Whole Child Health Data

What is the purpose of the dashboard?

The purpose of this dashboard is twofold:

1. To provide educators and those who work with students with relevant health outcomes data for their communities.
2. To challenge educators and those who work with students to use this health outcomes data to factor health-related prevention and intervention activities into their processes for tiered support.

Why is this data relevant for educators?

There is considerable evidence to support the notion that healthy students are better learners. (Basch, 2011) Unfortunately, many students arrive at school carrying the burdens of home, community, and inadequate healthcare. In the public health and healthcare sectors, connecting health status to personal outcomes is common, but less so in education, where data traditionally focuses on academic measures. While data on specific ailments, illnesses, and general health in the K-12 student population is slim, county-level health outcomes data is widespread and easily accessible. This data can help educators understand where their communities stand in terms of health and, in turn, how their students may be affected. 

What do the rankings mean?

The rankings help stakeholders compare one county or local school district to the rest in Georgia. Lower rankings indicate more favorable outcomes, whereas higher rankings indicate less favorable outcomes. For example, if a school district ranks 220 out of 221 districts for chronic absenteeism, it means that only one school district in the state has a worse chronic absenteeism rate than it does.

What types of questions can this dashboard help to answer?

• Where does my county rank among others in the state in terms of overall health?
• How does my school district rank compared to others in terms of chronic absenteeism and discipline incidents?
• Where do the students in my district rank among others on the FitnessGram test results, including aerobic capacity and body composition?
• What is the proximity of my school to the nearest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)?

 Terms and Definitions

• Aerobic Capacity: This measurement reflects the maximum rate at which the respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular systems can take in, transport, and utilize oxygen during exercise.
• Body Composition: Measurement using the standard calculation for Body Mass Index (BMI), which is based on weight relative to height and essentially indicates if a person’s weight is appropriate for their height. This calculation also takes into account age and gender.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are community-based healthcare providers that receive funding from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. They must meet stringent requirements, which include providing care on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay and operating under a governing board that includes patients as board members. (Health Resources and Services Administration)
• Food Insecurity: A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. (United States Department of Agriculture)