Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Despite the vast amounts of data available to understand and address key mental health challenges among at-risk populations, research suggests as few as 40% of health-related nonprofit agencies regularly use data to drive decisions. A 2022 Austin Community Health Needs Assessment identified mental health as an important community health concern, and identified a lack of services that address social determinants of mental health to help address mental health needs and connect residents with resources. In response to these challenges, Texas State University’s 35 Health Merge data analytics training and technical assistance program will provide knowledge and skills to support data-driven decisions and monitoring of key medical and social determinants of mental health issues for nonprofits, healthcare organizations, government agencies serving clients in Austin and Travis County along the I-35 corridor. As an evidence-based data analytics and monitoring program designed to address key mental health trends and challenges among diverse client populations, 35 Health Merge is comprised of three distinct phases that teach and reinforce mental health data science knowledge and skills to trainees. Phase one of the program includes synchronous online training sessions and application exercises that teach trainees to identify and use overlapping data sets reflecting key mental indicators among their client populations. Phase two teaches trainees to use GIS mapping technologies to segment and visualize local mental health data and trends at the zip code level. Phase three includes ongoing technical assistance to reinforce key program components as they are implemented and used by participating organizations, and continuous program evaluation services that will assess outcomes of 35 Health Merge training among trainees and their organizations.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
