Counting All in Our Communities: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data

Our communities are shaped by how we understand the populations who call them home, often through demographic data. Understanding who lives in our communities through use of data is central to advancing equitable well-being and justice, and ensuring the availability of urgent services when we need them. But what happens when populations within a community go uncounted? For the LGBTQ+ community, becoming visible (and being counted) has been the basis for decades of advocacy. Learn about the impacts of filling demographic data gaps, and how communities across the U.S. are advancing LGBTQ+ health and well-being by improving data systems.

New Topic: Oral Health

Oral health can have serious implications for an individual’s overall health, as well as the well-being of society as a whole. Cavities are the leading chronic disease among children in the U.S. Over 34 million school hours and more than $45 billion in productivity are lost each year as a result of dental emergencies requiring unplanned care. Learn about the impacts of oral health and improving access to oral health care, and explore dozens of newly curated resources for this emerging topic.

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BHPN Rural Playbook

Over the last nine years, over 100 rural hospitals have shut their doors, with more at risk for closure, indicating a growing crisis in access to care among rural communities. This playbook is an action-oriented guide designed for healthcare organizations wanting to pursue partnerships with local community and economic development, and other sectors in rural areas and small towns, to create the community conditions that support population health. Explore case studies highlighting core strategies used and recommendations from experts.

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Inclusion as an Economic Necessity with john a. powell

Poverty is not simply lack of belongings or money. Poverty often means a lack of belonging and not being regarded as a full member of society. This disregard influences not only work and working conditions of people living in poverty, but the well-being of our communities and the overall economy. In this episode of Pitchfork Economics, john a. powell—Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute—breaks down the differences between inclusion and belonging, and explores the relationship between belonging, poverty, and well-being.

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Accessibility and Public Engagement For People Living With Dementia

In the U.S., an estimated 5.8 million people have Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. People Living with Dementia (PLWD) are often unable to access or influence the processes that determine their built environments, such as where they live and receive care. This limited access is caused by a combination of systemic factors, reduced cognitive abilities, and social stigma. Learn more about increasing accessibility for PLWD, and how being involved in city planning processes creates space for inclusion, citizenship, and connection for all.

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Data Update: National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network

The National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) brings together health data and environment data from national, state, and city sources and provides supporting information to make the data easier to understand. Tracking Network has new data and other recent updates! Check it out and start exploring environment and health data in your area.

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COVID-19 Economic Tracker

While employment rates have rebounded to pre-COVID levels for high-wage workers, they remain significantly lower that they were pre-pandemic for low-wage workers. As of April 2022, employment rates among workers in the bottom wage quartile were showing a 21.4% decrease from levels in January of 2020. Use this tool to track real-time employment rates and other economic impacts of COVID-19 on people, businesses, and communities across the United States.

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Taking Action to End Gun Violence: Our Top Tools, Resources, Stories, and Data

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The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: How Physical Activity Can Help You Become Less Anxious, Depressed and Stressed