Implementation of systems change strategies should only occur when there is a need for the strategy and buy-in from the local community. To understand whether a need exists and if there is broad support from the community, community coalitions/groups should access and use local data and community voice.
Local data and community voice can be collected in two systematic ways to inform these efforts:
Secondary Data Collection
Local data often already exists and is available in communities. These data sources provide indicators that inform a need for local strategies and can also be monitored over time if a strategy is selected, to ensure strategies are creating desired changes.
In Colorado, the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) has embedded reliable and valid measures of risk and protective factors within the survey. Learn more about the risk and protective factors measured within HKCS.
Many other state or local data sources can be used to understand risk and protective factors. These include:
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System includes data that may inform risk or protective factors related to parents or guardians of youth.
State licensure lists may provide valuable information on outlets that sell substances to youth.
Education departments often track data on students’ academic performance and school incidents related to delinquency or violence, as well as disciplinary decisions within schools.
The U.S. Census and American Community Survey provide valuable information on community context, demographics, and living conditions for many within the community.
Voting records may indicate community opportunities for prosocial involvement and civic engagement.
Local agencies may provide more tailored data to your needs as well, such as law enforcement agencies, nonprofit agencies, or schools.
Primary Data Collection
When data do not already exist or communities feel it is necessary to understand a need or problem more deeply given limitations in data available, communities can engage in collecting new information from community members. These methods may include conducting surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, community forums, environmental scans, or photovoice. Learn more about assessing community needs and resources.
No matter how robust your secondary or primary data collection efforts are, it is always critical to validate any results with your local community members, particularly those most burdened by negative health and social outcomes in the community. It is important to include community voice in interpreting data results, so that there are no biases or misinterpretations about what data results mean for individuals or groups. Data must also be interpreted based on the underlying systemic conditions that contribute to health and social disparities often seen in data findings. Learn more about how Colorado considers racism, oppression, and underlying systemic conditions in the interpretation of local risk and protective factors.