CEC Launches Data Refresh to Website in Support of Colorado Communities in Health Equity Work

Denver, Colo., February 29, 2024 – Today, the Colorado Equity Compass (CEC) launches a data refresh on its website with the latest U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) data covering 2018-2022 and new features. This update furthers the Initiative’s mission to empower communities and organizations across the state in their pursuit of improved health equity outcomes.

Since its inception in September 2020, the Colorado Equity Compass has been dedicated to furnishing essential data and narratives to drive positive change in health equity across Colorado. The website's latest update bolsters this commitment by a refresh of 69 metrics and 96,512 data points enabling stakeholders to access up-to-date information vital for informed decision-making and policy advocacy.

The Equity Data Navigator (EDN) highlights the relationships between race, the social determinants of health (SDOH), and health outcomes. Enhancements to the EDN include updated ACS data, downloadable datasets with source information, revised Census tracts, additional neighborhood names where available, and new metrics related to social determinants of health to better reflect the experiences of Coloradans:

• Economic – percent of families above 200% of poverty level

• Environment – percent of residents with Walkability Index Score above the U.S. average

• Health services – percent of people who can get a doctor’s visit when they need it

• Health services – percent of people who live within a 30-minute drive of a behavioral health facility

• Housing affordability for homeowners – percentage of households spending less than 30% of their income on housing costs

• Housing affordability for homeowners and renters – percentage of households (renters and owners) spending less than 30% of their income on housing costs

“These updates provide a clearer picture of Coloradans' health experiences. Visitors to the website can view a community’s details in terms of self-reported good health, economic stability, educational attainment, and more. Then comparisons can be made to a neighboring community, county, or the state. It is a versatile tool many people use in a variety of ways.” shares Dr. Rachele Espiritu, the Colorado Equity Compass Project Lead. “The EDN is so accessible and user-friendly that we hope anyone – non-profit leaders, advocates, parents – can advocate for change using data and stories and foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the pursuit of equitable health outcomes.” In addition to the EDN, the website offers a comprehensive array of resources, including toolkits, webinars, and reports.

Please visit the Colorado Equity Compass at https://coequitycompass.org, explore the updated Equity Data Navigator, and plan to join us for the launch webinar on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm MT. Simultaneous English-Spanish interpretation will be provided. Register now! The Colorado Equity Compass Initiative is supported by The Colorado Trust and led by Change Matrix with partners, Colorado Health Institute, and Consume & Create. For further information, visit https://coequitycompass.org or contact the CEC Collaborative at hello@coequitycompass.org.