842-7643
Fax: (816)
842-7909
E-mail: peck@pfc.org
Web page:
http://www.pfc.org
Partnership for Children. (1999).The Status of Children in Metro Kansas City: 1999/2000 Report Card and Data Briefing Book. Kansas City, MO: Partnership for Children.
An overview of the Report Card and summary of the benchmark data are available on the Partnership’s website, at http://www.pfc.org/reprtcrd/benchmk.htm. Future issues of the Report Card and Briefing Book will be available in full from the website.
The Status of Children in Metro Kansas City |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Safety and Security | |
| Violent crime | Missouri Crime and Arrest Digest; Missouri Department of Public Safety; Crime in Kansas Report; Kansas Bureau of Investigation |
| Child abuse and neglect | Child Abuse and Neglect in Missouri; Kansas SRS Youth and Adult Services; Statistical Abstract of the United States; National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse |
| Approved for free/reduced school lunch | School Finance, Kansas Department of Education; School Food Services, Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education; Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture |
| Health | |
| Early prenatal care | Kansas Department of Health & Environment; Missouri Department of Health, State Center for Health Statistics; Statistical Abstract of the United States, U.S. Bureau of the Census; National Center for Health Statistics |
| Low birthweight | |
| Infant mortality | |
| Immunizations | U.S. Bureau of the Census; Mid-America Regional Council; Kansas Department of Health & Environment; Missouri Department of Health, State Center for Health Statistics; Statistical Abstract of the U.S.; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Vaccination of 2-year-old children; Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report |
| Child Care | |
| Quality | Metropolitan Council on Child Care |
| Cost to parents | |
| Capacity vs. demand | |
| Resource and referral | |
| Education | |
| School readiness | Metropolitan area school districts |
| Achievement scores | Metropolitan area school districts; Statistical Abstract of the U.S.; American College Testing Program; College Entrance Examination Board |
| High school completion | Missouri State Department of Education; Kansas; State Department of Education; National Center for Educational Statistics; Statistical Abstract of the United States, U.S. Bureau of the Census |
| Teen Years | |
| Teen births | The State of America's Children; Statistical Abstract of the United States, U.S. Bureau of the Census; Mid-America Regional Council; Kansas Department of Health & Environment; Missouri Department of Health, State Center for Health Statistics |
| Substance abuse | Kauffman Teen Survey, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; National Institute on Drug Abuse; Statistical Abstract of the U.S.; Kansas Alcohol and Drug Abuse Service; Missouri Center for Health Statistic |
| Teen homicides | U.S. Bureau of the Census; Mid-America Regional Council; Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Missouri Department of Health, State Center for Health Statistics |
In Oregon, a number of local projects have grown out of the statewide Oregon Benchmarks initiative, a longstanding effort to track and guide the state’s progress toward specific economic, social, and quality-of-life goals using measurable indicators. Multnomah County, through the Portland-Multnomah Progress Board, has developed benchmarks to complement the Oregon Benchmarks using the benchmark system extensively in long-term planning, management, budgeting and other important community-wide goals. The Progress Board, established in 1993, created 76 benchmarks that gauge the conditions in the community, using them to measure progress in social, economic and quality of life areas. They also aim to identify significant trends in the community and assist groups to improve the performance of the benchmarks.
Portland-Multnomah Benchmarks has 76 indicators in 10 subareas:
Benchmarks rely on aggregated data (state, regional, county, and local) obtained from state agencies and organizations to show the status of Oregon relative to its various goals. Such agencies include the Center for Population Research and Census, Oregon Employment Department, Oregon Health Division, and the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services. The most influential measurement tool used to obtain these data is the Oregon Population Survey, a biennial survey conducted to measure the socioeconomic characteristics of Oregonians and collect their opinions on a variety of policy issues.
In many cases the indicators have been tracked over several years, producing trend data.
Gary Blackmer
Portland Multnomah Progress Board
1221 SW
4th Ave
Room 140
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503)
823-4078
Fax: (503) 823-4571
E-mail:
gblackmer@ci.portland.or.us
Web
page: http://www.p-m-benchmarks.org/
The Progress Board publishes all its information on its website. The site includes the latest benchmark data, information on the organization and its methods, and special publications. The following are a few selected publications on the Benchmarks initiative. They are all available in Adobe Acrobat format on the website.
