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New Interactive Dashboard Reveals Health Opportunities for Charlotte County Residents

By Meranda Pitt

August 11, 2021

08-11-2021

 Charlotte County, Fla.— The Department of Health in Charlotte County (DOH-Charlotte) introduces a new, interactive dashboard for accessing health data. The DOH-Charlotte Dashboard was designed by the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County and mySidewalk.  The dashboard gives Charlotte residents insights into the social and economic drivers of health. At no time in recent history has attention to the root causes of health been so critical. The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a spotlight on public health; this comprehensive assessment takes the conversation beyond disease outcomes and explores the relationship between environments, behaviors, illness, and length of life.

“This dashboard is one more tool for our community and partners to align resources to better serve our community. This information will allow us to have more targeted responses to specific community needs.” said Joseph Pepe, health administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County.

The interactive dashboard gives the community access to health data indicators and allows residents to stay informed about what is happening in their county.  The layout is user friendly and provides data in a way that makes it compelling.  It’s not just numbers and statistics.  It actually tells the story of how the numbers have a real effect on health.

Every resident should have the opportunity to make healthy choices. However, choices are often limited or expanded based on a variety of factors like where we live, where we work, and what resources we have access to. Having access to the data and understanding how the data impacts our residents' opportunity for health is critical.

DOH-Charlotte is hopeful residents & community organizations will take the time to browse the dashboard and find multiple ways to be able to utilize all mySidewalk has to offer. 

Included in the dashboard are insights into the Community Health and Needs Assessment & Community Health Improvement Plan, Social Determinants of Health, Leading Causes of Death and Disease, Aging, Lifelong Health, Behavioral Health & Substance Abuse, Maternal & Child Health, Child Abuse & Neglect, and Public Health Threats. The graphs and maps are available for public download, and the data is exportable in multiple formats. 

This Community Dashboard serves as the initial release of a multi-phase project. In the future, sections & pages will be added to include additional information such as Environmental Health, Built Environment, and others. We look forward to obtaining feedback from our community members and partners on the data, format, reports, etc.

Some compelling findings include:

  1. In Charlotte County, the ratio of mental health providers is 885 people per 1 provider, compared to the state rate of 622 people per 1 provider. With access to mental health providers, residents can address their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Improving mental health has positive effects for both the individual and the community.
  2. In Charlotte County, 18,474 people (10%) are without health insurance. For uninsured workers and their families, obtaining insurance coverage can be cost prohibitive. The 2019 U.S. Census data shows Charlotte County the 19-64 age group has 16, 173 residents without healthcare coverage.
  3. 54% of rented homes are 30% or more of household income. Housing should represent a place of safety, stability, and shelter and not a place of stress, strain, or insecurity. When residents struggle to afford a place to live, that financial strain makes it harder to make other healthy choices, like eating a healthy diet or seeing a doctor when you're sick. Moreover, disruptive events, like suddenly losing your home, can become the trigger for a snowball of negative impacts on health, such as losing a job or health insurance, dropping out of school, or triggering mental health challenges.

 

To learn more, go to https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/charlotte-county-community-health-assessment (opens in a new window).

 

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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