Include: population size, top three causes of morbidity/mortality, three leading social determinants, and one existing intervention gap. Conclusion: From Data to Dignity The free online infrastructure for population health research has matured dramatically. A decade ago, county-level mortality data required FOIA requests or paid subscriptions. Today, a high school student with a library internet connection can analyze cancer disparities or map vaccine deserts.
Use CDC WONDER to extract mortality (if applicable) and state health department dashboards for emergency department visit data. Today, a high school student with a library
Use PolicyMap free tier or CDC PLACES to overlay poverty, food access, health insurance rates, and mental health provider shortages. Use Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (free via
Use Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (free via data.census.gov) and HUD’s CoC point-in-time counts. trends into targeted interventions
But data without action is voyeurism. Real population health research on vulnerable populations demands a commitment to translation—turning spreadsheets into testimony, trends into targeted interventions, and disparities into demands for justice.
Example: “Homeless youth (ages 14–24) in King County, WA.”