Portland Multnomah Progress Board. (2000).Salmon Restoration in an Urban Watershed. Portland, OR: Author.
Portland Multnomah Progress Board and Commission on Children and Families. Educational Success for Youth. Author.
Portland Multnomah Progress Board. (1999). Readiness to Learn. Portland, OR: Author.
Portland-Multnomah County Benchmarks |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Health | |
| Healthy Birthweight Babies | Oregon Center for Health Statistics; County Health Department |
| Immunizations | National Immunization Survey, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Student Illicit Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use | Oregon Public School Drug Use Survey, Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs of the Oregon Department of Human Services |
| Access to Healthcare | Oregon Population Survey |
| Early Diagnosis of HIV | Oregon Health Division; HIV/AIDS Annual Reports |
| Adult Alcohol and Drug Abuse | Telephone surveys conducted for the Oregon Department of Human Services |
| Education | |
| Educational Attainment | Oregon Population Survey; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey |
| Kindergarten Readiness | Kindergarten Teacher Survey on School Readiness; Oregon Progress Board and the State Department of Education |
| Student Achievement | Oregon Department of Education |
| Student Dropout Rate | |
| Family | |
| Poverty Rates | U.S. Bureau of the Census; the Oregon Population Survey; American Community Survey |
| Teen Pregnancy | National Center for Health Statistics; Oregon Health Division; Multnomah County Health Department |
| Homelessness | Multnomah County Department of Community and Family Services |
| Domestic Violence - Child Abuse | State Office for Services to Children and Families; National Incidence Study of Child Abuse & Neglect |
| Domestic Violence - Partner Abuse | Law Enforcement Data System; Multnomah County Health Department |
| Safety | |
| Graffiti | Portland Police Bureau's Graffiti Hotline |
| Neighborhood Safety | Annual citizen survey conducted by the City of Portland Auditor and the Multnomah County Auditor |
| Crimes Motivated by Prejudice | The Law Enforcement Data System |
| Reported Incidents of Crime | |
| Arrests | Law Enforcement Data Systems; Oregon Progress Board 1996 report |
| Firearm Injuries and Fatalities | The Oregon Health Division; Multnomah County Health Division |
| Crime Victims | City of Portland Auditor; Multnomah County Auditor |
| Emergency Preparedness | City/County Citizen Survey conducted by the Portland and Multnomah County Auditors' Offices |
| Matrix Releases | Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Planning and Research Unit |
| Governance | |
| Total Taxes per Capita | Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission; Oregon Department of Revenue |
| Local Business Taxes | Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission |
| Public Infrastructure | |
| Government Performance | Portland and Multnomah County Auditors’ Offices |
| Bond Ratings | Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission |
| Dollars Spent for Local Government Services | |
| Household Income Spent on Property Taxes | |
| Voter Participation | |
| Voting | Multnomah County Elections Division |
| Volunteer Activity | Oregon Population Surveys; Portland Multnomah Citizen Survey |
| Economy | |
| Per Capita Income | U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis |
| Average Annual Pay | Oregon Employment Department |
| Employment | Oregon Employment Department's Covered Employment and Payrolls Program |
| Unemployment Rate | Oregon Employment Department |
| Export Activity of Business | U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Exporter Location Series |
| Air Traffic | Port of Portland's “Portland International Airport Passenger Flight Quarterly Service Summaries” |
| Export Container Rates | Port of Portland’s outbound marine container shipments |
| Environment | |
| Indicator Species | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| Public Transportation | U.S. Bureau of the Census; Portland/Multnomah Citizen Survey; Oregon Department of Transportation |
| Air Quality | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality |
| Climate Change | City of Portland Carbon Dioxide Reduction Strategy Update; Oregon Department of Transportation |
| Water Quality | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Monitoring Section; National Water Quality Assessment Report available online from the United States Geological Survey |
| Water Consumption | City of Portland, Bureau of Water Work |
| Energy Use | City of Portland Energy Office |
| Solid Waste and Recycling | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services |
| Urban Vitality | |
| Acres of Parks and Open Space per 1,000 Residents | U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey; Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation |
| Income Spent on Housing | U.S. Bureau of the Census, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy; American Community Survey |
| Neighborhood Livability | U.S. Bureau of the Census; Portland/Multnomah County Citizen Surveys |
| Commute Times | U.S. Bureau of the Census; American Community Survey |
| Monitor Portland Population Growth | Center for Population Research and Census; Portland State University |
| Support for the Arts | Urban Arts Federation Annual Report; Regional Arts and Culture Council |
| Street Cleanliness | Portland/Multnomah County Citizen Surveys |
The Pierce County Quality of Life Benchmark Project gathers and publishes information about the well-being of the county as a whole. Pierce County's benchmarking effort uses information gathered from a variety of sources to track changes in different aspects of its residents' lives. The benchmarking process is intended to be the basis for generalized statements about whether life in the County is getting better, getting worse, or staying the same. Project leaders believe it is possible to shape future public policy in an informed and holistic way by using objective measures to track conditions and trends over time.
