Using Data to Meet a Policy Objective: Community Health Assessment Practice with the CATCH Data Warehouse

Abstract

The CATCH data warehouse, sponsored by numerous organizations and developed at the University of South Florida, is a state-of-the-art community health assessment tool in both its assessment methodology and in its use of data warehousing technology. In this chapter, CATCH and its usefulness for community health planning are described. A case study that illustrates the capabilities of CATCH to support research concerning community health issues is provided. In many ways, the CATCH data warehouse is the gold standard for community health assessment. Although its current applications focus on Florida community health issues, CATCH as a concept has implications for community health decision-making support on a national scale.