For the Massachusetts State Health Assessment (SHA) and the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), DPH pivoted from a static document to a dynamic set of web-based dashboards and interactive webpages. The 2024 SHA and SHIP processes were also guided by DPH’s Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity.
Process Overview
The data and priorities included in the SHA and the SHIP were selected through the administration’s priorities, DPH priorities, the Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity, community advisory boards, funders and other partners. Additionally, data was also included based on public requests and priorities for each topic area were reviewed for policy and equity lens to their approach.
State Health Assessment (SHA) Process
Components of the SHA include the state data tool, related resources, and a description of community engagement processes. The SHA incorporates an equity lens by highlighting data available by race and ethnicity and including context around the importance of historical and structural racism and other forms of oppression. The SHA includes demographic data and is organized using the six social determinants of health:
- Housing
- Employment
- Education
- Violence
- Built Environment
- Social Environment
Additionally, the SHA highlights health outcomes related to these determinants of health. The SHA is a dynamic tool that will be updated regularly through collaboration with organizations, agencies, and residents from across the state.
For the SHA, DPH started out by identifying relevant data, resources, and assets from DPH staff and partners. DPH was invested in highlighting social determinants of health and disparities in the tool.
After identifying the data, DPH integrated the SHA into a pre-existing dynamic data platform. DPH then dedicated time to communicating the results with staff and sharing the findings with the public and partners. Engagement with partners and evaluation was integrated throughout the process. The data included in the SHA was selected through the administration’s priorities, DPH priorities, the Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity, and community advisory boards, funders and other partners. Data was also included based on public requests.
State Health Improvement (SHIP) Process
The SHIP highlights current health outcome priorities that have the following components:
- a strong collaborative approach with community partners
- identified strategies and quantifiable goals,
- and regular collaborative performance monitoring
Additional priority health outcomes may be added to this dynamic tool as it evolves.
The SHIP includes four priority areas:
- Infectious Disease
- Chronic Disease
- Drug Overdose Prevention
- Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
The SHIP will specify how DPH will address each health priority, performance measure, and community partnerships.
DPH collaborated with DPH Bureaus, Divisions and Offices to identify goals, strategies and activities. DPH then built interactive webpages to reflect each priority area. DPH committed to an iterative process of feedback and improvement and updated webpages after sharing the SHIP with the public and partners.
Partnerships
DPH collaborates with numerous partners including but not limited to different bureaus, divisions, offices, coalitions, advisories and boards, as well as Tribal and Indigenous people serving organizations. The list of partners that participated in the development of the State Health Assessment can be found below. Additionally, partners associated with each State Health Improvement Plan priority area can be found on corresponding State Health Improvement Plan webpages.
- List of SHA Partners (DOC)
Analysis of Community Health Improvement and Implementation Plans
To fully understand health priorities across the state, a scan of local, municipal, and health system Community Health Improvement and Implementation Plans (CHIP) was conducted. The purpose of this analysis was to ensure that the 2024 Massachusetts State Health Assessment (SHA) includes key health issues identified in these CHIP documents.
- Executive Summary (DOC) | Narrative of CHIP process (DOC)