Article by Ian Leavitt: “Connecticut is one of many U.S. states increasingly using cross-sector data-sharing to improve public health outcomes, with the Prevention Data Portal a prime example of the state’s efforts. The portal demonstrates how state leadership buy-in, paired with expertise from nongovernmental partners, can overcome common barriers to cross-sector data-sharing and produce clear and meaningful information to help shape state policy—without requiring large new investments in data infrastructure or centralized control. Insights gained from Connecticut’s experience can inform the work of other state public health agencies as they look to expand cross-sector data-sharing through creative partnerships, simple use cases that show value early, and other avenues within their own states.
The Prevention Data Portal, launched in 2018 by Connecticut’s State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW), houses data from local, state, and federal sources to advance health promotion and substance use prevention in the state. It provides free access to a wide range of data-driven products about populations in Connecticut, including epidemiological profiles, data stories using multiple streams of information, and infographics on mental health, substance use, suicide, gambling, and other public health topics. The portal is supported through federal block grant funding and partnerships between the SEOW and the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), the Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES) at UConn Health, and the Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData).
In an ongoing collaboration with states to improve public health data, The Pew Charitable Trusts commissioned interviews with Connecticut officials and other participants in the conceptualization, creation, and use of the SEOW Prevention Data Portal. Those interviews produced several key takeaways…(More)”.
