Culture of Data 2024

The Health-Visual Integration of Science, Technology, and Analysis (Health-VISTA) initiative stands as one of the strategies in Arapahoe County's campaign against key health priorities identified in our community assessment survey: housing insecurity and Substance Use Disorders (SUD). Supported by the Data Science Team Training (DSTT) of The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), Health-VISTA exemplifies the principle of 'Data for Social Good'—a central theme at the Culture of Data conference.
Our mission at Health-VISTA is to support the Arapahoe County Public Health (ACPH) initiatives to become a data-driven, community-focused agency. This initiative impacts the lives of over 656,590 residents, demonstrating how data can catalyze change. We are committed to enhancing public health through data-driven equity, aligning with the conference's goals.

Our presentation will explore the multiple layers of Health-VISTA. We gather data from diverse sources, including public health records, housing information, and direct community feedback. This process extends beyond simple data integration; it weaves a rich tapestry of community experiences. Each dataset is subjected to rigorous privacy and ethical reviews to ensure respect and accuracy for every personal story.

We will delve into the data aggregation phase, including the creation of a 'data lakehouse' as part of the Arapahoe County initiative to centralize data and streamline access and analysis. Following this, we will engage in initial exploratory data analysis. This phase underscores how predictive models are utilized to anticipate trends in SUD and housing issues, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities of applying these models in public health contexts.

Additionally, we will reveal our upcoming steps to develop innovative visualization techniques. Participants will gain insights into how Health-VISTA transforms data into compelling narratives and methodologies, converts strategies into actions, and transforms challenges into opportunities. This journey from data aggregation and analysis to impactful visualization is woven into the fabric of real-life stories, advancing the mission of health equity and social good.