Guiding public health decision-making through training, tools and information

Cate Teuten-Bohn, MPH, Priti R. Irani, MS, and Michael Medvesky, MPH. Public Health Information Group, New York State Department of Health, 750 Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12237, 518-408-1121, cmb20@health.state.ny.us

In this presentation, The New York State Assessment Initiative staff will describe the impact of three unique community-based infrastructures under development. They are: (1) The web-based Community Health Assessment Clearinghouse; (2) Series of trainings to strengthen assessment capacity; (3) Development and implementation of a web-based tool to assess the usefulness of community health assessments.

The web-based Community Health Assessment Clearinghouse serves as a one-stop resource for assessment practitioners, and is utilized by local health departments and community partners in implementing assessments in New York State. Assessment information and data are also reinforced through trainings on a variety of assessment-related topics ranging from data interpretation, to evaluation, to getting practitioners familiar with software such as Epi Info-Epi Map 2003. The trainings has enabled community health practitioners with getting familiar with planning process, enhanced their data interpretations skills, and familiarized them with tools for making planning more useful. The presenter will outline the plan for developing a new web-based tool to determine the usefulness of community health assessments.

Finally, the steps and suggestions for making these resources applicable nationally will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

1. Identify key strategies that strengthen assessment practice in New York.
2. Assess whether the strategies can be applied in their community.
3. List key resources that participants can access if they are interested in applying the strategies.

Keywords: Community Health Assessment, Community Health Planning

Related Web page: www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chac/index.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: WAShington State, Florida & New Mexico
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I work for New York State Department of Health.

Recorded presentation

Developing Unique Community-Based Infrastructures for Assessments

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA