8 Data Sources to Optimize Your Need Statements
- MaryCatherine Jones
- Feb 13, 2024
- 3 min read
Almost universally, the statement of need is a high-scoring item in grant applications. A well crafted needs statement not only provides the context for your proposed project, it creates an opportunity to grab the attention of the grant reviewer and make the application memorable. Regardless how the story is told, needs statements are strongest when they include local data. The free clinic's service data is complemented by community demographic and public health data. Today, we're sharing these links to our favorite websites for comparison data.
City Health Dashboard
More than 80 percent of U.S. residents live in urban areas. The City Health Dashboard aims to provide communities and city leaders with an array of regularly updated data specific to neighborhood and/or city boundaries – such as life expectancy, park access, and children in poverty -- to improve the health and well-being of everyone in the community. The Dashboard now offers data on over 40 measures of health and drivers of health for over 970 cities across the U.S. – all cities over population 50,000 plus a growing set of smaller places.
Congressional District Health Dashboard
Most data on health, the drivers of health, and health equity are organized at the county, state, or, more recently, city level. In contrast, data about the health of people living in congressional districts is difficult to find. That’s where the Congressional District Health Dashboard comes in. The CDHD aims to provide policymakers, advocates, and community members with an array of actionable and nonpartisan data at the congressional district level– such as life expectancy, diabetes rates, uninsurance, and children in poverty – to demonstrate strengths and challenges in their regions and drive positive change at the district, state and national level.
County Health Rankings
Many factors influence how well and how long we live, from access to affordable housing or well-paying jobs to opportunities for child education. The County Health Rankings shows how these indicators come together and where communities can take action to improve health and eliminate unjust barriers to opportunity.
https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/
SparkMap
Quickly pull down demographic and health data for your community needs assessment through these readily available reports. Includes data from the US Census Bureau, CDC, USDA, Department of Transportation, FBI, and more. A subscription is available but not required.
Rural Data Explorer
Housed on the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub), this data visualization tool offers interactive maps, charts and graphs as well as a Rural Data Explorer with additional features. Select from a wide range of data on health disparities, health workforce, demographics and more.
https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/data-explorer
FairHealth Consumer
This site specializes in providing consumer healthcare expenditure estimates for thousands of procedures. The data can be useful to safety net organizations to estimate cost savings to the community or to underscore the costs of procedures or healthcare expenses to the community if critical primary care services are underfunded.
US Census QuickFacts
A staple source for community and comparison data, the QuickFacts provides simplified data on demographics and social determinants of health, such as health insurance, housing, transportation, and education. Comparisons among geographic areas are readily available.
The link below goes to the QuickFacts page. However, one can also perform an internet search for "QuickFacts [city or county name]" for rapid access.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045221
Multidimensional Index of Deep Disadvantage
This map series reports on all counties and states, drawing on census and administrative data to examine poverty, health, and social mobility indicators. Communities are ranked on a continuum of disadvantage.
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