The 80 indicators are grouped into nine categories:
Data are from 1989 to 1996; 1990 was considered the benchmark year against which all other years were measured. Most of the data used to calculate the indicators are generated by agencies indirectly connected to the Pierce County government for uses other than benchmarking. A complete list of data sources is provided at http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/services/family/benchmrk/source.htm and in the project’s Annual Benchmark report.
All the indicators were calculated using the same four-step procedure: (1) collect data, (2) calculate raw value, (3)calculate normalized value, and (4) calculate composite value (value index). An improvement in the “quality of life” is notable when an indicator’s value increases. The data sets in the Benchmark report have been revised on a regular basis, resulting in overall Quality of Life index values different than previous years due to updated data from contributing sources.
Pierce County Department of Community Services
Benchmark Project
Pierce County Department of Community
Services
8815 South Tacoma Way, Suite 202
Tacoma, WA 98499
E-mail:
rallen3@co.pierce.wa.us
Web
page: http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/services/family/benchmrk/qol.htm
Pierce County Department of Community Services. (1998). Pierce County Quality of Life Benchmarks, Annual Report, 3rd Edition. Tacoma, WA: Author. Available online at http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/services/family/benchmrk/97pcqol.pdf.
Pierce County Quality of Life Benchmarks |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Median family income as percent of median single family house price | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Washington Center for Real Estate Research |
| Median family income as percent of annual single family house mortgage payment | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Washington Center for Real Estate Research; Federal Housing Finance Board |
| Median family income as a percent of average property tax on single family house sold | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Pierce County Assessor/Treasurer; Pierce County Assessor/Treasurer; Washington Center for Real Estate Research |
| Percent of households able to afford buying median single family house | Washington Center for Real Estate Research; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990 Decennial Census; Federal Housing Finance Board |
| Number of subsidized housing units per person | Washington State Office of Financial Management; Tacoma Housing Authority; Pierce County Housing Authority |
| Median family income as percent of average rent on 2-bedroom apartment | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Dupree+Scott Apartment Advisors |
| Average annual multi-family housing vacancy rate | Dupree+Scott Apartment Advisors |
| Clean Environment | |
| Percent of days per year rated as having good air | Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Authority |
| Households per residential megawatt-hour consumed | Puget Sound Regional Council; Puget Sound Energy; Tacoma Public Utilities; Bonneville Power Administration |
| Total employment per industrial & commercial megawatt-hour consumed | Washington State Employment Security Department, Puget Sound Energy, Tacoma Public Utilities, Bonneville Power Administration |
| Households per pound of solid waste disposed (not recycled) | Pierce County Department of Public Works |
| Manufacturing workers per pound of toxic chemicals released into air | Washington State Employment Security Department; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Manufacturing workers per pound of toxic chemicals released into water | Washington State Employment Security Department; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Cost Effective Infrastructure | |
| Gallons of waste water processed as percent of permitted capacity | Pierce County Department of Public Works |
| Inverse of real household monthly service charge for waste water treatment | Pierce County Department of Public Works; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Inverse of real household connect charge for waste water treatment | Pierce County Department of Public Works; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Persons per pound of solid waste generated per day | Pierce County Department of Public Works |
| Percentage of solid waste recycled | |
| Average monthly residential solid waste charge | Pierce County Department of Public Works; LeMay Enterprises; University Place Disposal |
| Cultural and Recreational Opportunities | |
| Public library items circulation per person | Washington State Office of Financial Management; Pierce County Libraries; Tacoma Public Libraries |
| Community centers per person | Washington State Office of Financial Management; Pierce County Department of Parks and Recreation; Metropolitan Park District |
| Attendance at Mt. Rainier per mile of trail | U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Park Service |
| Registered attendance at major Tacoma MPD facilities | Metropolitan Park District |
| Average number cultural & recreational events scheduled per week | Tacoma/Pierce County Convention and Visitor Bureau |
| Attendance at Puyallup Fair per person in county | Washington State Office of Financial Management; Puyallup Fair |
| Attendance at Tacoma Art Museum per person in city | |
| Acres of park lands per person | Washington State Office of Financial Management; Pierce County Department of Parks and Recreation; Metropolitan Park District |
| Educational Excellence | |
| Percent of high school seniors graduating | Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction ü |
| Percent of districts with graduation rates above state average | |
| High school drop-out rate | |
| Percent of school districts with lower dropout rates than state average | |
| Percent of districts with 4th grade mean test scores equal/above state average | |
