The purpose of this project is to build public health capacity & expertise in environmental health surveillance; create modern, interoperable, and real-time public health data and surveillance systems; modernize the collection, integration, dissemination, & application of timely, local environmental health data; and empower public health practitioners, healthcare providers, community members, policy members, and others to make information-driven decisions that affect their health.
The program will modernize and enhance the MiTracking program and data portal using the following six strategies:
1. Surveillance – This will be achieved through continued data submission to CDC and integration into the MiTracking portal. MiTracking will assess the gaps and limitations of its current data and use those results to expand and enhance data to be timelier, more accurate, and more usable. Staff will analyze the data to drive public health action.
2. Information Technology – This will be accomplished through continued collaboration with contractors to modernize existing data pipelines and systems, assess the gaps in current technologies, and implement additional innovative enhancements to modernize and improve the data portal’s long-term sustainability.
3. Partnerships – This will be accomplished by maintaining existing partners and developing new ones. MiTracking will work with partners to improve data, enhance the data portal, partner with universities, and reach target audiences.
4. Outreach/Communication – This will be accomplished by working with the Community Engagement and Outreach section to develop an annual communication plan, present and exhibit at conferences and meetings, maintain and contextual information, develop and disseminate communications materials/messaging, and coordinate with other Tracking grantees.
5. Program Capacity – This will be accomplished through internal and external trainings of the public health workforce and continued participation in Tracking workgroups.
6. Program Evaluation/Performance Measurement – This will be accomplished through documenting and submitting program accomplishments, public health actions, and web statistics. Staff will develop and implement an annual evaluation plan.
The activities outlined above will move MiTracking toward being able to better identify and address several health equity issues through enhancement of its public data portal, analysis, and working with partners to disseminate information to improve data-driven public health actions. Over the five years of this funding opportunity MiTracking will prioritize certain target populations explicitly to identify and improve those most affected by environmental health issues.