About
With the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ASTHO is building its survey research capacity to meet the growing information needs of our members, public health researchers, and public health practitioners. Key research projects and findings are described below.2010 State and Territorial Public Health Survey
The ASTHO 2010 State and Territorial Public Health Survey will be in the field from April 19 until June 18, 2010. The 2010 survey is the second survey in a longitudinal series about state/territorial health agency responsibilities, structure, planning and quality improvement activities, workforce, and more that provides core data for ongoing public health systems research and a source for tracking state public health performance and best practices.
ASTHO’s coordinated approach to survey design and data harmonization with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) will ensure that the three organizations will not field their respective surveys at the same time, will allow for more comparable data, and will produce a more complete view of the public health system as a whole.
Information gathered from this survey will allow ASTHO to continue to:
• Provide comparable information about the nature and scope of state public health.
• Orient new health officials and support them throughout their tenure.
• Respond to lawmakers’ questions in the context of health reform.
• Advocate for a stronger public health system.
A Question and Answer Webinar was held on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 to address questions from State and Territorial Health Agency representatives about how the survey should be completed.
Links to the 2010 survey instrument, Webinar slides and answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found below.
2010 ASTHO State and Territorial Public Health Survey Questionnaire (pdf)
Question and Answer Webinar: 2010 ASTHO State and Territorial Public Health Survey (ppt)
Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
State Public Health Survey
This survey research aims to define the scope of state public health services, identify variations in practice among state public health agencies, and contribute to the development of best practices in governmental public health. The ASTHO Profile of State Public Health, Volume One highlights descriptive findings from ASTHO’s first comprehensive state public health survey conducted in 2007 and 2008 and completed by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The findings serve as a resource for state health officials, ASTHO, researchers and other organizations to:
• Define the value of state public health to governors, legislatures, and the nation.
• Promote and preserve adequate funding for crucial public health services.
• Effectively advocate on behalf of state health officials and public health.
The Chartbook serves as a companion piece to the Profile, providing in-depth tables on topics highlighted by the Profile.
Links to the ASTHO Profile of State Public Health, Volume One, ASTHO Chartbook of State Public Health, Volume One, survey and codebook can be found below.
ASTHO Profile of State Public Health, Volume One (pdf)
ASTHO Chartbook of State Public Health, Volume One (pdf)
ASTHO State Public Health Survey Questionnaire (pdf)
ASTHO State Public Health Survey Codebook (xls)
Health Reform Survey
A health reform survey was conducted to describe the degree and type of state health official involvement in health reform, identify the topics covered by current state health reform efforts, and develop ways in which ASTHO can best support its members in their health reform efforts. Links to the survey instrument and the survey results follow.ASTHO Health Reform Survey Questionnaire (pdf)
ASTHO Health Reform Survey Results (ppt)
Budget Cuts Survey
A series of budget cuts surveys were administered to state health officials in light of the economic turmoil confronting state health agencies. This data, along with the data compiled from the 2007 State Public Health Baseline Survey has been used to calculate job losses. This work was used to support the inclusion of the Prevention and Wellness funding in the economic stimulus package. Links to the survey instruments and the survey results follow. ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Questionnaire (Round 1: Fall 2008) (pdf)
ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Questionnaire (Round 2: Winter 2009) (pdf)
ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Questionnaire (Round 3: Summer 2009) (pdf)
ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Questionnaire (Round 4: Winter 2010) (pdf)
ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Results (pdf)
Minority Health Survey
With support from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, ASTHO surveyed state and territorial health agencies on the ways that state and territorial health agencies address racial and ethnic minority health and health disparities. Of the 57 agencies surveyed, 46 returned responses. Links to the survey instrument and the survey results follow:
ASTHO 2008 Snapshots: State Activities to Promote Health Equity (graphic)
ASTHO 2008 Snapshots: State Activities to Promote Health Equity Introduction (pdf)
Minority Health Survey Questionnaire (2007) (pdf)
Using ASTHO’s Survey Data
Requests for state public health agency survey data should be directed to Katie Sellers. Please review ASTHO’s data use agreement below. ASTHO Data Use Agreement (pdf)
Staff
Katherine Barbacci, MPA, Senior Analyst, Survey Research
Jim Pearsol, MEd, Chief, Public Health Performance
Katie Sellers, DrPH, Senior Director, Survey Research
Irene Stephens, MPH, Senior Analyst, Survey Research