| Percent of districts with 11th grade mean test scores equal/above state average | |
| Degrees awarded from county universities and community colleges | Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Persons attending college or technical school as a percent of persons age 20 to 24 years | Washington State Office of Financial Management; Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Effective Regional Transportation | |
| Number of persons per passenger car | Washington State Office of Financial Management; Pierce County Auditor |
| Miles of road in Tacoma per vehicle miles traveled | Washington State Department of Transportation |
| Miles of state road in rural county per vehicle mile traveled | |
| Number of transit-rider trips per capita | Washington State Office of Financial Management, Pierce Transit |
| Inflation-adjusted transit revenues per transit-rider trip | Pierce Transit, Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average transit trips per hour per bus | Pierce Transit |
| Containers transported through Port of Tacoma | Port of Tacoma |
| Health and Safety for Persons and Property | |
| Persons per violent index crime | Washington State Office of Financial Management, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs |
| Persons per nonviolent index crime | |
| Percent crimes cleared | Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs |
| Persons per traffic accident death | Washington State Office of Financial Management, Washington State Patrol |
| Persons per traffic accident injury | |
| Persons per fire call | Lakewood Fire District |
| Average fire call response time | |
| Persons per emergency call | |
| Average rescue call response time | |
| Persons per accidental (non-traffic) death | Washington State Office of Financial Management, Pierce County Medical Examiner |
| Infant deaths per 1,000 infants (under 1 year old) | Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department |
| County infant death rate relative to state | |
| Cancer deaths per 1,000 persons age 45-74 | Washington State Office of Financial Management, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department |
| County cancer death rate relative to state | Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department |
| Heart disease deaths per 1,000 persons age 45-74 | Washington State Office of Financial Management, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department |
| County heart disease death rate relative to state | Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department |
| Accident deaths per 1,000 persons under 45 years of age | Washington State Office of Financial Management, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department |
| County accident death rate relative to state | Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department |
| Healthy Economy | |
| Number of business establishments | Washington State Employment Security Department |
| Inflation adjusted assessed value of real estate per person | Pierce County Assessor/Treasurer, Washington State Office of Financial Management, Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Retail sales as a percent of personal income | Washington Department of Revenue, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
| Total wage & salary jobs per employed resident | Washington State Employment Security Department |
| Number of basic industry jobs | |
| Percent of wage & salary jobs not in 5 most concentrated industries | |
| Total wage & salary jobs | |
| Inflation adjusted average earnings per job | Washington State Employment Security Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Inverse percent of average earnings needed to support basic needs | Washington State Employment Security Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington Department of Social and Health Services |
| Manufacturing wage & salary earning as a percent of total income | Washington State Employment Security Department, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
| Manufacturing wage and salary jobs as a percent of total jobs | Washington State Employment Security Department |
| Total wage & salary jobs per household | Washington State Employment Security Department, Puget Sound Regional Council |
| Per capita income as percent of state average | Washington State Office of Financial Management, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
| Professional, technical & managerial occupations as percent of total | Washington State Employment Security Department |
| Value of business personal property per worker | Washington State Employment Security Department, Pierce County Assessor/Treasurer |
| Value of industrial & commercial property | Pierce County Assessor/Treasurer |
| Proper Distribution of Land | |
| New housing units relative to new households | Puget Sound Regional Council |
| Share of new housing units going into urban parts of county | |
| New multi-family units as percent of total new residential units | |
Defense cutbacks, corporate mergers, and downsizing, resulting in more than 8,000 lost jobs within an 80-mile radius of Roanoke, Virginia, brought business and community leaders from the New River Valley, Alleghany Highlands, and the Roanoke Valley together to address the serious issues facing the region. Leaders and citizens from 11 counties (Alleghany, Bland, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, and Wythe) and five cities (Clifton Forge, Covington, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem) united to form the New Century Council. The New Century Council’s focus was to develop a vision statement and create a strategic plan outlining a preferred future into the next century. The Community Indicators Program, called "Vital Signs," was developed as a tool to help citizens and governments in the New Century Region better understand their community, set priorities and goals, develop action plans, and track progress toward their visions.
