Collecting Data at the State Level

The Racial Equity Data Road Map is a tool to help eliminate structural racism by examining the role that data can have in continuing and failing to address health inequities. Created by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH), it’s a collection of guiding questions, tools, and resources to assist programs in taking concrete steps to better identify, understand, and act to address racial inequities. The Road Map outlines suggestions and best practices for using data to improve health outcomes by race and ethnicity.

The Racial Equity Data Road Map grew out of the MADPH’s 2015 maternal and child health priority to “promote health and racial equity by addressing racial justice and reducing disparities.”  Learning that low data quality was a challenge, MADPH launched an effort to better use data in its Welcome Family home visitation program to reach racial and ethnic communities.