Data and Analysis

Research

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.

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 will 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.

Links to the ASTHO Profile of State Public Health, Volume One, survey and codebook can be found below.

ASTHO Profile of State Public Health, Volume One

ASTHO State Public Health Survey Questionnaire

ASTHO State Public Health Survey Codebook

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

ASTHO Health Reform Survey Results

Budget Cuts Survey

A budget cuts survey was 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 instrument and the survey results follow.

ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Questionnaire (Round 1: Fall 2008)

ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Questionnaire (Round 2: Winter 2009)

ASTHO Budget Cuts Survey Results: Impact of Budget Cuts on State Public Health (2009)

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.

Minority Health Survey Questionnaire (2007)