Vital Signs 1998 contained six indicator areas with a total of 58 indicators. In 1999 the data were re-organized to conform to the “three E’s” of sustainability: Environment, Economy, and Equity (community building, social issues, education, and health).
The data are presented in report form with graphics. The six indicator areas were identified by the community as indicators of progress. Each indicator category is defined by variables that best measure the progress of the category. Data sources include local, state and Federal environmental, health, education, natural resource, and commerce agencies.
The Vital Signs Project is directed by a volunteer steering committee and supported by The Cabell Brand Center, Carilion Community Health Fund, Ferrum College, Foundation for Regional Excellence, Franklin County, Hollins University, New Century Council, New River Valley Planning District Commission, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Pulaski County, City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, Robins Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Virginia Environmental Endowment, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Terri Lynn Cornwell, Ph.D.
Box 9515
Hollins University
Roanoke,
VA 24020
Phone: (540) 362-6426
Fax: (540) 362-6286
E-mail:
Tcornwell@hollins.edu
Web page:
http://www.newcentury.org/projects.html
The New Century Council. (2000).Toward Sustainability: Virginia’s Technology Corridor in the 21st Century. Hollins University Vital Signs Project, Roanoke, VA: Author.
The New Century Council. (1998).Vital Signs: Community Indicators for the New Century Region. Hollins University Vital Signs Project, Roanoke, VA: Author.
Vital Signs of the New Century Region |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Population | |
| Number of residents | Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia; U.S. Bureau of the Census |
| Age structure | |
| Community | |
| Poverty | |
| Residents in poverty | Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia; U.S. Bureau of the Census |
| Children in poverty | |
| Family strength and stability | |
| Out-of wedlock births | Virginia Department of Health |
| Births by teenage girls | |
| Children whose parents divorce | |
| Domestic violence | |
| Child abuse | Action Alliance for Virginia 's Children and Youth |
| Elder abuse | New River Valley Health District |
| Substance Abuse | |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol | Virginia Department of State Police |
| Narcotics arrests | |
| Alcohol and drugs in schools | Action Alliance for Virginia’s Children and Youth |
| Crime rate | Virginia Department of State Police |
| Person-to-person crime | |
| Property crime | |
| Children at risk | |
| Juvenile crime | Virginia Department of State Police |
| Weapons in schools | |
| Art and culture | Arts Council of the Blue Ridge |
| Recreation | Virginia Tourism Corp., Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia |
| Library circulation | Virginia State Library |
| Civic responsibility | Action Alliance for Virginia’s Children and Youth |
| Economy | |
| Employment diversity and stability | Virginia Employment Commission |
| Unemployment | |
| Per capita income | U.S. Bureau of the Census |
| Opportunities for good Employment | Virginia Employment Commission |
| Income disparity | Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia |
| Education level of workforce | |
| Adults with high school diploma | U.S. Bureau of the Census, Virginia Healthcare Association |
| Students continuing education beyond high school | Virginia Department of Education |
| Students seeking 2-year degrees | |
| Key sectors of the economy | |
| Employment in manufacturing | Virginia Employment Commission |
| Employment in tourism | |
| Airport usage | Federal Aviation Administration |
| Education | |
| Preparation of students for college | Virginia Department of Education |
| Student enrollment | |
| Community support for education | |
| Expenditures per student | |
| Expenditures per student as percentage of median income | Virginia Department of Education, Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia |
| Dropout rate | Virginia Department of Education |
| Financial accessibility to higher education | Virginia Department of Education, Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia |
| Community college services | State Council of Higher Education |
| Environment | |
| Surface water quality | |
| Violations of EPA standards | Virginia Department of Environmental Quality |
| Turbidity of rivers | Local government water treatment facilities |
| Air quality | |
| Pollution standard index days when the air is not "good" | Virginia Department of Environmental Quality |
| Particulate matter | |
| Toxic chemical release rate | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Annual solid waste disposal per person | Local governments |
| Percent of land used for agriculture | U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service |
| Percent of land in mature forest cover | |
| Protected land | U.S. Forest Service, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries |
| Health Indicators | |
| Infant mortality rate | Action Alliance for Virginia’s Children and Youth |
| Physical fitness | Virginia Department of Health |
| Financial accessibility to health care | Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association |
| Prenatal care | Action Alliance for Virginia’s Children and Youth |
| Tobacco usage | Virginia Department of Health, Department of Taxation, U.S. Bureau of the Census |
| Chronic, but controllable disease (diabetes) | Virginia Department of Health |
| Lifestyle associated chronic disease (heart disease) | |
| Accidental injury deaths | |
| Suicide deaths | |
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency works with the Children’s Hospital Center for Child Health Outcomes to produce an annual report card on key indicators. The report card is an information tool for policy makers, advocates, community members, and service providers who need data to make informed decisions on issues related to children and families. It also facilitates the monitoring of changes in child and family well-being related to broad public policy measures and local health system events. The 1999 Report Card, which is the first one produced, will serve as a baseline for all future annual report cards.
