Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS): Impact on Population Health - Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System PROJECT ABSTRACT The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NE DHHS) is committed to implementing evidence-based programs that address the health and economic consequences of the leading causes of death and disability in Nebraska. Since 1986, the Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NE BRFSS) Program has been conducting annual surveys for the purpose of assessing and monitoring major health risk behaviors that contribute to chronic disease, disabilities, injuries, and other health conditions and behaviors among adults living in the state. The NE BRFSS Program has a long and successful history of collecting high quality BRFSS data, collaborating with data users, and promoting the utilization of BRFSS data. The purpose of this project is to address chronic disease and other important health issues and health disparities in the state through efficient and effective collection and use of BRFSS data that supports state and local public health planning, implementation of evidence-based strategies, and evaluation. The NE BRFSS program will implement the strategies outlined in the CDC FOA and build upon existing success and the successful partnership with the University of Nebraska Lincoln Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR). The outcomes will be achieved through continued reliance and enhancement of the BRFSS Data Users Group, growing collaboration with LHDs and through partnering with internal NE DHHS Public Health programs. These partnerships will form the foundation for education and outreach about how to access and use the BRFSS data to inform community level action. To better serve all Nebraskans a BRFSS dashboard has been created and will be maintained to make available BRFSS data. The dashboard will be updated regularly and routinely with fresh data as it is made available. To achieve these strategies over the funding cycle, the NE BRFSS Program will focus on maintaining an active BRFSS Data Users Group, collaborating with local health departments (LHDs), expanding partnerships with external organizations, participating in statewide and internal NE DHHS assessment and strategic planning efforts, and enhancing data reporting through maintaining an up-to-date, interactive BRFSS data dashboard. Furthermore, the NE BRFSS Program will develop an annual questionnaire that meets the needs of data users, including the ongoing collection of asthma call-back surveys, using a design that results in sufficient data for sub-state regional, county, and demographic analysis, and data collection that meets all CDC guidelines and protocols. Ongoing evaluation and performance monitoring is critical to the success of the NE BRFSS Program. As a result, a set of key performance measures and an overall evaluation approach have been established. NE BRFSS will formalize this documentation in our issues and project tracking software, Jira. This approach includes ongoing documentation and reporting of outcomes, strategies, and activities, and using this information for continuous quality improvement.
