Reviewing and discussing data with stakeholders can be challenging because people have different comfort levels with data and statistics. Sometimes the most effective way to communicate data findings is through the creation of effective data visualizations. Data dashboards have become popular because they can be easily explained and interpreted by a variety of users. In some cases, data dashboards allow the end user to manipulate the data and isolate individual variables, allowing further exploration and knowledge building. This webinar will demonstrate some of the data visualization techniques used by two organizations to improve understanding of substance use, criminal justice, and public health outcomes.
Allegheny County Office of Analytics, Technology and Planning (ATP) is a division of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, which serves the greater Pittsburgh area in Pennsylvania. ATP created the Allegheny County Analytics website, which has integrated data from multiple county agencies to examine problems utilizing a holistic approach. ATP’s analysts have combined public health and criminal justice data to support county leadership in strategically deploying resources. In the substance use arena, ATP uses data visualization to inform county and agency leadership and the community on the opioid epidemic, including access and availability to treatment within the county.
The Philadelphia Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) uses data visualization to analyze multiple data sources, including accidental overdose death data, toxicology reports, and drug seizure data. DEA primarily uses this information to inform law enforcement of drug trends across the multiple states. DEA has made numerous reports unclassified so that they can be shared with public health partners and state legislators to inform public policy.
Presentation topics will include the following:
- What it takes to convince agency leadership to widely employ data visualization;
- How data visualization leads to improved communication;
- Assembling the necessary components to create successful data visualization efforts;
- How data is presented to inform key stakeholders; and
- Developing strategy and public policy from the results of data visualization.