There are 29 indicators in five areas:
Data items were selected based on four criteria: meeting a broad definition of health and well-being, relevance to children and families, current and ongoing data availability and data reliability and validity, and the extent to which measures were relevant at the local level. Data sources include county, state, and federal agencies; academic institutions; and advocacy and charitable organizations.
For each indicator, the Report Card discusses the importance of the measure in terms of child and family well-being. Data are presented graphically, with four years’ of historical data and state and national comparison data when available. In addition, the Report Card’s Technical Supplement provides data in tabular format, stratified by race/ethnicity where possible.
Nancy Bowen, M.D.
County of San Diego Health and Human
Services
P.O. Box 85222 (P511F)
San Diego, CA 92186-5222
Phone: (619)
692-8809
Fax: (619) 692-8827
E-mail:
nbowenhe@co.san-diego.ca.us
Web
page:
http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/cnty/cntydepts/health/services/rptcard/
San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency. (1999). San Diego County Child and Family Health & Well-being Report Card. 42 pp. Available from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency by calling (619) 692-6698 or online at http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/cnty/cntydepts/health/services/rptcard/.
San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency. (1999). San Diego County Child and Family Health & Well-being Report Card: Technical Supplement. 63 pp. Available from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency by calling (619) 692-6698 or online at http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/cnty/cntydepts/health/services/rptcard/.
San Diego County Child and Family Health & Well-Being |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Economics | |
| Average Percent Unemployed: Average percent of the civilian labor force that is unemployed per year | State of California, Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Percent of Children Living in Poverty: Percent of children ages 0-17 living below the federal poverty level | San Diego Association of Governments; U.S. Bureau of the Census |
| Rate of Children Receiving CalWORKs Assistance: Average monthly number of children ages 0-17 that are receiving CalWORKs (public assistance) per 1,000 children ages 0-17 per year | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Policy, Strategy and Program Development; State of California, Department of Social Services, Information Services Bureau |
| Percent of Parents in CalWORKs That Are Working or Involved in Work-Related Activities: Percentage of parents receiving CalWORKs (public assistance) that are in unsubsidized or subsidized employment, doing community service (unpaid), job searching, participating in on the job training, in mental health or substance abuse treatment, or receiving vocational training, remedial education or high school/GED education | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Policy Strategy and Program Development |
| Rate of Children Receiving Food Stamps: Average monthly number of children ages 0-17 issued food stamps during the first quarter of 1999 per 1,000 children ages 0-17 | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Policy, Strategy and Program Development, United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service |
| Rate of Children Identified as Homeless: Average daily number of children ages 0-17 (per 10,000 children ages 0-17) whose family was living in an emergency shelter, using a hotel/motel voucher, or seeking shelter and not obtaining it during the winter of 1998/1999. | San Diego County Department of Housing and Community Development; United Way of San Diego INFOLINE |
| Health | |
| Infant Mortality Rate: Deaths to infants less than 1 year of age per 1,000 live births per year | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Child, Youth, and Family Health Assessment and Planning; California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics |
| Percent of Babies Born with Low Birthweight: Percent of live born infants weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 ½ lbs.) at birth | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Child, Youth, and Family Health Assessment and Planning; California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics |
| Rate of Births to Teenagers: Number of births to teenagers 15-17 years old per 1,000 females ages 15-17 per year | San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Child, Youth, and Family Health Assessment and Planning; California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics |
| Rate of Youth Suicides: Number of self-inflicted intentional deaths among youth ages 15-24 per 100,000 youth ages 15-24 per year | California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics |
| Rate of Hospitalization of Children and Youth for Mental Illness: Number of hospitalizations for mental illness diagnoses among children and youth ages 0-18 per 100,000 children and youth ages 0-18 per year | California Department of Health Services, Office of Statewide Planning and Development, Hospital Discharge Dataset |
Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors
|
