The Profile Study at Work

May 01, 2013 | NacchoVoice

By Carolyn Leep, Senior Director of Research and Evaluation, NACCHO

ProfileLogoFinal 1Ever wonder what NACCHO does with data from that Profile survey that took you so long to complete?

From January through March, approximately 2,000 local health departments (LHDs) completed the National Profile of Local Health Departments (Profile) survey. Profile is a comprehensive (read “long”) survey of LHD infrastructure and practice that NACCHO administers every two to three years. We are truly grateful for the time so many LHD leaders and staff spent gathering the requested information and completing the survey.

Have you ever wondered what NACCHO does with the data we collect in the Profile survey? We hope that everyone knows that having up-to-date data about LHDs is a key to making NACCHO a trusted and credible voice for LHDs at the national level. NACCHO should know more about LHDs than anyone else. Many people know that NACCHO summarizes data from each Profile in a report that serves as an almanac of information about LHDs. We send a printed copy to every LHD that completed their Profile; the reports are also available on the Profile webpage. Some people even know that NACCHO puts Profile data on LHD finances, workforce, and activities into Profile-IQ—a user-friendly Web-based system that lets users make customized Profile tables and figures. For example, you can make tables with statistics from just the LHDs in your state or from only LHDs that serve jurisdictions of similar size to yours. Check it out!

Many people may not know that data from the Profile survey are a critical resource for researchers who study public health systems and services. Under a data use policy approved by NACCHO’s Executive Committee, NACCHO has provided data on LHDs for hundreds of research studies. The recent Keeneland Conference was a great place to see some of the research that uses NACCHO’s Profile data. For example, Kay Lovelace (University of North Carolina- Greensville) and her colleagues used NACCHO’s Profile data to identify characteristics of LHDs that engage in evidence-based decision making. Tracy Hilliard (University of Washington) and her colleagues used Profile data to examine declines in LHD workforce relative to distribution of racial and ethnic minority populations. Gulzar Shah (Georgia Southern University) and his colleagues used Profile data to examine whether completion of PHAB accreditation prerequisites (community health assessment, community health improvement plan, and agency-wide strategic plan) are associated with LHD intent to apply for accreditation. Slides from these and other Keeneland Conference presentations are available on the conference website.

NACCHO’s Profile Team is currently hard at work in the “data bunker” cleaning and analyzing all of the 2013 Profile data. The report of the findings will be available later this year. Have you used data or information from NACCHO’s Profile study? Tell us about it below in the comments section.


About NacchoVoice

More posts by NacchoVoice

Related Posts

D4 web

Day Four Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

See highlights from the final day of the 2024 Preparedness Summit.

Mar 28, 2024

Day Four Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

I Stock 1182682774
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
  • Behavioral Health
  • Community Health
  • Injury and Violence Prevention

Seeking LHD Participants for an Intersectional Data...

With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NACCHO is...

Mar 28, 2024 | Camille Adams

Seeking LHD Participants for an Intersectional Data...

Ps24 posters d3 web

Day Three Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

See highlights from day three of the 2024 Preparedness Summit.

Mar 27, 2024

Day Three Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

D2 highlights web

Day Two Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

See highlights from day two of the 2024 Preparedness Summit.

Mar 26, 2024

Day Two Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

PS24 1

Day One Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

See highlights from day one of the 2024 Preparedness Summit.

Mar 25, 2024

Day One Highlights: 2024 Preparedness Summit

PS24 web
  • Tools & Resources
  • Training

Welcome to the 2024 Preparedness Summit!

Welcome to the 2024 Preparedness Summit.

Mar 25, 2024 | Beth Hess

Welcome to the 2024 Preparedness Summit!

Stakeholder Conference Call on the FDA Integrated Food...

You’re invited to join the call on April 2 to hear more.

Mar 25, 2024

Stakeholder Conference Call on the FDA Integrated Food...

Cover and Spine for MAPP 2 0 Handbook Copy Page 1
  • Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP)
  • Performance Improvement
  • Workforce Development

Register to Attend a Mobilizing for Action through...

Registration is now open for NACCHO’s in-person Mobilizing for Action through...

Mar 23, 2024 | Andrea Grenadier

Register to Attend a Mobilizing for Action through...

Capitol bulding

Congress Releases Labor-HHS Bill in Final FY2024 Package

Early on March 21st, Congress released the final minibus package for Fiscal...

Mar 22, 2024 | Victoria Van de Vate

Congress Releases Labor-HHS Bill in Final FY2024 Package

Back to Top