San Diego City Schools, Educational Services Division; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Access to Services | |
| Number of Subsidized Child Care Spaces: Number of child care spaces for which subsidy was available | San Diego County Child Care Planning and Development Council |
| Average Wait Time for Publicly Funded Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services for Adolescents: Average wait time (days) for publicly funded outpatient alcohol and drug treatment services for adolescents (aged 12-17) | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Alcohol and Drug Services |
| Average Wait Time for Publicly Funded Non-Emergency Outpatient Mental Health Services for Children and Youth: Average wait time (days) between initial call and scheduled appointment for publicly funded non-emergency outpatient mental health services for children and youth (ages up to 17) | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Mental Health Services |
| Percent of Children That Are Adequately Immunized: Percentage of surveyed children that were up-to-date on 4:3:1 series (DTP, Polio, MMR) at age 2 years | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Infant Immunization Initiative; Centers for Disease Control’s National Immunization Survey |
| Percent of Children with Health Insurance: Average percent of children ages 0-17 that have private or government health insurance (employment provided, privately purchased, Medicare, or Champus), MediCal, or no health insurance coverage | Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, Los Angeles; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey |
| Safety | |
| Rate of Delinquency Petitions Filed in Juvenile Court: Number of delinquency petitions filed in juvenile court per 1,000 children ages 10-17 per year | Office of the District Attorney, San Diego County |
| Rate of Child and Youth Homicides: Number of homicides of children and youth ages 0-9 and 10-19 per 100,000 children and youth ages 0-9 and 10-19, respectively, per year | California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics |
| Rate of Children Living in Out-of-Home Placement Due to Abuse/Neglect: Average monthly number of children ages 0-17 living in out-of-home placement as a result of abuse/neglect per 1,000 children ages 0-17 per year | State of California Health and Welfare Agency, Department of Social Services, Foster Care Information System |
| Number of Domestic Violence Reports: Annual number of law enforcement responded reports of domestic violence | State of California, Department of Justice, Criminal Justice Statistics Center; San Diego Association of Governments |
| Rate of Unintentional Injuries and Death Due to Unintentional Injuries of Children and Youth: Number of unintentional injuries (requiring hospitalization) and deaths due to unintentional injuries among children and youth ages 0-18 per 100,000 children and youth ages 0-18 per year | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Emergency Medical Services; California Department of Health Services, Office of Statewide Planning and Development Hospital Discharge Dataset, California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics |
| Rate of Children and Youth Killed or Injured in Alcohol/Drug Related Motor Vehicle Crashes: Number of children and youth ages 0-18 killed or injured in motor vehicle crashes related to drugs or alcohol per 100,000 children and youth ages 0-18 per year | San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Emergency Medical Services; Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System |
| Education | |
| Annual Percent of Students That Drop Out of High School: Percent of those enrolled in grades 9-12 that have dropped out of school during one school year | San Diego County Office of Education, California Department of Education, Educational Demographics Unit, California Basic Educational Data System |
| Percent of Students Attending School Daily: Average percent of students, kindergarten through 12th grade, attending school each instructional day in one school year | San Diego County Office of Education, California Department of Education, California Basic Educational Data System |
| School Suspension Rate: Number of students suspended per 1,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade in one school year | San Diego County Association of California School Administrators |
| School Expulsion Rate: Number of students expelled per 1,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade in one school year | San Diego County Office of Education |
| Demographic and Population Data | |
| San Diego County and California Population and Race/Ethnicity Statistics | San Diego Association of Governments; State of California, Department of Finance |
The Community Health Information System (CHIS) is a Web-based, geographically oriented collection of information about the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, community resources, and health and well-being of the population residing in the 57 counties of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. The system covers more than 40 percent of the state’s population and was developed to provide individuals, organizations, and communities with a tool for assessing community health and well-being, for developing action plans to address identified needs, and for monitoring the results of their actions.
The information system is a large archive containing data from 1990 to the present about population characteristics, birth and death records, the physical environment, and community assets and resources. Other datasets are being added continuously. Variables can be examined individually or combined to construct indicators of interest.
Data are geocoded to the census tract level and can be aggregated to larger geographic areas as desired. System users can obtain data either in the form of special reports published on the website, or by using an interactive mapping and data retrieval feature to produce customized reports.
Recently published reports that illustrate important features of the system include
The sponsoring organization is St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, a grant-making public charity and component of the St. Luke's Episcopal Health System. The CHIS was developed under contract by the Center for Health Policy Studies at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health.
Tom Reynolds, CHIS Project Coordinator
Center for Health Policy
Studies
University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center
School of
Public Health
Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 500-9387
Fax: (713)
500-9359
E-mail: reynolds@utsph.sph.uth.tmc.edu
Web page:
http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/chis/
OR
http://www.slehc.org/CHIS/CHISNav.htm
A series of topical reports on community health and well-being is published on the CHIS website and can be accessed by clicking on the “Reports” section on the CHIS home page. The reports address various topics including maternal and child health, life expectancy and preventable loss of life, community and child well-being, and general community health needs assessment. Other topics are being added continuously.
Community Health Information System* |
|
| Indicators | Source of Data |
| Population by race/ethnicity, age and gender | U.S. Bureau of the Census 1997 County Population Estimates [Online] |
| Dependency ratio | |
| Population per square mile | Texas Department of Health 1997 County Profiles [Online] |
| Fertility rate | Calculated based on Texas Department of Health 1997 Vital Statistics |
| Adult population with less than 12 years of education | U.S. Bureau of the Census 1990 Decennial Census |
| Median household income | U.S. Bureau of the Census 1995 Population and Income Estimates |
| Population with income below $15,000 | U.S. Bureau of the Census 1990 Decennial Census |
| Children under age 18 below poverty | U.S. Bureau of the Census 1995 Population and Income Estimates |
| Unemployment | Texas Workforce Commission: 1996 Labor Market Information [Online] |
| Violent crimes per 10,000 population | Texas Department of Public Safety and Federal Bureau of Investigation 1996 |
| Non-violent crimes per 10,000 population | |
| Confirmed child abuse cases per 10,000 children under age 18 | Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services 1997 [Online] |
| Confirmed cases of elder abuse per 10,000 population over age 65 | |
| Number of Superfund sites | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Information and Statistics [Online] and 1995 Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission |
| Air quality standards attainment | |
| Lbs. per capita of toxic chemical releases - air | |
| Lbs. per capita of toxic chemical releases - land | |
| Lbs. per capita toxic chemical releases - water | |
| Population served by substandard drinking water systems | |
| Low birth weight births | Calculated based on Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1995-97 |
| Very low birth weight births | |
| Births to adolescent mothers per 10,000 females under age 18 | |
| Reported AIDS cases per 10,000 population | Texas Department of Health 1997 County Profiles [Online] |
| Reported measles cases per 10,000 population | |
| Reported tuberculosis cases per 10,000 population | |
| Reported syphilis cases per 10,000 population | |
| Infant deaths by cause | Calculated based on Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1995-97 |
Deaths per 10,000 population due to
|
|
| Licensed child day care capacity per 10,000 children under age 14 | Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services 1997 [Online] |
| Licensed foster care capacity per 10,000 children under age 14 | |
| Primary care physicians per 10,000 population | Calculated based on Texas Department of Health Bureau of Health Professions, 1998 [Online] |
| Physicians participating in Medicaid per 10,000 population | Texas Department of Health, 1997 County Profiles [Online] |
| Number of community and migrant health centers | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care, 1997 [Online] |
| Number of community mental health centers | Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, 1998 |
| Number of rural health centers | Texas Department of Health Facility Compliance Division, 1998 |
| Number of acute care hospitals | Texas Department of Health, 1997 County Profiles [Online] |
| Number of licensed hospital beds per 10,000 population | |
*This table lists indicators included in the county report cards. It does not list all types of data contained in the CHIS.
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